1 Timothy 2:2 - Exposition

And all for and for all , A.V.; high place for authority , A.V.; tranquil and quiet for quiet and peaceable , A.V.; gravity for honesty , A.V. For kings , etc. The early Liturgies closely followed these directions. "Every day, both in the evening and the morning, we offer prayers for the whole world, for kings, and for all in authority" (Chrysost., in loc .). So in the Liturgy of St. Mark: "Preserve our king in peace, in virtue, and righteousness.... Subdue his enemies under him... incline him to peace towards us and towards thy Holy Name, that in the serenity of his reign we too may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all piety and honesty [or, 'gravity']." In the Liturgy of St. Clement: "Let us pray for kings and those in authority, that they may be peaceably inclined toward us, and that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all piety and honesty [or, 'gravity']." In the Liturgy of St. Chrysostom: "Let us pray for our most religious and God-protected emperors, and all their palace and court." "We offer this our reasonable service on behalf of our most faithful and Christian ( φιλοχρίστων ) emperors, and all their palace and court." And in the Liturgy of St. Basil: "Remember, Lord, our most religious and faithful kings... that in their serenity we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. Remember, O Lord, all rulers and all in authority, and all our brethren in the palace, and the whole court." In high place ( ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ); elsewhere only in 1 Corinthians 2:1 , where it is rendered " excellency ." But in Romans 13:1 we have ἐξουσίαις ὑπερεχούσαις "the higher powers;" and in 1 Peter 2:13 , τῷ βασιλεῖ ὡς ὑπερέχοντι , "the king as supreme." In 2 Macc. 3:11 the phrase, ἀνδρὸς ἐν ὑπεροχῇ κειμένου , occurs; and in Polybius, οἱ ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὔντες It is often used in Polybius for "authority" or " power ." That we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. The prayer for the rulers is recommended (as was explained in the above extracts from the Liturgies) in order to obtain for Christians a tranquil life, undisturbed by persecution and molestation, in spite of their peculiar way of life. Their wish was to be allowed to live in the faith and obedience of the gospel, "in godliness and gravity," without being interfered with by the heathen magistrates. The clause in the Prayer for the Church Militant which corresponds to this is "that under her we may be godly and quietly governed." Tranquil ( ἤρεμος ); found only here in the New Testament. The derivatives, ἠρέμιος ἠρεμέω , etc., are common in the LXX . They all apply to a still , undisturbed , life. Quiet ( ἡσύχιος ); found only here and l Peter 3:4 in the New Testament, and in the LXX . in Isaiah 66:2 . But the noun ἡσυχία and the verb ἡσυχάζειν are common. Godliness ( εὐσεβεία ). One of the words almost peculiar to the pastoral Epistles ( 1 Timothy 3:16 ; 1 Timothy 4:7 , 1 Timothy 4:8 ; 1 Timothy 6:3 , 1 Timothy 6:5 , 1 Timothy 6:6 , 1 Timothy 6:11 ; 2 Timothy 3:5 ; Titus 1:1 ); but elsewhere only in Acts 3:12 ; 2 Peter 1:3 , 2 Peter 1:6 , 2 Peter 1:7 ; 2 Peter 3:11 . Cornelius was αυησεβής , and so was one of the soldiers who waited upon him ( Acts 10:2 , Acts 10:7 ). Ananias was ἀνὴρ εὐσεβής ( Acts 22:12 , T.R.). The adverb εὐσεβῶς is also peculiar to the pastoral Epistles (2Timothy fit. 12; Titus 2:12 ). Gravity ( σεμνοτής ): so rendered also in the A.V. of 1 Timothy 3:4 and Titus 2:7 —the only other places in the New Testament where it is found. So also the adjective σεμνός ( 1 Timothy 3:8 , 1 Timothy 3:11 ; Titus 2:2 ). Elsewhere in the New Testament only in Philippians 4:8 , where it is rendered" honest" in the A.V., and "honorable" in the R.V. In classical Greek σεμνός is properly spoken of the gods, "august," "venerable," and, when applied to persons, indicates a similar quality. Here σεμνοτής is the respectable, venerable, and dignified sobriety of a truly godly man.