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"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. For this is good and acceptable in the sight
of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto
the knowledge of the truth."
It is clear from what Brother Paul wrote in this letter to Brother
Timothy that we are to make supplications, pray, make intercessions, and give
thanks for all who are in authority over us. The specific goal of these is
that "we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
We often use the terms supplication, prayer and intercession synonymously
(interchangeably). But, it is clear from the text that these are separate
and distinct. I want to explore the Greek text as it relates to these terms.
I will go through each of them individually.
Supplications - this word is used three times in the New Testament. It
is used four times in the singular (supplication). The plural form is used
in 1 Timothy 2:1, 5:5, and Hebrews 5:7. The singular form is used in Acts
1:14, Ephesians 6:18 (twice), and Philippians 4:6. Except for Hebrews 5:7,
the same Greek root word is used. That word is deesis (deh'-ay-sis). It
comes from deomai (deh'-om-ahee) and means a petition. In the King James,
the word is translated prayer, request, supplication. According to the
Oxford American Dictionary, supplication means the act of asking humbly.
Thus, we are to ask God humbly for those in authority over us in order that
we may live quiet peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. In Hebrews
5:7, the Greek root used is hiketeria (hik-et-ay-ree'-ah), and means
intreaty, an archaic form of the word entreaty, meaning to request
earnestly or emotionally, i.e., plead.
Prayers - this word is used 22 times in the New Testament. I won't
list them here but, rather, refer you to a good concordance such as Strong's
or Cruden's. The Greek root in all of these passages (except for Luke 2:37,
5:33, 2 Timothy 1:3, Hebrews 5:7, and 1 Peter 3:12, where deesis is used),
is proseuche (pros-yoo-khay'). It comes from proseuchomai
(pros-yoo'-khom-ahee), and means prayer, which, in English, primarily means
a solemn request or thanksgiving to God or to an object of worship. Thus, we
are to make a solemn request to God for those in authority over us in order
that we may live quiet, peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.
Intercessions - this plural form of intercession is used only once in the
New Testament: in our text. The Greek root here is the one that is used for
all of the five New Testament entries for the singular form (intercession),
except for Romans 8:26. The Greek root is entugchano (en-toong-khan'-o).
It means to chance upon. In the King James it is translated "to deal with"
and "make intercession." In Romans 8:26, huperentugchano
(hoop-er-en-toong-khan'-o, to intercede in behalf of) is used. Thus, we
are to ask the Lord to deal with those in authority on our behalf in order
that we may live quiet, peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.
Giving of thanks - the Greek root used for thanks here is the one that
is used elsewhere in the New Testament for thanksgiving. That root is
eucharistia (yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah), which comes from eucharistos
(yoo-khar'-is-tos), meaning well-favored. It means gratitude or grateful
language. Thus, we are to be grateful, to express to God in grateful
language, for those in authority over us in order that we may live quiet,
peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.
Brother Paul exhorts (from the Greek root parakaleo [par-ak-al-eh'-o],
meaning to call near, i.e., invite, invoke) Brother Timothy and, by
extension, all saints, to ask humbly, solemnly request, and ask the Lord to
deal on our behalf, as well as to be grateful and express to God in grateful
language. The subject of this, the ones for whom we're to do these, is those
in authority over us, whether kings and other heads of state or anyone else
in any position of authority over us (including those in the five-fold
ministry listed in Ephesians 4:11). Brother Paul doesn't say to pray for
those in authority so that certain types of legislation will be passed or
that certain people will be placed in authority (or removed from authority)
but, rather, that we may live quiet, peaceable lives in all godliness and
honesty. In other words, we're to ask the Lord to intervene on our behalf
for the express purpose of having those in authority not create circumstances
that would cause us not to live quiet, peaceable lives in all godliness and
honesty.
Now, notice the phrase Brother Paul uses here: "that we may lead a quiet,
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." The Greek here is rendered as
"in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all piety and
gravity." The word gravity, used here, means seriousness or solemnity. This
is, of course, in keeping with the characteristics of a Christian's life
called for in the word of God. In that Brother Paul tells us to pray for
this and to give thanks for this, he implies that this kind of "lifestyle" is
required of us as saints of God (see also Ephesians 4:21-32, 5:1-4, 15-16;
Philippians 1:27, 4:5-7; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Titus 2:11-13; Hebrews 12:14).
It's so easy for us to adapt ourselves to the values and priorities of the
secular cultures from which we have come; to engage in those behaviors and
take on those characteristics that these cultures hold in esteem -- such as
the individuality and competitiveness of American culture. But let us
remember that, as the hymn says, "this world is not [our] home;" that we are
strangers and pilgrims on the earth, seeking the heavenly country (see
Hebrews 11:13-16).
Inasmuch as part of the role of the New Testament prophet is to exhort,
and inasmuch as I function in that particular ministry, I repeat Brother
Paul's exhortation to pray and give thanks for all those in authority over us
that we might live a lifestyle characterized by tranquility, quietness,
piety, and gravity.
1. How does our text relate to the issue of exercising the right Americans
have to engage in the political process?
2. What does our text tell us about the attitude we should have toward those
in authority over us?
Rev. Chancellor C. Roberts, II, is an ordained minister in the National Gay
Pentecostal Alliance, serving God and that denomination in the ministry of
New Testament prophet (Ephesians 4:11). He manages an e-mail discussion
group for Apostolic/Pentecostal gays. He also edits the online newsletter The Apostolic Standard.
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Openly Gay, Openly Christian : How the Bible Really Is Gay Friendly Rev. Samuel Kader Leanne McCall Tigert
Websites:
National Gay Pentacostal Alliance
Other Articles By Rev. Chancellor C. Roberts, II:
Girding Up The Loins Of Your Mind
Sexual Orientation in the Word of God
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