Prayers’ Types, Subjects, and Motives

1 Timothy 2:1-5a

The words “first of all” (2:1a) relate not to primacy of time but primacy of importance. Prayer is to be a top priority in the life of a Christian. It is not saying that prayer should be the first order of worship. The idea of a worship service is by no means inherent in the context. Then again, prayer should not be just a filler between other acts of worship. Prayer is to take priority over our daily schedule. It is not something to do if you have time or happen to need something. Jesus took special time out to pray to God. When the Hellenist widows were being neglected, the apostles did not want to neglect God’s Word or God in prayer. So seven good men were picked out to take care of these needy widows. It was not that they were too good or important to serve widows. But prayer to God and preaching His Word was of primary importance to God. “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). Notice that prayer is placed before preaching. If prayer is so important than why is it that people will attend singings and the preaching of a Gospel Meeting but neglect prayer meetings?

Types of Prayers

Paul list several terms that our synonymous for prayer (2:1b). Supplications are requests coming from a sense of need. Christians need their daily bread and are to petition to God for His supplies as the Father is the Giver of all good things (Js. 1:17). The saints have need for supplies, but not just those of a physical nature like, food, shelter, funds, clothing, health, work, etc. Christians need strength for resisting temptation, wisdom, forgiveness of sins, etc. Prayers is translated from the Greek work proseuche. It is a general word for prayer and includes all types of prayer. However, its use in this context would indicate specific prayers. Some believe it is used in reference to petitions that only God can satisfy like, forgiveness of sins. However, other words for prayer can rightly include such requests. These types of prayers may be those demonstrating a man’s total dependence on God alone. The next type of prayer, intercessions refer to petitions offered up to God on behalf of others. As Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom (Gen. 18:24-32). Christ’s intercessory prayers for Peter (Lk. 22:31-34) and the lengthy intercession in the garden of Gethsemane are good examples. Finally, there is the giving of thanks. As Christians have so much to be thankful for, expressions of gratitude to God should come easy.

Subjects of Prayer

The subjects or our prayers is to be in behalf of all men not just our fellow Christians (2:1c-2). God is not a respecter of persons and his children must not pray with bias toward any but with favor to all The Pharisees sought to pray only for Israel. Although Nero was the ruler of the world-wide Roman Empire, he was to be the subject of the prayers of first century saints. After all, civil government is ordained of God. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Rom. 13:1; cf. 13:2-5; 1 Pet. 2:13-17). In the Old Testament the Jews were commanded to pray for their heathen rulers (Ezra 6:10; Jer. 29:7). Early Christian writers give us insight into their prayers for rulers. Tertullian prayed for the Emperor and his citizens to have a “long life, secure dominion, a safe home, a faithful senate, a righteous people, and a world at peace; and that God may grant, both to caesar and to every man, the accomplishment of their just desires”” (Apology 30). Theophilus of Antioch writes: “The honor that I will give the Emperor is all the greater, because I will not worship him, but I will pray for him. I will worship no one but the true and real God, for I know that the Emperor was appointed by him….” (Apology 1: 11). Believers were taught to support the government, not rebel against it.

What about bad rulers? Rulers who are godless and ungodly? Nero was in Rome at the time of Paul’s letter to Timothy. He set fire to Rome in 64 A.D. and used the Christians as a scapegoat for his actions. The persecution that ensued later cost Paul his very head. Prayer for Nero was not to sanction or approve of his persecution of Christians.

So why pray for them? “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like a the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Prov. 21:1). Even if they are enemies of Christ and Christians, enemies are to be prayed for as Christ commanded “but I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44).

Two blessing will result from our prayers for all men and even wicked rulers. First, we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. “That” introduces the intended result of the prayers. Who does not want a life that is not troubled by those from without so they than find tranquility from within? When holding a Gospel Meeting in east Texas my married daughter was in the back seat giving me directions to the country home where we were having our Sunday dinner. Telling me which road to keep a lookout for she directed, “Dad, we are looking for Tranquility.” I responded, “Tia, aren’t we all…aren’t we all.” If you want to live in a country where your fellow man and the government permits you to live the Christian life without fear of harassment, you need to keep on praying for them. Remember, it does not make sense to live one way and pray another and it is benign to pray one way and vote another. Secondly, praying for all will result in us leading lives in all godliness and reverence. A life of religious devotion or godliness cannot be maintained without God’s help with our fellow man. They are not wanting to live that lifestyle. The world seems to be insulted and threatened by those who live godly in this world. They do not have respect or a serious attitude toward God. If you want them to be at least tolerant toward you, continue in prayer for them.

Motives of Prayer

The Divine motive for having Christians pray for everyone is that God finds “it good and acceptable” (2:3). It is intrinsically good. That is a good work in and of itself regardless of the effects of the prayers. In other words, prayers do not have to have a positive answer from God in order to be good. As long as the motives of prayer are pure, the prayers are good before God. In contrast, the Pharisees prayed in order to be praised by men (Mt. 6:5) or to impress other worshipers (Lk. 18:9-14).

Another motive of God in requesting men to pray to Him for all men is that God desires “all to be saved” (2:4a). Again the Jews of the first century stand in contrast to this motive. They believed that God is not interested in the salvation of all men, just those who are of the seed of Abraham. Gnostics felt that salvation was only for those who were the spiritually elite. Calvinist reason that salvation is only for those individual souls who have been elected to it before the world began. God does not want any one to be lost. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). However, all men will not be saved because all men have a free will to chose to obey the Gospel or not. Our prayers and God’s Will cannot force people to do anything against their will. Prayer or desire for all to be saved will not guarantee anyone being saved. Remember, the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth (Matt. 6:10). If the saints want what the Father in Heaven wants, they will all pray and work at saving the souls of all men, even that of the President.

The third motivation behind God’s command for His children to pray for all is His desire that all “come to the knowledge of the truth” (2:4b). Yes, there is such a thing as truth. The saints are not to prayer for tolerance of everyone’s beliefs as if they are all equal. Prayers are not given so all men can embrace whatever truths they desire. There is only one Truth, not truths. Salvation demands that the lost come to know what is the Truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). In order for this to happen Christians should pray to the Lord of harvest to send out workers into the harvest fields (Matt. 9:38); to give them opportunities to teach the truth to others (Eph. 6:19,20); and for open doors of opportunities (Col. 4:3). Since the Great Commission is not the great suggestion and the Gospel is for all, prayers are essential.

The final motive of God in having Christians pray for all men is the fact that God is one (2:5a). There is no other God beside Him. Who else can Christians pray to? The gods of the Hindus cannot save. Allah cannot even hear the multitude of prayers by Muslims. Only God has the Truth that leads to salvation. Only God cares for the salvation of their souls. Only His children have access to His throne of grace (Heb. 4:16)

– Daniel R. Vess