Chapter # 2 Paragraph # 1 Study # 2
Lincolnton, NC
July 18, 2004
KJV Translation:
1 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; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1901 ASV Translation:
1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;
2 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.
Textual Notes:
There are no variations between the Textus Receptus and the Nestle/Aland 26.
Notes:
- I. The "objective" is to be able to pursue a "life" of godliness and gravity.
- A. What is a "life" of godliness? [See notes on Chapter 2, Paragraph # 1, Study # 1]
- B. What is a life of "gravity"? [See notes on Chapter 2, Paragraph # 1, Study # 1]
- C. Paul says we are seeking a "quiet and peaceable life".
- 1. The only time the word translated "quiet" is used in the New Testament is this text. Liddell and Scott Greek-English Lexicon says that it is from a verb that means "to voice no objection to a verdict" ... i.e. to be "undisturbed by the outward circumstances".
- 2. The word "peaceable" is only used twice. Liddell-Scott says a good deal about the word's use. The bottom line seems to be "to create no stir", or "to only be lightly touched by a thing".
- 3. The two words have overlapping fields of meaning (they work as synonyms) and combine to give the impression of a heart/mind situation that does not generate "objections".
- II. The "methodology" is a four-fold prayer strategy: supplication; prayer; intercession; thanksgiving.
- A. The first word involved is a word that Luke used to describe Zacharias' life-long request of God, and Paul uses it in Romans 10:1 and 2 Corinthians 9:14 when he speaks of "praying" about very deeply held desires. This is consistent with every use of the word in the New Testament that has a context that gives some hint as to meaning. The point is that this kind of "prayer" is the appeal to God for someone/thing that is very important to the one praying. It carries an inherent sense of real urgency.
- B. The second word involved is more generally "prayer" as conversation with God, but it has its focus upon "expressing our wishes to God as the Object of our expectation". It has this idea: we have all kinds of expectations and we have all kinds of "methods" for pursuing them and we have all kinds of "sources" for achieving them, but God is the only One to Whom we should turn in our "expectation life" so that He may be seen as the One who provides life for us.
- C. The third word involved is a rare word to the New Testament used only by Paul is this letter to Timothy. Its sense, as given by Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, seems to be more a matter of "an incidental occasion of conversation in which less than crucial issues are discussed". The point seems to be that we are to take all of our life-issues to God; not just the ones we are immersed in, but also the ones that only lightly touch us.
- D. The fourth word involved is very common. It signifies a gratitude of heart for divine favor that is seen as "favor"...i.e. the whole of life.
- E. Summary: There seems to be a movement from the "panic" level to the "gladly relaxed" level and it accepts the variations of life in terms of the number and kind of issues that come our way on a regular basis. Some issues are seen by us as vastly important and others just barely seem to have an identity in respect to our lives. All are matters for involving God so that our lives can be "serene" as well as "godly".
- III. The focus of concern is upon those who have some influence over our ability to "live".
- IV. The implications are two: first, that God will actually bring those who have influence over us to the point of making decisions favorable to us; and, second, that God will actually bring us to submission to the circumstances in our lives that He is not going to change. Prayer affects everyone involved: the one praying; the One listening; and the ones prayed about.