My Notes
What Does 1 Timothy 2:3 Mean?
Paul states a simple but foundational principle: praying for all people, including those in authority, "is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour." The practice of broad, inclusive prayer—not just for believers or allies but for everyone, including rulers—pleases God. The scope of your prayer life reflects the scope of God's concern.
The phrase "God our Saviour" (theou sōtēros hēmōn) identifies God by His saving nature. He's not God the Judge in this context. He's God the Savior. And a saving God wants people saved. The next verse makes this explicit: God "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." Praying for all people aligns with God's own desire for all people.
The word "acceptable" (apodekton) means welcomed, pleasing, received with favor. When you pray for all people—including the difficult ones, the hostile ones, the ones in authority over you—God doesn't just tolerate it. He welcomes it. He receives it with favor. Your broad, inclusive prayer meets His broad, inclusive desire for salvation.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How broad is your prayer list? Does it extend beyond the people you like to include 'all people'?
- 2.If praying for authorities and difficult people pleases God, how does that change who you pray for?
- 3.God 'will have all men to be saved.' How does your prayer life align with that desire—or resist it?
- 4.What would change if you prayed for people you'd rather not pray for—and God received that prayer with favor?
Devotional
Praying for all people is "good and acceptable in the sight of God." Not just praying for your family. Not just praying for your church. Praying for all people—including rulers, including authorities, including the people you might prefer God didn't save. Broad, inclusive prayer pleases the broad, inclusive God.
God is identified here as "our Saviour"—emphasizing that His nature is to save. A saving God wants people saved. All people. The next verse removes any ambiguity: God will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Your prayer for all people aligns with God's own desire for all people. When you pray broadly, you're praying in sync with God's heart.
The word "acceptable" means God welcomes this prayer with favor. He doesn't just allow it. He receives it gladly. When you pray for the person you'd rather not pray for—the leader you disagree with, the authority you resent, the neighbor who makes your life difficult—God finds that prayer pleasing. Not because the prayer is impressive. Because it mirrors His own desire.
If your prayer list is limited to the people you like—if you pray for your circle and stop there—this verse expands the borders. God wants prayer for all. Not because all deserve it (they don't—that's why it's called grace). Because God's saving desire covers all. And when your prayer matches His desire, He calls it good. And acceptable. Pray bigger.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour. Not only to live peaceably and quietly under the…
For this is good and acceptable - That is, it is good and acceptable to God that we should pray for all people. The…
This is good and acceptable - Prayer for all legally constituted authorities is good in itself, because useful to…
Here is, I. A charge given to Christians to pray for all men in general, and particularly for all in authority. Timothy…
For this is good and acceptable We should omit For; for the apparent abruptness compare Php 4:5, The Lord is at hand,"…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture