1 Timothy2:8

Translation

Therefore, in every place

[where I have planted churches]

I fully intend

men to pray while raising holy hands [to God], without impulsive anger and heated arguing.

Paraphrase

As part of this ministry God has called me to, and to the extent that I have some influence in the places I have ministered and planted churches, I fully intend to make it a reality that godly men be men of prayer, men of integrity and innocent of wrongdoing, and men of self-control.

Footnotes

1: "place"

This is the Greek word from which we get our word “topographical.” It means “a place.”

2

The use of [ ] means that this wording was not part of the original text but is assumed to be the intended meaning.

3

This word means “to will, to intend, be disposed to, to purpose or plan.” Because it is in a reflexive form it is limited to the ideas of “intending to” or “being disposed to,” rather than active planning. There is a different Greek word that means “desire” as we usually think of it in English. That other word is more closely tied to emotions; the word used here is closely tied to purpose and intent.

A SUMMARY OF WHAT PAUL WANTS MEN TO DO

This section is talking about proper conduct when believers are gathered together to worship, which includes prayer, praise and sharing. We have erroneously come to think the word “worship” refers to music, but it actually refers to all the spiritually beneficial things that go on while we are gathered together (you can also worship when you are alone with God). Although a full meeting of a house-church is probably in view, Paul simply calls it “prayer” because prayer was one of the key elements and possibly the most prominent element of their time together. It is thought that the early church spent a big chunk of time in prayer together, probably on their knees, with their faces to the ground. They did not have a sermon every time they gathered, rather men shared as the Holy Spirit lead them and according to what had been going on in their lives.

The idea Paul is communicating is that, as much as is in his power, He fully intends on making it a reality that men emphasize prayer with the right attitudes and with a pure heart. Men are often doers, but before we can go and do things for God or others, we need to be men of prayer, of integrity and self-control. If we start doing without having first laid the proper spiritual foundation, our actions will be compromised by the desires of self.