1 Timothy 2:7-8

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

      As we saw earlier on in Chapter 1, Paul was commissioned by the Lord, to be an Apostle to the Gentiles to declare the Gospel. Here, Paul states this fact again. Adding that he is a teacher of Faith and Truth and ordained to be a preacher. This “ordination” carries with it some significance. First of all, Paul was ordained to be a preacher. In Romans 10, the Word says how shall they (Gentiles, Lost) hear (the Gospel, Truth) without a Preacher?

        In Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, ordain is defined as to appoint, to prepare, so set apart for an office. Ordainable as “appointable” and ordained  as appointed, instituted, established, invested with ministerial or pastoral functions, settled.

          Paul was not ordained by mere men, although the local church did send them out as missionaries; but was ordained (appointed, set apart) by God to be minster. Here we see the important principle of a God-ordained calling. God can call a man to anything, not just “ministry.” Have you sought God and asked Him what your calling is?

 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

1 Tim 2:7-8 (KJV)

     In the time period Paul lived in, it was common for men to pray standing with their hands lifted toward heaven. Even pagan idol worshipers would do this. Paul says, that he wants Christian men everywhere to lift up their hands (a sign of surrender and trust in the Lord) without wrath (anger) or doubting. Something just happens, men, when you lift your hands to the Lord and pray. It is like a burden is lifted, anger disciples, and doubt flees as your full attention is on the Lord. I encourage you as Paul did, lift up your hands in prayer.

Devo Blast Issue for the Month

Devo Blast's 36th Issue!

 

 

Devo Blast is FMM's monthly devotional email.

 

1 Timothy 2:5-6

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

      Jesus Christ is God. He is a member of the 3-in-1 one, true God. He is the mediator between God in Heaven (God the Father) and men here on the earth. Yet Jesus was not only fully God, but also fully man. He hungered, tired, and was tempted just like us. Yet He lived through it all without ever sinning once! Do you believe in the one, true God? Do you believe that He is 3-in-1 (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)? If you do not believe these two essential truths, you will have great difficulty making the New Testament fit into your faulty framework. For the Scriptures speak of Christ the mediator and prince of peace, of God the Father who reigns in Heaven above, and of the Holy Spirit living within and empowering Believers to do the Lord’s will.

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all,

      Jesus Christ gave His life as a ransom to many…—NO!—but to all! God does not want any to perish, even Jesus did not lash out in anger at His executioners, but prayed that God forgive them for their sin! What a difference of perspective! Ransom carries with it the idea of Christ paying for our bondage to something. That bondage is the bondage of sin. Christ paid and redeemed you (bought you back) from that life of sin. All you have to do is accept His free gift of salvation and rely on His Holy Spirit to give you power to live as Christ lived. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in Believers (Romans 8:11)!

 to be testified in due time.

1 Tim 2:5-6 (KJV)

    To be testified in due time. . . At the perfect time, Jesus died for us all. Those who died before He came that were Believers were looking forward to His coming, and we who have died and live after Christ has risen again look backward to trust in Christ. It was in the right time, the perfect fullness of time that Jesus died for us. Likewise, in the fullness of time, God has made entrusted the Great Commission of Going, and proclaiming the Gospel. But that is not all of the Great Commission! No, we are to stay with those who have accepted Christ’s Gospel and teach them all that Christ commanded (this is first of all the Gospels, but I believe extends to the whole Bible because Jesus is the Word (the Bible, John 1). We are even to disciple nations! Take heart, dear reader, for God has a plan of redemption for this world and He has invited, and even commanded that you join Him in this most important work.

     When I think about this command to disciple the nations, and the the Writings of Paul in Titus 2, the picture I get as the Biblical picture is that mature believers are to teach the younger ones. I think of Christians simply sharing Christ’s love in neighborhoods, counties, and cities and starting house church networks and meeting together in public places to study God’s Word (just like the Early Church met daily in the Temple Courts and devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching). And how Paul simply would go to a city, start preaching to the Jews, then progress to the Gentiles and plant the Church (he never built any buildings), but preached in the marketplace, publicly, and from house to house. Then Paul would appoint elders (Teachers, Pastors, leaders) of the local churches and move on. He truly discipled as Christ said to.

1 Timothy 2:3-4

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1 Tim 2:3-4 (KJV)

    It is good and acceptable that we pray the way we Paul mentions in verses 1-2 of chapter 2. “Because God would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” God desires ALL to come to Christ, yet He has given them a free will to choose Christ. God knows that “few find the narrow gate that leads to life” yet He desires (wishes, hopes, a feeling/longing of the heart) “that none would perish” in Hell. God wants people to be saved, He sacrificed is Son for everyone to prove that and offers them a free gift of salvation that is simply received by acknowledging our sin by confessing that we are sinners and that Jesus Christ is our Savior who died and rose again (Romans 10). Sadly, many never accept that gift and the empowerment to live a life of following the Lord. Because the simple truth that we don’t even have the strength, dedication, and willpower to follow the Lord all of our days, No, it is God who must give us that strength, and He does as we depend on Him day by day. That is why we are to “deny ourselves daily and take up our cross and follow Him.” This is the Gospel—the Good News!

      God desires that all come to a knowledge of the truth. While it does not list what that truth is here, in light of the whole context of Scripture, the following Scriptural truths come to my mind: an eternal Heaven and Hell, Salvation in Christ, a coming judgment day, mankind’s depravity (sinfulness), forgiveness in Christ, new life in Christ, reconciliation with God and an intimate relationship with Him, new power for living and witnessing in the Holy Spirit, and God’s sovereign and awesome power over everything.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; 1 Tim 2:1-2 (KJV)

     First of all, Paul tells us that we are to make various types of prayers for all men, and for all those in authority. We are to make supplications, that is specific prayers to meet a supply, a specific need in people’s lives. Perhaps the most general one that we can pray is for the realization of Christ’s salvation to come to the mind of every man and woman in the world. We are to make prayers, a general term. Intercessions, specifically pleading or praying on behalf of another. Giving thanks. All four of these types of prayers are to made for all men and those in authority. It is important that thankfulness be a component of this because with praise and thanksgiving we enter the presence of the Lord (Psalm  ). The core focus of this verser, however, simply seems to be that we are to pray for others before ourselves. Including those that are in authority: kings, governors, rulers, presidents, congress, UN, and more. We may not agree with these organizations and authorities, but we are still called by God pray for them. And just think, our prayers may have an impact we would never expect, like seeing an ungodly president coming to Christ and confessing his sin before the whole nation and the mercy and grace and forgiveness and new life that he has found in Jesus Christ. That is my prayer, what is yours?

 

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

      Why does Paul say that we are to pray this way? So that we may lead (live, walk, practice) a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness (Christ-likeness, holiness, sanctification, dependence on God, seeking the Lord, right living) and honesty. People all around us crave a quiet and peaceable life, don’t they? Well Paul is saying that as Christians, through these types of prayers we are to model that type of life. And not only to model quietness and peaceableness, but to live in such a that we walk in all godliness and honesty.