 |  |
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters (even heathens)
worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed."
"There are many unruly and vain talkers, especially they of the circumcision: whose
mouths must be stopped."
"Exhort servants (slaves) to be obedient unto their own masters . . . . . that they may
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."
"Therefore put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates" (I Tim. 4: 1; Titus 1: 10, 11; 2: 9; 3: 1).
It will be obvious that these allusions to insubordination that are found in the Pastoral
Epistles, point to a real and present evil, and in perfect harmony with the Apostle's
attitude elsewhere is his exhortation given here in I Tim. 2: 1-7.
The word "therefore" with which the exhortation opens must consequently not be
neglected. It links the exhortation to pray for all men with the reference to those who
"blaspheme" (I Tim. 1: 20; 6: 1) and those who desired to be "teachers of the law"
(I Tim. 1: 7).
The Apostle uses four words to express the character and nature of the prayer that he
calls for "for all men".
"Supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks." St. Augustine is reported to
have interpreted these four items thus:
"Deeseis, deprecations that evil may be averted from rulers;
proseuchas, petitions that good may be obtained from them;
enteuxeis, intercessions that needful graces may be conferred upon them,
eucharistias, thanksgivings, when they have fulfilled the high functions of their stations"
(Dr. Parr, Sermons).
These four phases of prayer provide a background against which the Apostle places
the great Intercessor Himself, the Man Christ Jesus. It will enable us to appreciate His
mediation the better if we understand something of the nature of that limited mediation
which it is the privilege of every praying believer to exercise.
(1)
Supplications. Something of the intensity of this aspect of prayer can be gathered
from Rom. 10: 1 where the Apostle's "prayer to God" is so selfless and
moving. Its association with resurrection power may be gathered from the
phrase "Ye also helping together" in II Cor. 1: 10, 11, and James 5: 16
assures us that such prayer is `effectual'.
(2)
Prayers. These are included in "all prayer" (Eph. 6: 18), accompanied as they are
in that context as in I Tim. 2: 1 with "supplications".
(3)
Intercessions. This is the word translated "prayer" in I Tim. 4: 5, and is
attributed to the Spirit Himself (Rom. 8: 26) and Christ the Son, Who make
intercession for us (Rom. 8: 34).
It may be of interest to remember that the Greek word which gives us the
idea of intercession, enters into the names Tychicus, Synteche and Eutychus.
(4)
Giving of thanks. This is the Eucharistic word of I Cor. 11: 24 and is found in
I Tim. 4: 3 and 4.