1 Timothy 2:1-7: a reflection

1I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men, 2for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony at the proper time, 7to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Paul urges that prayers be made for all people, including kings and all in authority, grounding this wide intercession in God's own desire that all people be saved. I exhort that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, Paul says, for kings and all who are in high places; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth. Our prayers are to be wide, reaching to all people, even those in authority over us; and the ground of this wide intercession is God's own heart, which desires the salvation of all. This shows the call to pray for all people, grounded in God's desire that all be saved. Pray for all people, for God desires all to be saved. Our intercession is to be wide, reaching all, even rulers. God's desire for all to be saved grounds our prayer for all. Pray widely, as God's heart is wide toward all people.

Notice the breadth of the intercession Paul calls for, and its ground. He urges prayers for all people, without narrowing it, including even kings and all in authority, whoever they are. Our prayers are not to be confined to ourselves and those we like or agree with; they are to reach out to all people, even those in authority over us, even those we might find hard to pray for. And the ground of this wide intercession is God's own heart: for God our Savior desires all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. Our prayers for all are to flow from, and align with, God's own wide desire for the salvation of all. This shapes how we pray. We can pray narrowly, only for ourselves and our own circle; but we are called to pray widely, for all people, including those in authority and those beyond our circle, because God's heart is wide, desiring all to be saved. To pray for all people, aligning our hearts with God's desire for the salvation of all, is part of what it means to pray as God would have us. We do well to widen our prayers to reach all, as God's heart reaches to all. Widen your prayers to reach all people, as God's heart does. Pray even for those in authority, and those beyond your circle. God desires all to be saved; let your prayers align with his heart. Our intercession should be as wide as God's desire for all.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are called to pray for all people, including those in authority and those beyond our circle, grounded in God's desire that all be saved. We can pray narrowly, only for ourselves and our own circle; but Paul urges prayers for all people, even kings and all in authority, because God our Savior desires all to be saved. God's heart is wide. Widen your prayers to reach all people, even those in authority and those beyond your circle, aligning your heart with God's desire for the salvation of all. Widen your prayers to reach all people, including those in authority and those beyond your circle, grounding this wide intercession in God's own desire that all be saved, as Paul urged that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all in high places, because this is good and acceptable to God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth; for our prayers are not to be confined to ourselves and those we like or agree with, but to reach out to all people, even those in authority over us and those we might find hard to pray for, and the ground of this wide intercession is God's own heart, which desires the salvation of all, so that our prayers for all are to flow from and align with God's own wide desire, and we do well to widen our prayers beyond ourselves and our own circle to reach all, praying even for those in authority and those beyond us, as God's heart reaches to all people.

Lord, Paul urges that prayers be made for all people, including kings and all in authority, grounding this wide intercession in your own desire that all people be saved. I exhort that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, Paul says, for kings and all who are in high places; for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth. My prayers are to be wide, reaching to all people, even those in authority over me; and the ground of this wide intercession is your own heart, which desires the salvation of all. This shows the call to pray for all people, grounded in your desire that all be saved. Show me the breadth of the intercession Paul calls for, and its ground. He urges prayers for all people, including even kings and all in authority. My prayers are not to be confined to myself and those I like or agree with; they are to reach out to all people, even those in authority over me, even those I might find hard to pray for. And the ground of this wide intercession is your own heart: for you, my Savior, desire all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. My prayers for all are to flow from, and align with, your own wide desire for the salvation of all. This shapes how I pray. I can pray narrowly, only for myself and my own circle; but I am called to pray widely, for all people, because your heart is wide. Take that to my heart, for I am called to pray for all people, grounded in your desire that all be saved. Widen my prayers, Lord, to reach all people, including those in authority and those beyond my circle, aligning my heart with your desire for the salvation of all, so that my intercession is as wide as your heart toward all people.