The Grace Notes devotions in 2024 are based on verses from 1 Timothy. Each devotion includes some Greek, touches on the pastoral ministry today, and ends with a prayer.

January: Paul’s salutation (1 Tim 1:1-2).

February: Paul’s purpose in writing to Timothy (1 Tim 1:3-11)

March: Paul’s personal story (vv. 12-14) and the general gospel truths to be drawn from it (vv. 15-17).

April: Paul charges Timothy again to preach the truth in opposition to the false teachers (vv. 18-20).

This month: Paul will come back to the matter of false teachers and their false teachings in chapter 4. In chapters 2 and 3 Paul instructs Timothy about life in the church and the leaders in the church. The first seven verses of chapter two focus on a part of the Christian life: prayer. For whom do believers pray? For what do believers pray? Why do believers pray?

^2.1 Παρακαλῶ οὖν πρῶτον πάντων ποιεῖσθαι δεήσεις, προσευχάς, ἐντεύξεις, εὐχαριστίας, ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων,  ² ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι.  ³ τοῦτο καλὸν καὶ ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν θεοῦ,  ⁴ ὃς πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλει σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν.  ⁵ εἷς γὰρ θεός, εἷς καὶ μεσίτης θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς,  ⁶ ὁ δοὺς ἑαυτὸν ἀντίλυτρον ὑπὲρ πάντων, τὸ μαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδίοις·  ⁷ εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος—ἀλήθειαν λέγω, οὐ ψεύδομαι—διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀληθείᾳ.

We will ponder this section one or two verses at a time….

^2.1 Παρακαλῶ οὖν πρῶτον πάντων ποιεῖσθαι δεήσεις, προσευχάς, ἐντεύξεις, εὐχαριστίας, ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων,

After stating the purpose for his letter, Paul says, “Now let’s consider some other things” (οὖν). Paul urges prayer as the “first of all things.” Because prayer is a powerful and precious gift, it should be first in importance and in time. Believers will be quick to pray. Four “prayer words” provide a colorful portrait of prayer and prompt God’s people to do it. We pray out of specific need (δεήσεις), we pray generally and always (προσευχάς), we bring our entreaties before a mighty King who gives us access (ἐντεύξεις), and we always pray with plentiful reasons for thankfulness (εὐχαριστίας). We offer prayers for others, for all human beings.    

 ² ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι. 

Our prayers for all people include prayers for kings and all others in authority. We pray for earthly authority so we can “lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and respect.” This is not self-centered or self-serving praying; it is mission-focused praying. God is praised when believers bear the fruit of love in this sinful world. Unbelievers are blessed to have among them people serving as salt and light. When people in authority malign and mistreat Christ’s holy people, the reverent worship of God’s people and their respectful witnessing to the world are impeded. Let’s pray for good leaders. Let’s receive such daily bread with thanksgiving. And then let’s make use of every opportunity to praise the Lord and proclaim his name.

³ τοῦτο καλὸν καὶ ἀπόδεκτον ἐνώπιον τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν θεοῦ,  ⁴ ὃς πάντας ἀνθρώπους θέλει σωθῆναι καὶ εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας ἐλθεῖν.

Such praying (τοῦτο) is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. In addition to the praying itself, good and pleasing to God are the faith that prompts such praying and the goals of such praying. “Who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” The καὶ is epexegetical; being saved is coming to a knowledge of the truth. The lack of definite articles on the nouns emphasizes their quality: true knowledge of truth that is really truth. Jesus Christ—who he is, what he has done, what he has promised—is the Truth. Saving knowledge about Jesus is an important part of having a heart that receives him and holds on to him in faith. This “coming into truth-knowledge” doesn’t happen by human power. God leads. God saves.

 ⁵ εἷς γὰρ θεός, εἷς καὶ μεσίτης θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων ἄνθρωπος Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς, ⁶ ὁ δοὺς ἑαυτὸν ἀντίλυτρον ὑπὲρ πάντων, τὸ μαρτύριον καιροῖς ἰδίοις· 

Sinful human beings are saved by faith, but not all that is called faith is really faith. The object of faith must be able to save. The many religions of the world proclaim all kinds of saviors. But there is one God and one mediator between God and man: the man Christ Jesus. He is called a man here because he represents the human race before God and reconciles all people to God. He stands between the Creator and the human race. He did that especially on Good Friday, when he was lifted up from the earth bearing the sins of the whole human race in his body. On that cross he experienced the wrath of God against all sin. Jesus offered himself as the redemption price for all people, in the place of all people. “The testimony in proper times” refers to the New Testament era, to the time of the new covenant. Jesus came as a man to bear sin and to redeem sinners. The apostles, including Paul, gave testimony about this redemption. Still today, faithful ministers of the word testify about Jesus the Savior. This gospel is being proclaimed all throughout the world.

⁷ εἰς ὃ ἐτέθην ἐγὼ κῆρυξ καὶ ἀπόστολος—ἀλήθειαν λέγω, οὐ ψεύδομαι—διδάσκαλος ἐθνῶν ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀληθείᾳ.

Paul calls himself three things: a herald, an apostle, and a teacher. Paul was an apostle called and sent out by the Risen Savior. The false teachers denied Paul’s authority; they hated the Savior he heralded and the things of God he taught. Paul was God’s special apostle for preaching to and teaching the Gentiles “in faith and truth.” πίστει and ἀληθείᾳ connect well with the ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας of verse 4.

These seven verses provide much encouragement and guidance for 21^st-century Christians and the pastors who serve them. We will pray for all those in authority so that God’s will can be done among us and through us. We will live lives of reverence and worship towards God. We will live godly and reverent lives, reflecting the love of God in the world. We will proclaim Jesus Christ as the only mediator between the one true God and the human race so that many people might be brought into a saving knowledge of the truth.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for reminding us of the things you want us to believe and do. Thank you for sending your eternal Son as the one who atoned for the sins of the world, including ours. Thank you for leading us into knowledge of your truth. Guide and bless all those in authority, that untroubled by outward pressure, we may conduct our lives for your glory. Make us people of your word, people of prayer, and people of your mission. Keep us connected to Jesus. Motivate and equip us by your Spirit to bear fruit that will last. Help us and all the pastors of our beloved church body to preach and teach in faith and in truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.