Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 2:1

"I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;" — 1 Timothy 2:1 (ASV)

Paul now begins giving instructions for public worship. He was concerned that divine worship should be carried on in Ephesus most effectively and helpfully. So he says, “I urge” (GK 4151; also translated “exhort”); it indicates the urgency of Paul’s admonition. “First of all” emphasizes primacy in importance rather than in time. In other words, the most essential part of public worship is prayer.

The NT has seven different Greek nouns for prayer, four of which occur in this verse. (1) “Requests” (GK 1233): This word basically carries the idea of desire or need. All true prayer begins in a sense of need and involves a deep desire, although it should never stop there. God wants us to bring our “requests” to him, and he always has a listening ear. (2) “Prayers” (GK 4666): This word always signifies praying to God. It is used for both private and public prayers (here public). (3) “Intercession” (GK 1930): This word was used in the sense of “conversation” and then of “petition.” Perhaps it suggests the idea that prayer should be a conversation with God, but it also implied boldness of access to God’s presence. We must come to God with full confidence and enter into close communion with him in a conversational atmosphere if we want to experience depth and richness in our prayer life. And only those who really commune with God in private can edify others in their public prayers. (4) “Thanksgiving” (GK 2374): This word suggests that giving of thanks should always be a part of our praying. Thanking God for what he has done for us in the past strengthens our faith to believe that he will meet our needs in the future.