Bible Phrasing: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Paul continues his line of thought from chapter 1, where he has charged Timothy to be a good steward of the gospel and to protect the church by charging people not to teach false doctrine. 

1) To Paul, prayer is the best safeguard against false teaching. 

• Prayer is the overarching command of 2:1–7. He says 'first of all' or 'above all' because of the priority for prayer in the church. A prayer dedicated to sound doctrine should above all pray. 
• Paul wants Timothy to reflect on every aspect of prayer -- supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving. And the prayers are for 1) all people, 2) kings, and 3) people in high positions. 
• The result of praying in verse 2 is a peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified life in every way. 
• Contrary to the practice of the false teachers, who likely do not pray at all, or who do not pray for all people, Paul commands Timothy to include a broad scope of people who influence daily life. Praying in this way presents a direct correlation to the way Christians live. 

2) To Paul, prayer is good and pleasing to God.

• Prayer connects Christians to God's desires. 
• As our Savior, God desires all people to be saved -- prayer saves people. 
• As our Savior, God desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth -- prayer enlightens people. 
• Prayer corrects false doctrine
• Christian prayer is focused solely on one God. 
• Christian prayer is offered through one mediator. 
• In prayer, Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. 
• The reason why Jesus Christ is the sole mediator is because he 1) gave himself as a 2) ransom for all. 
• So, Christian prayer should be made to connect Christians with God's desire and to correct false doctrine.
• Paul's whole ministry centers on the testimony that God is one and that there is one mediator between God and men. In particular, at the proper time, he proclaimed Christ Jesus as the ransom for all, meaning that Christ could be universally accepted. 
• Unlike the false teachers, Paul desired to see all people saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• Unlike the false teachers, Paul declared there was one mediator between God and men. 
• Unlike the false teachers, Paul believed that Christ gave himself as a ransom for all. 
• Unlike the false teachers, God appointed Paul as a preacher, an apostle, and and a teacher to the Gentiles. 
• Unlike the false teachers, Paul sought to be truthful about his role in God's plan. 

This passage implies many differences between Paul and the false teachers. A key difference to the false teachers appears to be the primacy of prayer in Paul's ministry. Prayer made for all people, that aligns with God's desires, and that corrects theology is the type of prayer Paul envisions for Timothy and the church.