I Timothy

Mr. D's Notes on I Timothy
Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.
Copyright 2000

CHAPTER 10

When we were in Bible college way too long ago, we met an older couple in the church we had decided to attend. He also worked in the same business where I worked so we were able to see a lot of each other.

One of the things I remember most about Lou was the way he prayed. He lived this passage in his prayer life. Each time in Wednesday evening prayer meeting he would pray for the saints, he would pray for the lost, he would pray for the state officials, he would pray for national leaders and he would pray for world leaders. This was an integrated part of his prayer life.

Lou was also one of the most kind, meek men I have run across in this life. He and his wife would assist most anyone in any way that they could. They were some of the more spiritual people that I have had the privilege to meet.

One of his joys was to attend the Christian businessmen's luncheons monthly. He often invited others to go with him - often lost folks. He used this as one of his witnessing tools in reaching the lost.

As we enter into chapter two, we notice that Paul covers prayer before he begins to cover the proper life styles of believers and church leaders. He also covers prayer just after he mentions shipwrecked saints and warring the good warfare. Prayer is the answer to a multitude of problems it would seem.

Prayer is also the required ingredient in a properly functioning church, as well as the church's leadership!

Paul now shifts gears - he moves from the exhortation concerning false teachers to what I might call false worship. It is not that the Ephesians were worshiping false gods, but that they were worshiping God incorrectly. Evidently Paul had noticed some problems when he was there that he wanted Timothy to get to work on.

Now that he has the false teachers out of the church - let's get to the work of the Lord!

I Cor. 14.40 sets the stage for proper worship. "Let all things be done decently and in order." It will become evident in coming verses that this was not being accomplished at Ephesus.

I. SAINTS PRAYING

2:1-2a "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2:2a For kings, and [for] all that are in authority;"

This passage seems to connect to 1:18. Paul has encouraged Timothy to wage a good warfare, and then in 2:1 he is telling him just how he can do that successfully. PRAY!

"Exhort" has the idea of begging or entreating and urging someone to do something. Paul realizes that prayer is a key to Timothy's success and he wants to remind Timothy of one of the building blocks toward the victory.

Supplication is something done within the general heading of prayer.

Supplication is a petition or request - something requested as a result of a need. Supplication has the idea of giving rational reason for a request. When a request is made for something or someone, explain to God why you think the request should be answered.

You want to be very careful in your thinking on this one. When in Wyoming we had run up a little debt picking up some computer equipment etc. and as I was praying I almost asked the Lord to allow us to get out of debt. As I considered it, I ask myself if I could give Him a logical explanation as to why He should.

The debt was incurred for our ministry and the time that it would save, but it was a conscious choice on our part to take on the debt. It had nothing to do with God taking on the debt. We had a peace about making the purchases before the Lord, yet I felt that to seek the relief of debt would be out of line. I laid it before the Lord that I realized that we had taken on these responsibilities and that we would enjoy not having them if He would desire to eliminate them for us. He could do it in a moment, or He may let us pay them off as we were able, to encourage us to not do it again.

The term supplication may be slightly different than prayer in that the supplication might involve you as part of the answer, while prayer, is a general term, however some feel is limited to those things which only God can answer.

I had a pastor friend tell me of a situation years ago when one of his church members came in with a terrible car problem. The man's car had need of major repairs which would have been a poor investment, and the man had no money for a different car or repairs. The pastor told the man to sit down and that they would pray about it. My friend told me that he had barely approached the Lord when the Spirit prodded him about the two cars he owned, but never used. He stopped praying and looked the man in the eye and said you have a car - you can have one of mine. This would be supplication. God through the Holy Spirit answered the prayer by involving the one praying.

Hiebert says of intercessions "occurring only here and in 4:5 in the New Testament, suggests thought of confidence in prayer. It does not have the limitation of being for others, as implied in our English term. It was used for a petition of any kind to a superior. It speaks of personal and confiding intercourse with God on the part of one qualified to approach Him. A life lived in fellowship with God gives confidence in prayer." First Timothy; D. Edmond Hiebert; Moody Press; Chicago; 1957, p50

Wiersbe elaborates on this thought. "This same word is translated "prayer" in I Timothy 4:5, where it refers to blessing the food we eat." "The basic meaning is "to draw near to a person and converse confidently with him." It suggests that we enjoy fellowship with God so that we have confidence in Him as we pray." THE BIBLE EXPOSITION COMMENTARY; Warren Wiersbe; Victor Books; Wheaton; 1989; p 215.

The verb form of this term is translated intercession in two very interesting passages.

Rom. 8.26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with confidence!

Heb. 7.25 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Intercession by Christ on our part with confidence! We have two members of the Trinity praying with confidence to the Father concerning our needs.

We see in the terms "giving thanks" the idea of thanking God for past and future answers. This compliments or completes our prayers. When you say, "Pass the potatoes," you usually say thank you when you get them. If you ask God for something and you get it then thanksgiving should be automatic.

Trench mentions concerning thanksgiving something that is of interest which I had not considered in this text before.

"As such it may and will subsist in heaven (Rev. 4:9; 7:12); will indeed be larger, deeper, fuller there than here; for only there will the redeemed know how much they owe to their Lord; and this, while all other forms of prayer in the very nature of things will have ceased in the entire fruition of the things prayed for." THE INTERPRETATION OF ST. PAUL'S EPISTLES TO THE COLOSSIANS, TO THE THESSALONIANS, TO TIMOTHY, TO TITUS AND TO PHILEMON; R. C. H. Lenski; Augsburg Publishing House; Minneapolis; 1937; p 539. THERE WILL ONLY BE THANKS GIVING IN HEAVEN - NOTHING TO ASK FOR OR NEED!

What is meant by pray for ALL men? Why should we? We should pray for all men, not just the missionaries and the pastor, but the other men in the church, other men in the community, and other men in the world, indeed, all of mankind.

Lenski puts it this way: "No matter how far away men may be, the prayers of the church are able to reach them. Who can number all men? Yet these prayers omit none. "All men" transcends even national confines. "All men" means that, although millions do not pray or pray aright, the congregations of true believers who do know how to pray speak for them and leave none unprayed for. Paul does not seem to be afraid that a congregation may pray for too many or ask too much. If such praying were useless, the apostle would not write what he does write." THE INTERPRETATION OF ST. PAUL'S EPISTLES TO THE COLOSSIANS, TO THE THESSALONIANS, TO TIMOTHY, TO TITUS AND TO PHILEMON; R. C. H. Lenski; Augsburg Publishing House; Minneapolis; 1937; p 539.

What did we hear recently of world population? Six billion people on the earth and Paul informs us that God wants us to pray for all of them! What a job, but on the other hand what an honor! This might give the admonition to pray without ceasing new meaning.

The Pharisees prayed to please men, we should pray to please God.

It crossed my mind, why would praying for all men please God. The only answer I can think of is that when we pray for all men, we pray for all God's creations! Relate this to the thought that He wants all men to be saved and you know that He will be pleased as we pray for His will - all men's salvation.

While I was an interim pastor in Oregon one of the deacons of the church asked if we should pray for lost people. I took some time to study this for him and this passage is one of the texts I ran into.

I would like to deviate from the text for a short study in this area for indeed, praying for all men relates to praying for the lost.

1. In that God desires all to come to Him, it would be logical that we should pray toward that end for the lost in general. Specifically those that we know. II Pet 3.9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

2. Matt 5.44 mentions, "pray for them which despitefully use you. . . . " Another passage of similar language is Luke 6:28. This is the context of enemies, those that curse you and people that despitefully use you. You are to pray for the latter.

Pray for what? Might I suggest you pray for a change of heart, for growth, for salvation, and for personal relations?

3. Matt 19.13 hints at the fact that some thought Christ might pray for children. There is no indication that they all were believing children. "Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them."

Again what might we pray for? Some suggestions - guidance through childhood, the child's salvation, for the child's spiritual education.

4. Pray for those that would hear the apostles words and come to know God is mentioned in John 17.20, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;" This gives clear proof that we should pray for lost men's salvation or the situation that might bring them to it.

Pray for the salvation of the lost - that the Holy Spirit might draw the lost to the Lord.

5. Christ approached the Father in John 17.9 mentioning, "I pray for them: I pray not for the world. . . . " This could indicate that there may be a limit in how we pray for the lost, or world, however the People's New Testament commentary suggests that Christ is just saying, I am not praying for the world now - I am praying for these now.

6. Christ prayed for the lost soldiers that cast lots for His clothes. Luke 23.34, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." This might relate to people that rebuff you when you witness.

7. I Tim 2.1-4 clearly commands us to pray for kings and all that are in authority. This will surely sometime include lost people. Pray that we can live quietly and peaceably would indicate we ought to pray for good relationships with these people.

Verse four certainly brings the lost persons salvation into the picture as well.

If you relate I Timothy 2.1-4 to Romans 13 and our command to be submissive to the government, you might see a pattern relating to the quiet and peaceable life as well.

What else might we pray about?

a. governing ability
b. mercy on people
c. Godly outlook
d. wisdom in knowing people, laws, etc.
e. softness toward Christian beliefs. (The Romans martyred believers. There are believers in Africa in 1999 being killed for their faith.)

Not to get political but how do we pray for a leader like Bill Clinton? He said he was a believer, but he lived in sin.

David Brinkley on the Sunday morning show 4-29-96 asked his colleagues if they thought that Bill would lie to the special investigators taped testimony. One or two of the commentators mentioned, well we know that he lies so....

For leaders such as this, pray for salvation or correct living which ever is needed, honesty, a proper moral life and if need be confession.

I must admit on a personal level, I was not praying for Bill Clinton - I was too busy discussing his disgusting ways - this I say to my own shame, and as I look back on it, many other Christians were in the same boat - we were caught up in the condemnation, rather than the intercession.

MacArthur has a section in chapter six of his book on the Old Testament men that prayed for lost Israel that was very interesting if you would like further study on this. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1 Timothy)

And that all-inclusive phrase "all that are in authority." That means teachers, pastors, parents, husbands, bosses, police officers etc.

II. SAINTS LIVING

2:2b "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

How does this relate to us today?

Pray for kings, even Clinton, and even Yeltsen? Some would say, "Why should I pray for them?"

Paul was asking the church at Ephesus to pray for Nero. Nero was one of the prime movers in the great persecutions of Christians in the early days of the church. He even dipped them in oil and burned them to light his huge parties.

Now if the early Christians were to pray for Nero and those following him, we ought to be able to pray for leaders of our own time - none I know of are this bad - though I specify at this time.

It should be noted also that thanks is involved!

Theophilus of Antioch (second-century) said "I will rather honor the king [than your gods], not, indeed, worshiping him, but praying for him. But God, the living and true God, I worship, knowing that the king is made by Him....Honour the king, be subject to him, and pray for him with loyal mind; for if you do this, you do the will of God." Theophilus to Autolycus, I.xi; the Ante-Nicene Fathers [reprint; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971, 2:92.

MacArthur quotes Tertullian (a third-century theologian): "Without ceasing, for all our emperors we offer prayer. We pray for life prolonged; for security to the empire; for protection to the imperial house; for brave armies, a faithful senate, a virtuous people, the world at rest, whatever, as man or Caesar, an emperor would wish. These things I cannot ask from any but the god from whom I know I shall obtain them, both because He alone bestows them and because I have claims upon Him for their gift, as being a servant of His, rendering homage to Him alone...." THE MACARTHUR NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY I TIMOTHY; John MacArthur; Moody Press; Chicago; 1995; p 64.

Paul wanted the German Christians to pray for Hitler. Indeed, he wanted all Christians to pray for Hitler. He wants us to pray for the most evil people on earth as well!

Food for thought:

What would have happened with Hitler had Christians been praying?
With Nixon had Christians been praying?
With Clinton had Christians been praying?

Now mark my words - be sure to get this right - We are told to pray for them not prey upon them.

"all in authority" - this even gets down to people like your employer and the state and local police department. PRAY FOR THOSE CLOWNS THAT WANT YOU TO DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT!

Why? "...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

This is the result Paul expected.

Is it possible that the trouble Christians have in so many countries around the world with their government is caused because they as a whole have failed in this part of their prayer life? It seems very possible, for God tells us to do it that we may be at peace!

This may well be the reason for growing unrest in America. We should be praying more for our leaders, more for heads of networks, heads of publishing houses for ALL men.

I recently read an article detailing the evolution of a Bible software company. It has gone from company to company and most of the companies after the first transition were unregenerate corporations. The interesting part is that the heads of these conglomerates have retained a Christian to head the Bible software entity. We might well pray that this continues so that the Word is not corrupted by power and greed. Actually I think it may be too late on the greed part - the program sells for ninety-nine dollars for the cheapest version and almost 300 for the high-end version.

We should pray for Christian publishers - only a handful are privately owned. Most are part of large secular corporations.

We might pray that more Christians get into the political arena. I don't encourage ministers to do so because they have a calling to their work, but other believers should consider the possibilities. God can use believers in government.

Praying for all men is to be an integrated part of the minister's and church's life whether it is for kings, authorities or paupers. All men contribute to the society we so easily enjoy.

Personally I thank God for the classical composers and the music which they left for us to enjoy. I often felt guilty thinking of praying about men, probably some of which were ungodly, indeed, we are told by historians some were perverse, however God allowed them to create and we enjoy their efforts.

Yes, we need to thank God for these men for it was only by God's grace that their work was set down or even transmitted to our time. We can enjoy this music - we can enjoy great art works etc.

What are some other reasons why we should pray for all men?

a. They are all God's creation. We are all made in the image of God, and as such should appreciate one another. Now that's a tall order.

Indeed, as we pray for all men, we will become more acquainted with God's view of them and it might move us in the area of missions.

God loves the world, not just believers. Each person is important to God thus should be important to us.

b. The possibility of your witnessing to the person is also an item of consideration. Pray for all that you deal with seeking the Lord's help in reaching them for Him.

When Faith and I were custodians at our church in Oregon, we found several times that someone had used the church garbage dumpster for their garbage. I started watching for evidence of the culprit's identity. At Christmas time they dumped a bunch of Christmas wrappings, and among them was a wrapper from a mailed package that had their name and address on it.

I took the address part to the pastor and he stated that he would take care of it.

I asked him some time later how he had taken care of it. He stated that he had taped the address to the top of the dumpster, so that they would know that we knew who they were. He told me that his grandfather had told him many years before that you should always leave any relationship with any person in a manner in which you would be free to witness to them later if the opportunity came. The pastor asked me to let him know if there was any more improper dumping. There was not. The pastor had not made an enemy!

c. The person's occupation may well contribute to society. Where would we be if all farmers disappeared? I would hate to think how many years it would take me to get a crop of any worth into the barn and be able to feed Faith and myself.

Where would we be if the power plants were unmanned? We would be running on oil lamps, as long as the oil men kept pumping and the marketing men kept marketing.

Ray Stedman shared with his congregation the reality of this verse. "Some of the young Christians who work in Vacaville prison tell me that the Christians there regard themselves as the control apparatus to keep the peace of that prison. When riots threaten or when violence breaks out in the prison, the Christian prisoners gather together and ask themselves, "What has gone wrong with us?" When discord is present among the Christians, they always expect, and almost always see, immediate restlessness in the whole prison. They have learned that God will keep the prison peaceful when the Christians are at peace, and in right relationship with him. That is a very significant confirmation of what the apostle is stressing here.

"In fact, one of these men told me that some months ago the chief psychologist of the California prison system was asked by the Prison Board why was it that Vacaville prison had fewer riots and less trouble than any other prison in the state. The man said, "The only thing I can suggest is that there is a group of Christians up there who pray for Vacaville prison. That may not mean much to you," he said, "but that is what appears to me to make the difference."" (From http://www.pbc.org/dp/stedman/timothy/3768.html; Ray Stedman; sermon on I Timothy 2.1ff)

You might want to read Titus 3.1-3 for further along these lines.

III. SAINTS PLEASING

2:3 "For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;"

If we really desire to do our best for God then we would mark this down as something to do.

IT IS GOOD & ACCEPTABLE TO GOD to pray for all men. How easily we can do something that is good in the sight of God. Why in the world wouldn't every believer take this one on to their personal goal list?

IIII. SAINTS WITNESSING

2:4 "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

What does ALL MEN mean to the average Christian in this context? Do we really think of the world?

I've been seeing some very misguided people that are saying that the world is 75% evangelized: There are 12,000 total people groups in the world. There are 9,000 of them that have A gospel witness thus the world is 75% evangelized - this is their thinking. Is it any wonder that mission agencies are having increasing trouble finding workers and funds - the WORK IS ALMOST DONE! The Devil has been seriously busy on this one.

The truth is closer to the reality that half the world has never heard the Gospel.

How will they hear if Christians are telling other Christians that the job is almost done? God wants all of mankind to come to a saving knowledge of Him!

This is like saying America is totally evangelized if they have one church - imagine, if your church were the only church in your country would you feel your people had been evangelized?

How can this ever happen if they never hear the Gospel. Rom. 10:13-15 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

Knowledge is a word that depicts a complete knowledge of truth - this is the Lord's desire for all of mankind - knowledge unto salvation.

The key to this passage is certainly that God wills to have all men saved. Praying and living are two ways that we can assist God in accomplishing this task. SOMETHING EVERY BELIEVER CAN BE INVOLVED IN!

Richard Baxter a puritan gave some appropriate thoughts to end our study with.

"Oh, if you have the hearts of Christians or of men in you, let them yearn towards your poor ignorant, ungodly neighbors. Alas, there is but a step betwixt them and death and hell; many hundred diseases are waiting ready to seize on them, and if they die unregenerate, they are lost forever. Have you hearts of rock, that cannot pity men in such a case as this? If you believe not the Word of God, and the danger of sinners, why are you Christians yourselves? If you do believe it, why do you not bestir yourself to the helping of others? Do you not care who is damned, so you be saved? If so, you have sufficient cause to pity yourselves, for it is a frame of spirit utterly inconsistent with grace .... Dost thou live close by them, or meet them in the streets, or labour with them, or travel with them, or sit and talk with them, and say nothing to them of their souls, or the life to come? If their houses were on fire, thou wouldst run and help them; and wilt thou not help them when their souls are almost at the fire of hell?" (Cited in I. D. E. Thomas, A Puritan Golden Treasury [Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1977], 92-93)