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Praying without Anger and Argument
1 Timothy 2:8 (CSB) “Therefore, I want men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.”
Why “without anger or argument”? Were the Ephesian men being corrected for some local problems within their spiritual family? Problem is though, Paul does not seem here to be correcting wannabe teachers (1:3,4,7) and those who have shipwrecked their faith (1:19-20).
Instead, connect (chiastically as bookends) the “therefore…pray” of 2:8, to the urging to pray in 2:1 – “I urge petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings, and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quite life in all godliness and dignity.”
Praying for a ungoldy, pagan, government that is imprisoning people like Paul and others, cannot be easy. In fact, if told to do so, one might get angry and argue against such!
The lessons are profound:
1. Holy hands include living what we pray.
2. Holy hands include knowing it is hypocritical to want from others what we are not willing to start in ourselves.
3. Holy hands include praying for those others would consider the enemy.
4. Holy hands include obeying even when our natural tendency is the opposite.
5. Holy hands include setting a public and private example for all.
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