I Timothy 2:1-8

1. types of prayer - 2:1
1. supplication
1. an expression of our need
2. recognition of our great need for the gifts & blessings of God
3. stresses the idea of intense pleading, even begging
2. prayers
1. the common word for talking to God
2. implies worship, adoration & reverence
3. intercession
1. making request for others
2. implies free access to God
4. giving of thanks
1. this should be a part of every prayer
2. no matter what our condition, we enjoy many undeserved blessings from God
3. unthankfulness is a great sin
4. unthankfulness is a mark of the apostasy in the last times
5. prayer in the local church is not optional, it is a responsibility
2. who to pray for - 2:1-2
1. all men – 1
1. includes the saved and unsaved; men and women
2. no racial, political or social class is excluded
3. all need the grace & mercy of God
2. for kings and all that are in authority
1. Paul is singling out one group that should be mentioned in public prayer
2. they have the greatest power for good or evil
3. this group might be the most easily hated by Christians
4. Jesus taught us to pray for those that mistreat us
3. the reason for prayer - 2:2-4
1. that we may live quiet & peaceful lives - 2 1
1. "quiet" - free from outward disturbances
2. "peaceable" - inward tranquillity
3. prayer is not the only ingredient for this kind of living
1. "godliness" - devotion to God (duty)
2. "honesty" - our duty to fellow men
2. it is pleasing to God – 3
3. God desires all men to be saved – 4
1. God doesn't want anyone to go to hell
2. no one ever goes to hell that does not belong there
3. before a man can be saved, he must accept the truth
4. this verse proves...
1. salvation is provided for all
2. salvation should be offered to all men
3. man is to blame if they are not saved
4. how do we know that salvation can be had by all - 2:5-7
1. there is only one God – 5
1. He wants everyone to be saved
2. the gods, that sinful men worship, do not exist
3. if many gods did exist, then there would be many ways to approach those many gods
4. since only one God exist, He has a right to determine the proper way of coming unto Him
2. there is one mediator – 5
1. "mediator" - one who intervenes between two, in order to restore peace
2. the necessity of a mediator is seen in the moral gulf between God & man
3. there is only one mediator
3. Christ Jesus is the mediator – 5
4. what Christ did to become the mediator – 6
1. there was a gift - "gave"
1. the death of Christ was voluntary
2. it was a gift of love
2. Christ gave Himself
1. He was both the gift & the giver
2. He was both the priest & the sacrifice
3. Christ is the ransom
1. "ransom" is a compound word
2. to set free
3. in the place of
4. He paid for man's sins in full, not just a down payment
4. Christ is a substitute "for all"
1. this is why prayer should be made for all
2. proof that God wants all to be saved
5. what Christ did, is to be preached in all the world ("to be testified") – 6
6. Paul was sent with the message to the Gentiles – 7
5. the command to pray - 2:8
1. prayer is important and needful because of what Paul just said ("therefore")
2. men are to pray
1. this task is not to be left for the woman and children
2. men need to pray too
3. men are to pray everywhere
1. any place is a good place to pray
2. public prayer is to be done by men
1. the duties of women are different
2. early Christians had no special building for meeting in
3. early Christians met in the homes of various Christians
4. regardless of the meeting place, men were to lead in prayer
4. men were to pray without wrath or doubting
1. men who expect to get prayers answered must be men of God
2. toward others there must be no wrath
3. toward God there must be faith without doubting