1 Timothy 2:1-6

Prayer for All People

2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, ¹  prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, ²  2:2 even for kings ³  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 ⁴  is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 2:4 since he wants ⁵  all people ⁶  to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 2:5 For there is one God and one intermediary ⁷  between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, ⁸  2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time. ⁹ 

[2:1]  ¹ tn Or “petitions.”

[2:1]  ² tn Grk “all men”; but here ἀνθρώπων (anqrwpwn) is used generically, referring to both men and women.

[2:2]  ³ tn For “even for kings” the Greek says simply “for kings.”

[2:3]  ⁴ tn Grk “this”; the referent (such prayer for all, referring to vv. 1-2) is specified in the translation for clarity.

[2:4]  ⁵ tn Grk “who wants…” (but showing why such prayer is pleasing to God).

[2:4]  ⁶ tn Grk “all men”; but here ἀνθρώπους (anqrwpous) is used generically, referring to both men and women.

[2:5]  ⁷ 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.

[2:5]  ⁸ tn Grk “one mediator between God and mankind, the human, Christ Jesus.”

[2:6]  ⁹ sn Revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time is a difficult expression without clear connection to the preceding, literally “a testimony at the proper time.” This may allude to testimony about Christ’s atoning work given by Paul and others (as v. 7 mentions). But it seems more likely to identify Christ’s death itself as a testimony to God’s gracious character (as vv. 3-4 describe). This testimony was planned from all eternity, but now has come to light at the time God intended, in the work of Christ. See 2 Tim 1:9-10; Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 for similar ideas.