In the fourth part of our study on praying, we are continuing to look at I Timothy 2:1-2. In part 1, in an articled, titled, “God Wants Us to Pray,” we noticed that God wants us to pray and that there are different facets of prayer. In part 2, in an article titled, “God Wants Us to Pray for All,” we studied about how that God wants us to pray for everyone. In part 3, in an article, titled, “God Wants Us to Pray for Our Civil Leaders,” we looked at how that God wants us to pray for our civil leaders.
Now, let us continue our study by revisiting I Timothy 2:1-2, which says:
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
Leading a quiet and peaceable life is desirable. A reason that we are to pray for our leaders is so that we may lead a certain kind of life. As those taken into Babylonian captivity were to pray for the peace of the city while in Babylon in order that they could have peace in Jeremiah 29:7, so must we pray for our leaders to have this kind of peace.
Two words are used as adjectives to describe the kind of life that we ought to want to live, and these two words are connected with the conjunction, “and,” meaning that we should want to live the kind of life described by both, not just one of these words. Indeed, these words go “hand-in-hand.” One of the words is “quiet” and the other, “peaceable.” The word, “quiet,” as used here is from a Greek word meaning “tranquil.” “Tranquil” is defined as being “free from agitation of mind and spirit” and to be “free from disturbance and turmoil.” It involves the idea of being “unvarying,” “stable,” and “steady.”
The word, “peaceable,” as used here also may be defined as “quiet” and “tranquil.” The idea here is being still or undisturbed. The same word as used here is found in I Peter 3:4, but is translated “quiet.” Here we are told about the adorning of wives that it should be the adorning of the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Certainly, having a life that is steady and stable, free from worry and disturbances is the kind of life for which all long. Some long for it, but fail to do what it takes to obtain it. Let us do what it takes to always maintain it.
This exhortation to pray for leaders is proper no matter what the government. Every government should be prayed for in this way. My friends, we must pray for our rulers to make decisions in such a way that the people of God may lead a quiet and peaceable life. In faithfulness to Christ, we have the peace of God that passes all understanding, and thereby with all spiritual blessings in Christ, including forgiveness of sins and clean consciences, we have the peace of God that passes all understanding. This allows us to have true happiness in this life and happiness in the life to come (Philippians 4:4-7).
-Jason Gann, TBC Registrar
