“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”
(1 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV)

pray for all men

Paul’s work among Gentiles illustrates God’s desire to save all – not Jews alone. The chapter is peppered with this little word “all.”

• God wants us to pray for all men, 1 Timothy 2:1.
• We are to pray for all who are in authority, 1 Timothy 2:2.
• God desires the salvation of all men, 1 Timothy 2:4.
• Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all, 1 Timothy 2:6.

The context of 1 Timothy 2:1 reaches back to the previous chapter where Paul expresses his concern for some who have suffered a shipwreck of faith (1 Timothy 1:19-20). Hymenaeus and Alexander have currently been delivered to satan. The purpose of this discipline was not to harm them, but to bring them to their senses – “that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1 Timothy 2:20). In 1 Timothy 2:1 Paul includes these men in his prayers, and exhorts Timothy to join him in such prayers. If anyone knew not to give up on stubborn sinners, it was Paul – (Saul of Tarsus, the chief of sinners, 1 Timothy 1:15). We cannot pray for God to save sinners in their sins, but we should join Paul and Timothy in praying for sinners to repent and be saved.

Paul’s expression, “first of all” may refer either to first in time or first in importance – most likely the latter. God’s people are praying people. Do we make prayer a priority?

There are four words that describe the kinds of prayers that we should pray. There is some overlap in these words.

Supplication: a petition; asking something from God. A supplication implies a sense of need. This is the kind of prayer we pray during sickness or in bad news.

Prayer: the general term for talking to God as well as the most frequently used word. To pray is to talk to God about something. The verb form of this word occurs in 1 Timothy 2:8: “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” Paul also wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Intercession: the usual word for a petition of an inferior to a superior. The “prayer” mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:5 uses this word: “for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

Giving of thanks: Paul illustrates this attitude of gratitude in 1 Timothy 1:12, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” (Also mentioned in Philippians 4:6, included in number 2. above.). God’s people have the greatest reasons to be thankful.

Since Paul ends this verse with a reference to “all men,” we should ask: Why should we pray for the lost unless God is willing to save them? This passage reminds us of 2 Peter 3:9 – God is “long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Let us pray...and work for the salvation of all.

– Rick Duggin