1 Timothy 2 by Song Ting Kee dated 8.11.15

Introduction

Timothy was born of a Greek father and a Jewish woman.  His maternal grandmother was also a Jewish.  They lived in Lystra.  Timothy’s mother and grandmother had great influence in his belief in God.  When Timothy met Paul he was a teenager perhaps about 15 years old.  Paul’s life was a great influence on many including young Timothy.  Paul circumcised Timothy.  At age 21 years Timothy followed Paul to minister in various towns.

1 Timothy 2:1

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—

Paul urged the people to petitions, pray, intercede and give thanks to God.

4 key phrases:

Petitions

Prayers

Intercession

Thanksgiving

In general these 4 points refer to prayer.

Another word for petition is supplication.  People have lacks, and not sufficient of things so they needed supplications.  People needed to be prayed for.  Bro. Song shared a story of his student who attempted three unsuccessful suicides.  She caused trouble in school like cutting her follow students’ hair.  Bro. Song asked her why she was misbehaving.  She said her mother told her she wanted to strangle her dead!  Bro. Song prayed for her.  Few days later she told Bro. Song that she repented and was buying foods for those she hurt.

Prayers – in Scripture prayers also refer to God, meaning directing our prayers to God only.  In prayers we are going to God who is the source of all good things.  Go to God for our needs.

Intercession – is praying on behalf of others.  Like Moses interceded for his sister.  Samuel also interceded for the people who wanted a king. 1 Samuel 12:19.

Why do we pray?

      A.      We pray because men have needs.

      B.      We pray because God deserves glory and honour.

      C.      We pray because deep in our hearts we feel the anxiety of a lost people.

      D.      We pray with a thankful heart.

Prayer is bringing all our concerns to God.  These are settled in heaven.

12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;[a] she must be quiet.

Bro. Song admitted that the verse above is a controversy and he finds it difficult to share.  Nevertheless, he shared that Paul was not being unaware of the importance of the roles of women.  He knew very well that Timothy’s faith was a result of his mother’s and grandmother’s efforts. 

Bro. Song also shared that in the pagan culture in their environment the goddess Artemis had a great influence on the pagan people. 

Paul was a great man of God and he walked closely with God every day.  Therefore, when he wrote this verse it was with the love of God in his heart.