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The Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them
to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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January 20, 2013
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Contents:
1) 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
1 Timothy 2:1-4
by Tom Edwards
In 1 Timothy 2, Paul begins this chapter with an exhortation to
pray. He declares: "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties
and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all
men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a
tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all
men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
We note from this passage that prayer is to be made "on behalf of
all men," and we can pray for all because God wants "all men to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Paul also
shows specifically that we are to pray for "kings and all who are in
authority"; and the reason being, "so that we may lead a tranquil
and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."
The gospel helps us in every relationship of life, and this we even
see in the citizen's relation to his government. For we are
not only to pray for all those in the higher authorities, but also
submit to that authority by our obedience toward its laws, in all
areas which do not violate any of God's laws (Rom. 13:1-6).
Praying for others also helps us in our own spiritual
development. For taking the time to do that can assist in
acquiring more patience and concern for others. And isn't
prayers of intercession one of the greatest ways in which we can
truly love someone -- and even when that someone is an enemy?
For no matter what physical needs one has, the need for a true
spiritual relationship with God will always be far greater, as Job
also realized, who considered God's word even of more important
value than "necessary food" (Job 23:12). So giving ourselves
sincerely, humbly, and obediently to God through prayer also enables
us to be more malleable in His hands that we may be better shaped as
His clay.
In thinking of the need for humility and faithfulness to God for
prayer, consider this following principle in the Old Testament: "If
My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and
pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2
Chron. 7:14). Therefore, not only were these people to pray,
but in conjunction with that, they were also to 1) humble
themselves, 2) seek after God, and 3) turn from their sins.
In praying "on behalf of all men," note to the extent Jesus shows
that is to include in Luke 6:28, where He instructs to even "...pray
for those who mistreat you." What is one of the things that
happens in doing that? Will not that help the Christian to
development a better attitude toward those who would do him
wrong? And isn't it good to know that if we can pray for our
enemies, then we can certainly pray for anyone? In other
words, the person doesn't have to be a Christian before that person
can be prayed for.
Here in 1 Timothy 2:1, Paul mentions different kinds of prayers; but
as we think of these various meanings, it is easy to see how that
one prayer can be made up of all these variations.
The first term, "entreaties" (NASB), from the Greek word
"deesis," is also rendered as "supplications" (KJV), "requests"
(NIV), and "petitions" (HCSB), to name a few. David Lipscomb
points out that this term "signifies requests for particular
benefits, and is a special form of the more general word rendered
prayers." It is the same word that is used in Luke 1:13 about
a specific prayer Zacharias had made for his wife Elisabeth: "But
the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your
PETITION has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you will give him the name John.'" It is also
seen in Romans 10:1, where Paul expresses a specific request he had
for the lost Jews: "Brethren, my heart's desire and my PRAYER
to God for them is for their salvation." In this passage, the
Greek word is simply translated as "prayer" -- and that is the most
common rendering of it in the New Testament, being translated 6
times as "prayer" and 7 times as "prayers." Other than that,
it is rendered once as "supplication," twice as "entreaties," and
thrice as "petition." E.W. Bullinger shows that the Greek word
means "want" or "need," and then, secondarily, "prayer, as the
expression of need, supplication."
Paul next uses the more general term "prayers," from the Greek
"proseuche," which is defined as a "speaking out to, prayer towards,
(restricted to prayer to God, and marking the power of Him, whom we
invoke); sometimes it denotes a place of prayer..." (ibid.).
In considering this last part, we mustn't forget the importance of
our assembling so that public prayer can be made -- which seems to
have been emphasized more in days gone by, when the midweek service
was referred to as a "prayer meeting." David Lipscomb refers to
prayer as "communion with God"; and goes on to say that "It implies
that God is a person able and willing to hear us..." and that "To
pray to God implies a right relation to him."
Next, Paul speaks of "petitions," which is also rendered as
"intercessions" (RSV, NKJV, ASV, KJV). From the Greek
word "enteuxis," which "primarily denotes 'a lighting upon, a
meeting with'...then, 'a conversation'; hence, 'a petition,' a
meaning frequent in the papyri; it is a technical term for
approaching a king, and so for approaching God in 'intercession'; it
is rendered 'prayer' in 1 Timothy 4:5; in the plural in 1 Timothy
2:1 (i.e., seeking the presence and hearing of God on behalf of
others)" (W.E. Vine). E.W. Bullinger defines the Greek word
as "requests concerning others and on their behalf." The
dictionary thirdly defines "intercession" as "a prayer to God on
behalf of another" (Random House Webster's College
Dictionary). Thus, we read of Jesus interceding in prayer for
Peter in Luke 22:31-32: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded
permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that
your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again,
strengthen your brothers." This turning again pertains to
Peter's repentance and restoration, after having denied his Lord 3
times, as Jesus went on to predict (v. 34). So that is what
the Lord was praying about in interceding on Peter's behalf.
In addition, according to John 17:20, we can infer that the Lord has
also interceded for anyone who would ever become a Christian.
For He says, "I do not pray for these alone [the apostles], but for
those also who believe in Me through their word." Though not
all the writers of the New Testament were apostles, most of those
writings are from them; and through their message, we believe today
(cf. Rom. 10:17; Jn. 20:30,31). And, here in 1 Timothy 2:1,
the Christian is to pray for all people everywhere. Therefore, if we
who are God's children are not praying prayers of intercession, then
we would be praying only for ourselves and forgetting about or
neglecting the majority of those whom we need to also be praying
for.
Paul next uses the term "thanksgiving" (eucharistia) or "giving of
thanks" (KJV) in referring to prayer. Concerning this aspect
of it, notice what the Hebrew writer instructs in Hebrews 13:15:
"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise
to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His
name." To see that thanksgiving should characterize our
prayers to the Lord, we can also consider the following: "Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Phil.
4:6). Also, Colossians 4:2: "Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."
There have been some places, even in recent times, in which
Christians are not allowed to assemble to worship God. To do
so could result in imprisonment and sometimes being physically
abused. Therefore, some Christians have had to meet in hotel
rooms and keep their singing at only a whisper while they face each
other in a circle, so as not to be overheard by outsiders. But
even so, praying for that government is still what the Christian
needs to do, as Paul shows in 1 Timothy 1:2 -- to pray "for kings
and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and
quiet life in all godliness and dignity." According to
Jeremiah 29:7, when the Jews were in captivity, they were given
similar instruction with regard to praying for the peace of their
new environment. The verse states, "Seek the welfare of the
city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its
behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare." Some other
versions render this as "...seek the peace of the city...for in its
peace you will have peace" (NKJ); and "...seek the peace and
prosperity of the city...because if it prospers, you too will
prosper." This particular city was Babylon who had taken God's
people into captivity. Babylon was so wicked that the Lord was
going to destroy them, but yet He still wanted His people to be
praying for the peace of that city. As David Lipscomb writes,
"This prayer for its peace does not involve support, active
participation in its affairs, or even approval of its course."
So no matter how wicked a government is, we can, should, and need to
still pray for it And would we not think that the more wicked
a government would be, the more it needs our prayers?! At the
time of Paul's writing, Nero was the ruler. He had brought
persecution upon the Christians. But, regardless of how bad he
became, the saints were to pray for him, as well.
Paul continues in 1 Timothy 2:3,4 in speaking of these prayers and
that kind of godly life as being "good and acceptable" to God "who
desires all men to be saved...." Those things that are "good
and acceptable" to the Lord should also be our chief concern.
For is not pleasing our Father in heaven our greatest motivation
toward serving Him? And to do that, we must know of those
things that are approved and required by Him.
We can also see a connection between the way Christians live and
converting lost souls. For through a peaceful life of
godliness, we can have more of a positive impact toward winning
people to the Lord, since that kind of conduct enables one to be
more influential toward the good. Jesus implies this in
Matthew 5:16: "Let your light shine before men in such a way that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in
heaven." And Peter also states a similar thing in 1 Peter
2:12: "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in
the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because
of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of
visitation." So to pray for a government that will always
grant us the freedom to let our light shine in all godliness and
dignity will also help toward the conversion of the lost.
For prayers to be heard, however; we must meet certain conditions:
Notice, for instance, the principle in Proverbs 28:9: "He who turns
away his ear from listening to the law, Even his prayer is an
abomination." But now consider the opposite of that in 1 John
3:22: "and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His
commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."
Does not 1 Timothy 2:1-4 also refute the Calvinistic theory of
"unconditional election"? That, of course, involves the false
teaching that man is born totally depraved; and, because of that, he
not only does not have the ability to obey God, but also does not
even have the desire to do so, or to want to be saved.
Therefore, according to this false belief, salvation is entirely up
to God. But is this what the Bible shows? Joshua said to
the people of his day, "...choose for yourselves today whom you will
serve..." (Josh. 24:15). Man can choose, and must do so.
And what is the choice that God wants (but doesn't force) man to
make? That, too, is clear. For the Lord "...desires all
men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim.
2:4) -- not just the small few who have (in comparison to the lost
majority). This is also seen in 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not
slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient
toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to
repentance." If salvation, therefore, were totally up to God,
would it make sense that He would have anyone to remain lost, after
reading of these verses that show what He truly desires -- and that
is for all to be saved? That the Lord wants all to have
salvation is also clearly seen in John 3:16: "For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish, but have eternal life." Not for merely
a certain few, but for the whole world, God gave His Son -- that no
one would have to be lost eternally; but, instead, enjoy the Lord's
abundant life in glory for evermore. Christ as a sacrifice for every
sinner (and, again, God's desire toward all being saved) can also be
seen in the following passages:
"But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than
the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned
with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death
for everyone" (Heb. 2:9).
1 John 2:2: "and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and
not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world."
So may we each meet God's conditions for salvation in order to
benefit from the Lord's wonderful atonement that can pardon us of
our every sin. It requires our hearing the gospel (Rom.
10:17), believing in the deity of Christ (Jn. 8:24), repenting of
sin (Luke 13:5), confessing our faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38), being baptized in water (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom.
6:3,4; 1 Pet. 3:21), and striving to live faithfully unto death in
order that heaven will be our eternal home (Rev. 2:10; Heb.
10:36-39). And if we have done that to become a child of God,
then let us also take heed to Paul's instruction in 1 Timothy 2:1-4
to pray for all men everywhere. For what an important duty and
privilege that is!
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-2-
News & Notes
For those of us who are Christians, let us be remembering in prayer
Pauline Moyer (Sue Stutzman's mother) who is 98 years old and
has gone into renal failure.
Let us also be praying for the family and friends of Gary Babin
(Rory Babin's uncle) who recently passed away. We extend
our condolences to all his loved ones.
And remember also Bill Barfield (Linda Blevins' uncle) who
is now at a rehab center in Slidell, Louisiana. He is 86 years
old, on dialysis, a ventilator, and had also fractured some
vertebrae in his neck from a recent fall.
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom.
10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins
(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet.
3:21).
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can
be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Park Forest
CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)