1 Timothy 2:2

Contextual Overview

¹ First of all, I ask that you pray for all people. Ask God to bless them and give them what they need. And give thanks. ¹ First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, ¹ I exhorte therfore that above all thynges prayers supplicacions intercessions and gevynge of thankes behad for all men: ¹ I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: ¹ First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, ¹ First, I tell you to pray for all people, asking God for what they need and being thankful to him. ¹ I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; ¹ I exhort therefore, that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks be made for all men; ¹ First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ¹ I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

kings: Ezra 6:10, Nehemiah 1:11, Psalms 20:1-4, Psalms 72:1, Jeremiah 29:7

for all: Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13

authority: or, eminent place

that: Genesis 49:14, Genesis 49:15, 2 Samuel 20:19, Proverbs 24:21, Ecclesiastes 3:12, Ecclesiastes 3:13, Ecclesiastes 8:2-5, Romans 12:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Hebrews 12:14

all godliness: Luke 1:6, Luke 2:25, Acts 10:22, Acts 24:16, Philippians 4:8, Titus 2:10-14, 1 Peter 2:9-13, 2 Peter 1:3-7

Reciprocal: Joshua 1:17 - only the Lord 1 Samuel 10:25 - General 2 Samuel 24:23 - The Lord 2 Corinthians 13:7 - honest 2 Thessalonians 3:12 - that with 2 Timothy 3:12 - live Titus 3:1 - to be subject 1 Peter 2:12 - honest 1 Peter 3:4 - quiet 2 Peter 1:6 - godliness

Cross-References

Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything that he had made, and, look, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31
God looked at everything he had made, and it was very good. Evening passed, and morning came. This was the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31
God saw all that he had made—and it was very good! There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, [it was] very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31
God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31
God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Genesis 1:31
And God seiy alle thingis whiche he made, and tho weren ful goode. And the euentid and morwetid was maad, the sixte day.

Genesis 1:31
And God seeth all that He hath done, and lo, very good; and there is an evening, and there is a morning -- day the sixth.

Genesis 1:31
And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For kings, and for all that are in authority,.... For supreme governors, as the emperor of Rome, and kings of particular nations; and for all sub-governors, or inferior magistrates, as procurators or governors of provinces, and proconsuls, and the like; all that were in high places, and acted under the authority of those that were supreme; these are particularly mentioned, the then governors, whether supreme or subordinate, who were avowed enemies, and violent persecutors of the saints; and it might be a scruple with some of them, whether they should pray for them, and therefore the apostle enjoins it; and this in opposition to the notions and practices of the Jews, who used to curse the Heathens, and pray for none but for themselves, and those of their own nation:

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty; which does not merely design the end of civil government by kings and magistrates, which is to preserve the peace and quiet of the commonwealth; to protect the persons and properties of men, that they may possess their own undisturbed; and to secure to them their civil and religious rights and liberties, that they may have the free use and exercise of religion, signified by "all godliness"; and to encourage morality and virtue, expressed by "honesty"; and so is an argument for prayer, taken from the advantage of civil government: nor does this clause only point out the duty of saints to live peaceably under the government they are, and not disturb it; to mind only their religious exercises among themselves, and behave honestly and morally among men, as they generally speaking are, the quiet in the land; but also expresses the thing to be prayed for; and the sense is, that since the hearts of kings are in the hands of the Lord, and he can turn them as he pleases, prayer should be made to him for them, that he would either convert them, and bring them to the knowledge of the truth, they now persecuted; or at least so dispose their hearts and minds, that they might stop the persecution, and so saints might live peaceably under them, enjoy their religious liberty, and be encouraged in their moral conversation. The Arabic version renders it, "that they may be preserved": that is, kings, and all in authority. It is a saying of R. Hananiah, or Ananias, the sagan of the priests s,

"pray for the peace or safety of the kingdom (one of their commentators on it adds t, even of the nations of the world, which is remarkable, and agrees with the exhortation of the apostle); for if there was no fear of that, men would devour one another alive.''

s Pirke Abot, c. 3. sect. 2. t Bartenora in Pirke Abot, c. 3. sect. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For kings - On the respect due to rulers, see the notes on Romans 13:1-7. The meaning here is, that while all people should be the subjects of prayer, those should be particularly remembered before the throne of grace who are in authority. The reason is, that so much depends on their character and plans; that the security of life, liberty, and property, depends so much on them. God has power to influence their hearts, and to incline them to what is just and equal; and hence we should pray that a divine influence may descend upon them. The salvation of a king is of itself of no more importance than that of a peasant or a slave; but the welfare of thousands may depend on him, and hence he should be made the special subject of prayer.

All that are in authority - Margin, or, “eminent place.” This does not necessarily mean those who hold office, but refers to any of elevated rank. The happiness of all who are under their control depends greatly on them, and hence we should pray for them that they may be converted people, and inclined to do that which is right.

That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life - That their hearts may be so inclined to what is right that they may protect us in the enjoyment of religion, and that we may not be opposed or harassed by persecution. This does not mean that their protection would dispose us to lead quiet and peaceful lives, but that under their protection we may be saved from oppression on account of our religion. Christians are disposed of themselves to be peaceful and orderly; they ask of their rulers only that they may not be harassed in the enjoyment of their rights.

In all godliness and honesty - In the practice of all our duties toward God, and of all the duties which we owe to people. The word godliness here denotes piety - or the duty which we owe to God; the word honesty refers to our duties to our fellow-men. The Christian asks from civil rulers such protection that; he maybe enabled quietly to perform both these classes of duties.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Timothy 2:2. For kings — As it is a positive maxim of Christianity to pray for all secular governors, so it has ever been the practice of Christians. When St. Cyprian defended himself before the Roman proconsul, he said: Hunc (Deum) deprecamur-pro nobis et pro omnibus hominibus; et pro incolumitate ipsorum Imperatorum. "We pray to God, not only for ourselves, but for all mankind, and particularly for the emperors."

Tertullian, in his Apology, is more particular: Oramus pro omnibus Imperatoribus, vitam illis prolixam, imperium securum, domum tutam, exercitus fortes, senatum fidelem, populum probum, orbem quietum, et quaecunque hominis et Caesaris vota sunt. Apol., cap. 30. "We pray for all the emperors, that God may grant them long life, a secure government, a prosperous family, vigorous troops, a faithful senate, an obedient people; that the whole world may be in peace; and that God may grant, both to Caesar and to every man, the accomplishment of their just desires."

So Origen: Ευχομεθα τους βασιλεις και αρχοντας μετα της βασιλικης δυναμεως και σωφρονα τον λογισμον εχοντας εὑρεθηναι. Cont. Cels., lib. viii. "We pray for kings and rulers, that with their royal authority they may be found possessing a wise and prudent mind." Indeed they prayed even for those by whom they were persecuted. If the state be not in safety, the individual cannot be secure; self-preservation, therefore, should lead men to pray for the government under which they live. Rebellions and insurrections seldom terminate even in political good; and even where the government is radically bad, revolutions themselves are most precarious and hazardous. They who wish such commotions would not be quiet under the most mild and benevolent government.

That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life — We thus pray for the government that the public peace may be preserved. Good rulers have power to do much good; we pray that their authority may be ever preserved and well directed. Bad rulers have power to do much evil; we pray that they may be prevented from thus using their power. So that, whether the rulers be good or bad, prayer for them is the positive duty of all Christians; and the answer to their prayers, in either ease, will be the means of their being enabled to lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.