1 Timothy 2:3 Commentary and Bible Study

‘For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.’ What is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour? That Christians should be godly and honest? But of course: that's scarcely worth saying. No, the meaning of the verse is that it is good and acceptable in the sight of God for there to be peace, for there to be no persecution, for there to be punishment of wrongdoing, and encouragement of good throughout society, even if this is meted out by a wicked ruler. If he is effective in producing an orderly society then Christian testimony can shine, that you pray so that leaders should be competent and wise and there should be peace and your Christian lives can be lived out and your testimony can be effective. Such prayer is ‘good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.’ It is good and acceptable to intercede for other people and to pray for rulers of all categories, even minor rulers, heads of companies, heads of departments. It is proper for Christian people to pray for those that they know of and they're concerned with and the first statement is that it is good. Such prayer is not an option, it's commanded and it's right. It is right to pray for people in authority, in different social positions. It's commanded and it's excellent in the sight of God. It is wholesome not to grumble about them, not to campaign against them but to pray for them, it's admirable. That is all summed up in that word ‘good’. It has a good effect, not only in that God answers it according to his supreme will, but it is good for us because it makes us unselfish and trusting.It is also ‘acceptable’; such prayer is authorised by Almighty God, it's in line with his will and purpose, his mind. The Greek literally means it is welcomed and fully received. Now there are all kinds of prayers you may pray and you are not sure how welcome they are and how fully received they are, but you pray them in hope that this is according to the mind and the will of God. But here is a category of prayer, if you pray for all men, if you intercede for men, women and other people for their souls, if you pray for all in eminence, all who are lifted up in any form of authority, so that society may be shaped, not by legislation to bring it to God – that's impossible – but so as to make free course for the gospel, so that Christians can be seen and function and not have to withdraw from different areas of society; if you pray for these things, it's not only good and excellent, but it is welcomed and it is fully received by God. What a strong indication that he is ready, according to his supreme will, to answer such prayers and to move and to overrule in the lives of other people. This is a wonderful thing. We do not put our trust in princes; we do not admire them, they do not bowl us over. They are mere men, rulers, heads of departments, we do not grovel and esteem them in a wrong way. We pray for them: that's the point. He is God our Saviour, and he will be the Saviour of others also, so that we pray in hope. He will not cease to save until the day of grace closes.