1 Timothy 2:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Here is, I. A charge given to Christians to pray for all men in general, and particularly for all in authority. Timothy must take care that this be done. Paul does not send him any prescribed form of prayer, as we have reason to think he would if he had intended that ministers should be tied to that way of praying; but, in general, that they should make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks: supplications for the averting of evil, prayers for the obtaining of good,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 2:1-7

2:1-7 So then the first thing I urge you to do is to offer your requests, your prayers, your petitions, your thanksgivings for all men. Pray for kings and for all who are in authority, that they may enjoy a life that is tranquil and undisturbed, and that they may act in all godliness and reverence. That is the fine way to live, the way which meets with the approval of God, our Saviour, who wishes all men to be saved, and to come to a full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Four different words for prayer are grouped together. It is true that they are not to be sharply distinguished; nevertheless each has something to tell us of the way of prayer. (i) The first is deesis ( Greek #1162 ), which we have translated request. It is not exclusively a religious word; it can be used of a request made either to a fellow-man or to God. But its fundamental idea is a sense of need. No one will make a request unless a sense of need has already wakened a desire. Prayer... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 2:1-7

This passage distinctly commands prayer for kings and emperors and all who are set in authority. This was a cardinal principle of communal Christian prayer. Emperors might be persecutors and those in authority might be determined to stamp out Christianity. But the Christian Church never, even in the times of bitterest persecution, ceased to pray for them. It is extraordinary to trace how all through its early days, those days of bitter persecution, the Church regarded it as an absolute duty... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 2:1-7

The Church prayed for certain things for those in authority. (i) It prayed for "a life that is tranquil and undisturbed." That was the prayer for freedom from war, from rebellion and from anything which would disturb the peace of the realm. That is the good citizen's prayer for his country. (ii) But the Church prayed for much more than that. It prayed for "a life that is lived in godliness and reverence." Here we are confronted with two great words which are keynotes of the Pastoral... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Paul concludes with a statement of the greatest truths of the Christian faith. (i) There is one God. We are not living in a world such as the Gnostics produced with their theories of two gods, hostile to each other. We are not living in a world such as the heathen produced with their horde of gods, often in competition with one another. Missionaries tell us that one of the greatest reliefs which Christianity brings to the heathen is the conviction that there is only one God. They live for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Timothy 2:4

Who will have all men to be saved ,.... The salvation which God wills that all men should enjoy, is not a mere possibility of salvation, or a mere putting them into a salvable state; or an offer of salvation to them; or a proposal of sufficient means of it to all in his word; but a real, certain, and actual salvation, which he has determined they shall have; and is sure from his own appointment, from the provision of Christ as a Saviour for them, from the covenant of grace, in which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 2:4

Who will have all men to be saved - Because he wills the salvation of all men; therefore, he wills that all men should be prayed for. In the face of such a declaration, how can any Christian soul suppose that God ever unconditionally and eternally reprobated any man? Those who can believe so, one would suppose, can have little acquaintance either with the nature of God, or the bowels of Christ. And to come unto the knowledge of the truth - The truth - the Gospel of Christ, should be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 2:4

Verse 4 4Who wishes that all men may be saved. Here follows a confirmation of the second argument; and what is more reasonable than that all our prayers should be in conformity with this decree of God? And may come to the acknowledgment of the truth. Lastly, he demonstrates that God has at heart the salvation of all, because he invites all to the acknowledgment of his truth. This belongs to that kind of argument in which the cause is proved from the effect; for, if “the gospel is the power of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 2:1-15

The whole chapter is given up to directions concerning the public worship of the Church. We may notice the following particulars. I. THE SUBJECTS OF PUBLIC PRAYER . When the Church meets together in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, it meets as pre-eminently the friend of the human race. As the Church of him who is the world's Savior and Redeemer, it must manifest the same spirit of universal love which animated him. It is not as being haters of the human race (as their enemies... read more

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