Read 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Are you satisfied with the way your congregation prays? Do you think that its prayers are
As Paul encourages Timothy and the church in Ephesus about prayer he uses 4 particular words. “Requests” are simply petitions to God based on a sense of spiritual need. “Prayers” is the most general word for prayer in the New Testament, including or incorporating all types of prayers. “Intercession” has many and varied meanings in the Greek ranging from an encounter to a petition but contextually means bringing another before the Lord. The fourth word, “Thanksgiving,” is not separated in the Greek by the word ‘and’ as it is in the NIV. As such it could reflect the attitude with which we are to bring our prayers, petitions and intercessions before the Lord or it could be that we should be thankful for others while in the Lord’s presence as Paul has modelled in many of his prayers.
Paul probably didn’t mean to express rigid distinctions between these types of prayer. The passage is not encouraging us to pray requests, then prayers, then intercessions and then thanksgivings, as though there were something rigidly different and unique about each type of prayer. This is not some formula to ensure that our prayers are heard and answered. More realistically, the passage is probably meant to incite us to see the urgency, the need and the necessity of prayer.
This is further endorsed by Paul’s exhortation to men in V 8.
“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
Paul does not say he wants men to be offering up requests, prayers, intercession and then thanksgivings. Rather Paul is saying that he wants men to be praying. Even more so, Paul wants men everywhere to be lifting up holy hands in prayer without anger and disputing. Holy hands is a reference to a life of righteousness. Paul wants men to be sincere, not hypocritical. He wants men to be living in righteousness and coming to God in righteousness. He wants men to cease their anger and to put down their disputing and disunity. Prayer in unity and oneness is a powerful prayer.
It may be tempting to change the word ‘men’ in verse 8 to ‘people’ so as to join in the non-sexist language of the day. But such a translation misses a major point. Paul is talking specifically to men. He’ll talk specifically to women in Vs 9-15. But of course the exhortation applies to women and children and all believers but Paul here is addressing the men in the congregation. He wants them to stand united. He wants them to be holy and righteous, not two faced and hypocritical. He wants them to lay aside petty differences and useless disputes so that they can pray in unity and oneness.
Prayer is powerful and God has chosen to work through our prayers. Let’s strive to stand together in unity, in love and in oneness as we lift up holy hands in prayer. Are you satisfied with the way your congregation prays? Do you think that its prayers are honouring to God and biblically sound? By now you should be able to make a sound judgement.
Prayer:
Using today’s Bible passage and notes write down points for
Adoration:
Confession
Thanks
Supplication:
· Pray that the men of your congregation would be lifting up holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing. Pray that those who are at loggerheads would resolve their differences and stand united before God.
· Pray that leaders across Christian denominational boundaries would stand united and lift up holy hands together in prayer without anger or disputing.
1. What does Paul teach about prayer in these verses?
2. What is Paul’s point in talking to men and women separately in these verses?
3. Discuss the prayer life of your congregation and suggest ways you could make it even better.
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