1 Timothy 2:1-4 -- Pray for the king

To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV):

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

We are to pray for everyone, but especially for kings and all those in authority.

At the time Paul wrote this letter (approximately A.D. 64), the notorious Nero was emperor of the Roman empire (A.D. 54-68). Persecution was a growing threat to believers. And when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D. 64, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus off of himself. From that point, persecution spread like wildfire. Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in the Roman empire, but some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals.

In that context, Paul's statement is quite remarkable! When he urges them to pray for kings and all those in authority, it really is a matter of life and death! When he says to pray that we may live peaceful and quiet lives, he means as opposed to being thrown into jail or worse!

Looking at verses 1-2 in context with the whole paragraph, we see two reasons to pray for kings and all those in authority:

1. that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness
2. that all men would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth

Notice that the first reason is focused on me and my needs, and the second reason is focused on others.

Interesting that Paul doesn't ignore the needs of the "self," but expresses them and validates them.

In light of what was happening when Paul wrote this letter, we can see that Paul was urging them to pray for Emperor Nero and all others in authority so that they would not be persecuted and hindered from living their lives, and so that the spreading of the Gospel would not be hindered.

As we apply this to living in America today, realize that while we live in a relatively persecution-free environment in the Western world (now), millions live in areas of the world where Nero looks like a benevolent leader to them.

Do you pray for President Bush? Do you know the names of his key cabinet and staff? Do you know the names of your congressmen? your state congressional leaders? your county commissioner? your city's mayor? your school board representative? What about other world leaders? And do you have any plan at all in place to pray for these leaders?

We are quick to chime in with the strident statements of talk radio's pundits, but how quick are we to lift up a prayer for the leaders of the world?

PRAY!