Paul, having instructed his young protégé, Timothy, on how to deal with the false teachers who had been troubling the church at Ephesus (1Timothy 1:3-7), turns his attention to the one thing that will ensure the church will remain vigilant after this current threat to the integrity of the gospel has been firmly dealt with. The subject on which the apostle now directs his focus is the place of prayer in the church.

What sorts of prayer are to be found in a church that is clearly focused on maintaining the purity of the gospel, expressing itself through inclusive concern, mutual love and a spirit of unity? Paul describes, in revealing words, the ways in which a local church should raise its united voice to God, urging that ‘petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people’ (1 Timothy 2:1). In using the phrase ‘all people’, the apostle calls on the Christian community to embrace the whole world, enriching the aroma of its prayer life. We are to pray for everyone, without distinctions regarding race, ethnicity, colour or status, including those in authority (v.2). No one should fall outside the compass of our prayers, therefore we are also encouraged to pray for those in powerful positions, not to curry favour, but in order that believers in Christ, and all upon whose welcoming ears the gospel witness might fall, can live peacefully, that godliness and holiness might flourish, for this is pleasing to God (vv.2-3).

The idea of exclusivism is not only flawed, but foreign to the whole spirit of the gospel and is alien to God, who has no desire in the death of the wicked, but desires, instead, that salvation might come to all (v.4): ‘For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus’ (v.5).  The same gospel is for everyone, and there is only one mediator, one ransom, one Saviour (v.6). Paul’s own status as an apostle is the living proof that this is the will of God, since it was ‘…for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.’ (v.7).  

Local congregation:
Grace Communion Peterborough
Farcet Village Hall
Main Street
Farcet
Peterborough
PE7 3AN

Meeting time:
Sunday 11.00 am

Local congregational contact:
Richard Dempsey
Email:  richard.dempsey@btinternet.com
Local church website: GRACE COMMUNION CHURCH PETERBOROUGH – Landing Page

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church