Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Timothy 2:1

παρακαλῶ οὖν : This is resumptive of, and a further development of the παραγγελία of 1 Timothy 1:18. See reff. St. Paul here at last begins the subject matter of the letter. The object of παρακαλῶ is not expressed; it is the Church, through Timothy.

πρῶτον πάντων is to be connected with παρακαλῶ : The most important point in my exhortation concerns the universal scope of public prayer. The A.V. connects πρῶτ. πάντ. with ποιεῖσθαι, as though the framing of a liturgy were in question.

ποιεῖσθαι is mid. The mid. of ποιεῖν is not of frequent occurrence in N.T.; it is found chiefly in Luke and Paul. For the actual expression δεήσεις ποιεῖσται, see reff., and Winer-Moulton, Grammar, p. 320, note, and Deissmann, Bible Studies, trans, p. 250.

There is of course a distinction in meaning between δεήσεις, προσευχάς, ἐντεύξεις, supplications (in special crises) prayers, petitions; that is to say, they cannot be used interchangeably on every occasion; but here the nuances of meaning are not present to St. Paul's mind: his object in the enumeration is simply to cover every possible variety of public prayer. This is proved conclusively by the addition εὐχαριστίας, which of course could not be, in any natural sense, for all men. But every kind of prayer must be accompanied by thanksgiving, Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2. On ἔντευξις, see Moulton and Milligan, Expositor, vii., vii. 284, and Deissmann, Bible Studies, trans. p. 121. The retention of thanksgivings in the reference to this verse in the opening of the Anglican prayer For the whole state of Christ's Church is scarcely justified by referring it to God's triumphs of grace in the lives of the faithful departed. Less unnatural is the explanation of Chrysostom, that “we must give thanks to God for the good that befalls others”.

προσευχή and δέησις (in this order) are combined, Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; and in chap. 1 Timothy 5:5 in the same order as here.

ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀνθρώπων : The blessed effects of intercessory prayer on those who pray and on those for whom prayer is made is urged with special reference to the circumstances of the early Church by Polycarp, Phil. 12; Tert. Apol. § 30; ad Scapulam, § 2; Justin Martyr, Apol. i. 17; Dial. 35. “No one can feel hatred towards those for whom he prays.… Nothing is so apt to draw men under teaching, as to love and be loved” (Chrys.).

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Timothy 2:1

Old Testament

New Testament