Scripture Text (NRSV)
2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,
2:2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.
2:3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
2:4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
the truth.
2:5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and
humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,
2:6 who gave himself a ransom for all--this was attested at the right
time.
2:7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the
truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Comments:
Seems like those in high places are given a special charge to help
provide for a quiet and peace filled life. A statement of faith.
Nancy-Wi
The pastoral epistles offer insight into how early Christians
understood many practical matters, such as church administration and
worship. The church's focused prayer for others is an expression of
the single-minded passion God has toward us in Jesus.
It is God's desire, according to this reading, that all people
experience God's salvation and know the truth. Jesus is the link
between humanity and God and provides the way for salvation to be
experienced. Because of this experience believers are entreated to
pray that everyone everywhere will know peace.
Telling someone that they don't know what they are talking about, when
you are disagreeing with them, is not helpful. It's insulting and
paternalistic. But Paul is not writing to someone he disagrees with,
he is writing to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry. Timothy
needs encouraging, not just because he is struggling with his parish,
but because the gospel itself is being attacked there. The merits and
glory of Christ are being maligned. The consciences of believers are
being troubled. For instead of proclaiming faith in Christ, certain
people in the community are emphasizing the law (1:6). Instead of
giving people a good conscience (1:5) and a pure heart (1:5), those
certain people are laying down the law for the innocent (the Christ-trusters,
1:9). When the law is laid down on the innocent, instead of being used
to compel a modicum of justice in a world full of sinners, or to
criticize sinners and "drive" them to Christ, this "third use" of the
law undermines the salvation Christ gives to us. This third use is
"contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel"
(1:10b-11).
To be contrary to the glorious gospel is to be a blasphemer, a sinner
(1:12). A blasphemer denies that Jesus came into the world to save
sinners. It is to deny that Jesus is how we are made right with God
and given peace with God and given God's mercy. When we do not trust
that Jesus makes us right, or not right enough, then we look to other
things to make us right. Timothy's parish was looking at myths and
endless genealogies that promote speculations. When the law or other
things are used to make us right with God, there is constant
speculation about exactly what the law requires. Shall we forgive
seven times or seventy times seven? Should healing be done on the
Sabbath? Should one welcome sinners and eat with them? When have we
given enough to world hunger relief?
Jesus gives us himself as the new way to be right with God. The old
way, the law, cannot accomplish that purpose. The law no longer (if it
ever did) make us righteous. But we, along with the parishioners of
Timothy, do not believe that. And, when we do not place our trust in
Jesus, then however way we relate to God (to make ourselves righteous)
is ignorant.
Finally Timothy and his parishioners are no longer the main
disputants. Now the disagreement is between God and his parishioners,
between God and us. When we disagree with God, we oppose and disobey
God. For us to try to figure out what the law says, at this point, is
to worry about the roof leaking when the river has flooded the house.
Such attempts to get the law right will only anger and sadden God more
as he denies us the life that lasts.
The disagreement is between God and us. And, try as we might, we
cannot solve it because we do not trust God. God cannot get us to
trust and love God above anything else using the law. So, since we two
parties cannot agree on terms, a third party is needed. A mediator is
necessary to bring the sides together. Only one person can be the
mediator between God and us. That one person is the divine/human
Jesus. Jesus mediates by performing the "sweet swap," exchanging
himself for us, putting himself in our place and us into his place.
That ransom is to our benefit because Jesus' place is beside God who
loves him. Jesus gives us his worth before God. God valued Jesus so
much that he raised him from the dead. That is what Jesus' mediation
and ransom does for us: It settles the dispute between God and us,
because all parties are in agreement about the value of Jesus.
The value of Jesus has been given to us. Having received such wealth,
we act as wealthy people. We no longer live in the ignorance of
unbelief. We live in the knowledge of the truth that God desires to
save all of us, all sinners, and that God has saved us by sending
Jesus (1:15). Therefore, myths and genealogies, allegorical or
legalistic interpretations of the Bible, and the law are no longer
needed to save us. Jesus has done it all. To look elsewhere for a
relationship with God is to say that Jesus has not saved us, has not
ransomed us by his cross and rising, and that God has not approved of
Jesus by raising him from the dead. Consequently, when we wonder about
what is right or pleasing to God—whether healings should take place on
the Sabbath, how many times we should forgive, etc.—the answer to all
that is simply Jesus. Only Jesus is what is right to God now.
Paul suggests that when Timothy meets with his parishioners, instead
of saying, "I told you so," and insisting on being right, the more
excellent way of the gospel is to share the goodness of Christ with
them. Paul tells Timothy that one important way to give that goodness
is to pray—supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings
(v. 1). Pray for all in government, president, judges, mayors, town
council members, and police officers. Not only does this demonstrates
that Christians are not subversive, but such prayers preserve
creation, which God desires (v. 3), so that everyone is kept safe in
order to hear the good news of Jesus. Give thanks for the goodness
that happens to others. Bless those who curse you. By giving Christ to
one another, we comfort each other's conscience and give each other a
good conscience. Conversely, when we insist on being right, we reject
conscience (1:19) and ruin faith. To be a teacher in faith and truth
(v. 7) is to give Jesus to the hearers, to give forgiveness, mercy,
and the presence of Jesus. For this we are appointed as heralds and
apostles.
Timothy Hoyer
I read an interesting comment earlier this week regarding the
instruction to "pray for kings." In its original context this would
tie in directly to the kerygmatic verses that follow. If you pray for
Caesar, Caesar is not God. Even in our prayers we confess god's
sovereignty and power in our world and in our lives. --*JOSH*
Holy Script is very clear and absolute.
John 14:6 , I am the way the truth.... Acts 4:13, Nor is salvation in
any other... 1 Tim, 2:5, For there is one God....
there is no such thing as there are many ways to God.
Blessings
John Rodriguez
I plan on taking the theme of prayer through the whole of the service
this week, making it as participatory as possible. During the sermon,
I am going to hand out a variety of great prayers that I have
collected, have people use them in small groups, and discuss how we
might incorporate such a prayer in our own lives. Then, we'll stay in
small groups for our intercessory prayer time, allowing the concerns
of each group to flow into the prayers. It may end up sounding like a
cacophony of prayer, but I've experienced it before, and it can be an
incredible way to empower people to pray more. The Korean word used
when everyone is praying at the same time is something like "Tonsung
Kido" (sp?)--and and explanation of it can be found in the UM Book of
Worship. (Sorry, I'm at home, so don't have the page ref. for you).
Essentially, I'm not "preaching" this week so much as teaching and
encouraging people to pray.
Peace, David MacDonald
John
I appreciate what you say and what you believe. Please never lose
sight of your conviction. Remember thoguh that is your belief as
stated in what you understand as God's Word. The Koran also has a
statement that say Allah alone. So sure are they, and so confident
that they are called to convert the world that they kill for it. But,
hey we are Christians, we wouldn't do that... We did and it was called
the Crusades. But that was then and this is now...
I appreciate what you have to say, and I understand where you are
coming from. I as well believe that for me, I know no other means but
that of Christ. And I kown that anyone who turns to Him is saved. I
want anyone and everyone to know that.
Kyle
John
I appreciate what you say and what you believe. Please never lose
sight of your conviction. Remember thoguh that is your belief as
stated in what you understand as God's Word. The Koran also has a
statement that say Allah alone. So sure are they, and so confident
that they are called to convert the world that they kill for it. But,
hey we are Christians, we wouldn't do that... We did and it was called
the Crusades. But that was then and this is now...
I appreciate what you have to say, and I understand where you are
coming from. I as well believe that for me, I know no other means but
that of Christ. And I kown that anyone who turns to Him is saved. I
want anyone and everyone to know that.
Kyle
"that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
dignity."
So much for the ambition to get ahead in the world!
Paul brought forth the rational in the following verses by explaining
that as people who was redeemed by God, our ambition should be
absorbed by God's ambition for "everyone to be saved and come to the
knowledge of the truth."
But many misunderstood this to mean that we should settle for a
half-baked, mediocre life while we are still here on earth. No! As
Christians, we should have the ambition to be an excellent workers,
doctors, housewives, etc. But this motivation comes about because we
"do everything as unto the Lord", and not just trying to get ahead.
Tie-in to the parable of the Unjust Steward in this week's lectionary:
Jesus commended a shrewd attitude, with a proper focus to eternal
results.
Coho, Midway City.
Can someone clarify the "prayers", the second in the list that Paul
gives Timothy? I mean, I thought supplications, intercessions and
thanksgivings all WERE prayers? Thanks in advance,
Lay Preacher in IA
Are we citizens of USA praying for our leaders, especially in this
election year.
Big Daddy, IA
Are we citizens of USA praying for our leaders, especially in this
election year.
Big Daddy, IA
to Kyle, As a Christian I base my beliefs on facts(2 PTR 1:16). Just
because someone believes in something doesn't make it true. I realize
that there are many beliefs out there,whether it be Islam,Buddhism,or
whatever else is out there i.e. Jonestown,Davidians,and even some in
our own evangelical churches. these people are sincere albeit
sincerely wrong. the crusades were also wrong I often wonder "what
were they thinking" on what were they basing their beliefs when you
read a story to a child it starts "once upon a time,,,," when you read
the scriptures "it was in the days of King so and so...." As exclusive
as this passage is I dought many would preach this viewpoint in our PC
envirnment. In His Service John Rodriguez
AAARRRRRGGGGHHH!
So i post a contribution and go away for a few days only to find out
that i posted it for the wrong Scripture! That's what I get for doing
things in a hurry!
Anyways, here it is now on the right place (but probably after
everyone else has got there stuff figured out):
I have entitled my sermon "Excerpts from the Evening News"
Both the Gospel and the Jeremiah passages sound to me not much
different than what we hear day in and day out on the evening news.
1 Timothy 2:1-7 sounds like a great call to intercessory prayer. I am
hoping that by going through this passage in an expository fashion I
can share with the congregation the importance and a "how-to" model of
how to pray as an intercessor for our world (whatever phere of
influence in which we are involved)
Pastor Dave in BC Canada, eh!
