Text -- 1 Timothy 2:1-5 (NET)

Prayer for All People

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, 2:2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 2:4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 2:5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Ti 2:1

¹ tn Or “petitions.”

² tn Grk “all men”; but here ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) is used generically, referring to both men and women.

NET Notes: 1Ti 2:2

¹ tn For “even for kings” the Greek says simply “for kings.”

NET Notes: 1Ti 2:3

¹ tn Grk “this”; the referent (such prayer for all, referring to vv. 1-2) is specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: 1Ti 2:4

¹ tn Grk “who wants…” (but showing why such prayer is pleasing to God).

² tn Grk “all men”; but here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpous) is used generically, referring to both men and women.

NET Notes: 1Ti 2:5

¹ tn Traditionally this word (μεσίτης, mesith") is rendered “mediator,” but this conveys a wrong impression in contemporary English. Jesus was not a mediator, for example, who worked for compromise between opposing parties. Instead he was the only one able to go between man and God to enable them to have a relationship, but entirely on God’s terms.

² tn Grk “one mediator between God and mankind, the human, Christ Jesus.”