Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 14

Paul Exhorts Timothy to Pray for All Men Part 1

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; KJV

Paul now shifts his focus on exhorting and instructing brother Timothy on how he should pray with these words, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;" (1 Timothy 2:1) (KJV). Prayer for the Apostle Paul was not a mere rite, ritual, or rule that he must obey, but instead prayer for the Apostle Paul's spirit was like breathing or breath was for his body. Paul wanted brother Timothy and we believers today to understand and be actively engaged in speaking to our Heavenly Father at all times and for all things. The English word 'supplications' is translated by the Greek word deesis meaning a petition: a humble request to God the Father for help. The English word 'prayers' is translated by the Greek word  proseuchē meaning prayer (worship); by implication an oratory (chapel): reverent communication with God the Father through speaking words out loud or through saying the words to Him in one's mind (silent praying or prayer).

Here is what John Wesley said concerning 'supplications' and 'prayers', "Supplication is here the imploring help in time of need: prayer is any kind of offering up our desires to God. But true prayer is the vehemency of holy zeal, the ardour of divine love, arising from a calm, undisturbed soul, moved upon by the Spirit of God." This was the normal course of life for the Apostle Paul when it came to praying for others as it is written by him about the believers in the Church @ Philippi with these words, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty {and} petition for you all with joy (delight)." (Philippians 1:3-4) (Amplified Bible). In other words, supplications made to God the Father are pleas for help from Him to ward off the evil attacks that are constantly coming our way from the evil one and his principalities and powers, that is, to prevent the occurence of evil against us from the evil one. Whereas, prayers are made by us to our Heavenly Father that we might obtain the 'good things' spiritual things (love, joy, peace, etc.) and the temporal things (food, shelter, clothing) that we need down here in our sojourn or pilgrimage here on the earth before we are brought to be with Him  eternally in Heaven.

The English word 'intercessions' is translated by the Greek word enteuxis which means an interview, by extension to entreat (in favor or against): properly the coming near to God with childlike confidence, generally in behalf of another. In other words, intercessions or the practice of interceeding is when our prayers have nothing to do with our own wants or needs, but instead we are making request to our Heavenly Father on behalf of another person or persons entirely. The little English phrase 'and giving of thanks' is translated by one Greek word eucharistia which means gratitude; actually grateful language (to God, as an act of worship). In other words, every prayer to our Heavenly Father should always begin with us giving Him thanks for everything we are and everything we have and for sending our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to sacrifice Himself for our sins and not just ours, but for the sins of the whole world (John 1:29). Paul instructs brother Timothy that all this be done (not just for or on the behalf of other believers), but for all men, even those men who were then and are still today persecuting the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"That is, as the first duty to be enjoined; the thing that is to be regarded with primary concern. It does not mean that this was to be the first thing in public worship in the order of time, but that it was to be regarded as a duty of primary importance. The duty of praying for the salvation of the whole world was not to be regarded as a subordinate and secondary thing." Albert Barnes

"Prayer for the pardon of sin, and for obtaining necessary supplies of grace, and continual protection from God, with gratitude and thanksgiving for mercies already received, are duties which our sinful and dependent state renders absolutely necessary; and which should be chief in our view, and first of all performed. It is difficult to know the precise difference between the four words used here by the Apostle." Adam Clarke

"A charge given to Christians to pray for all men in general, and particularly for all in authority. Timothy must take care that this be done. Paul does not send him any prescribed form of prayer, as we have reason to think he would if he had intended that ministers should be tied to that way of praying; but, in general, that they should make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks: supplications for the averting of evil, prayers for the obtaining of good, intercessions for others, and thanksgivings for mercies already received. Paul thought it enough to give them general heads; they, having the scripture to direct them in prayer and the Spirit of prayer poured out upon them, needed not any further directions." Matthew Henry

"The two principal parts of public worship, being the ministry of the word and prayer; and the Apostle having insisted on the former, in the preceding chapter, in which he orders Timothy to charge some that they teach no other doctrine than that of the Gospel, gives an account of his own ministry, and call to it, and of the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to his trust, and stirs up Timothy to the faithful and diligent discharge of his work and office; now proceeds to the latter, to prayer, and exhorts unto it; either Timothy in particular, for so read the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, 'I exhort thee', or 'desire thee'; or else the Church in general; unless it should rather be thought to be a charge to Timothy to exhort, and so Beza's Claromontane copy reads, 'exhort thou therefore': but it is commonly considered as an exhortation of the Apostle's, which he was very urgent in: it was what lay much upon his mind, and he was greatly desirous that it should be attended unto; for so the words may be read, 'I exhort first of all', or before all things; of all things he had to say, this was the chief, or it was what he would have principally and chiefly done by others: for this does not so much regard the order of time, that prayer should be made early in the morning, in the first place, before anything else is done, and particularly before preaching, which seems to have been the custom of the primitive saints, Acts 4:31, but the pre-eminence and superior excellency of it; though the words may be rendered, 'I exhort, that first, the supplications of all be made': and so may regard public prayer, the prayer of the whole Church, in distinction from private prayer, or the prayer of a single person; which is expressed by different words." Dr. John Gill

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…