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2 Corinthians 8:6
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

Ephesians 3:13
Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Hebrews 6:11
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

first.

1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

supplications.

1 Timothy 5:5
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

Genesis 18:23-32
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? …

1 Kings 8:41-43
Moreover concerning a stranger, thatis not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake; …

and.

Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Romans 6:17
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

all men.

1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

1 Thessalonians 3:12
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward allmen, even as wedo toward you:

I urge that
Paul's use of "urge" conveys a strong encouragement or exhortation, highlighting the necessity and urgency of the action. This reflects Paul's pastoral concern for Timothy and the church in Ephesus, where Timothy was serving. The apostle's urging is not merely a suggestion but a call to action, emphasizing the importance of obedience to this instruction.

petitions,
Petitions refer to specific requests made to God, often for personal needs or the needs of others. This type of prayer acknowledges human dependence on God and His ability to provide. In the cultural context of the time, petitionary prayer was a common practice in both Jewish and Greco-Roman religious traditions, but Paul emphasizes its place within Christian worship.

prayers,
The term "prayers" is more general and encompasses all forms of communication with God. It includes adoration, confession, and supplication. This reflects the comprehensive nature of prayer in the believer's life, as seen inPhilippians 4:6, where believers are encouraged to present their requests to God in every situation.

intercessions,
Intercessions involve praying on behalf of others, standing in the gap for their needs and concerns. This reflects the communal aspect of the Christian faith, where believers are called to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). Intercessory prayer is a demonstration of love and concern for others, aligning with Christ's own intercessory role (Hebrews 7:25).

and thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude to God for His blessings and faithfulness. It is a vital component of prayer, as seen in1 Thessalonians 5:18, where believers are instructed to give thanks in all circumstances. Thanksgiving acknowledges God's sovereignty and goodness, fostering a spirit of contentment and joy.

be offered for everyone—
The inclusivity of "everyone" underscores the universal scope of Christian prayer. This reflects the early church's mission to reach all people with the gospel, transcending cultural and social barriers. It aligns with God's desire for all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and reflects the inclusive nature of Christ's redemptive work. This call to pray for everyone includes leaders and authorities, as further elaborated in the following verses, emphasizing the church's role in seeking the welfare of society.

“First of all, then” (1 Timothy 2:1) sets the priority. Paul begins this chapter by moving prayer to the front of the line.

• It is the church’s “first” work, not an afterthought (Acts 6:4: “We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”).

• When believers put prayer first, everything else falls into proper order (Matthew 6:33).

• Paul’s “then” ties the instruction to the gospel charge in1 Timothy 1:18-19, showing that prayer undergirds sound teaching and spiritual warfare.

Paul writes as an apostle and shepherd: “I urge.”

• His appeal is heartfelt, not casual (2 Corinthians 5:20).

• The word signals a pastoral summons for every believer, much like his call in1 Thessalonians 4:1: “We ask and urge you… to please God more and more.”

• Urgency here reminds us that prayerlessness hinders God’s work (James 4:2).

Four distinct expressions of conversation with God are named:

• Petitions—specific requests for specific needs (Philippians 4:6).

• Prayers—general devotion, worship, and adoration (Ephesians 6:18).

• Intercessions—standing in the gap for others (Romans 8:26-27 shows even the Spirit intercedes).

• Thanksgiving—grateful acknowledgment of God’s past and present grace (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

These are not options but complementary practices that round out a healthy prayer life.

The scope is unlimited: “for everyone.”

• God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4); thus our prayers must match His heart.

• “Everyone” includes rulers (1 Timothy 2:2), neighbors, strangers, even enemies (Matthew 5:44).

• Universal prayer keeps the church outward-focused, aligning withJohn 3:16 and2 Peter 3:9, where God’s love reaches the whole world.

1 Timothy 2:1 calls believers to make prayer their top priority, respond to Paul’s earnest urging, embrace every facet of prayer—petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving—and extend those prayers to all people without distinction. Such obedience partners with God’s redemptive purpose and sustains the church’s witness in the world.

(1)I exhort therefore.--Now Timothy was to begin to carry out his master St. Paul's great charge--the charge which bade him teach all men to put their entire, their perfect, trust in the Saviour of sinners--by instructing the Church of Ephesus, in the first place, to pray constantly for all sorts and conditions of men. The detailed injunctionshow the charge was to be carried out are introduced by the Greek particleoun,translated in our version by "therefore;" it may be paraphrased thus: "In pursuance of my great charge, I proceed by special details; in the first place, let prayersfor all be offered by the congregation."

Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks.--Many attempts, some of them not very happy ones, have been made by grammarians and commentators to distinguish between these terms, each of which denotes prayer. On the whole, it may be assumed that the Greek word translated "supplications" signifies a request for particular benefits, and is a special form of the more general word rendered "prayers." The third expression in the English version translated "intercessions" suggests a closer and more intimate communion with God on the part of the one praying. It speaks of drawing near God, of entering into free, familiar speech with Him. The Greek word suggests prayer in its most individual, urgent form. The fourth term, "giving of thanks," expresses that which ought never to be absent from any of our devotions, gratitude for past mercies. Archbishop Trench remarks how this peculiar form of prayer will subsist in heaven when, in the very nature of things, all other forms of prayer will have ceased in the entire fruition of the things prayed for, for then only will the redeemed know how much they owe to their Lord. The wordeucharist is derived from the Greek word used in this place--eucharistia--for in the Holy Communion the Church embodies its highest act of thanksgiving for the highest benefits received.

For all men.--Professor Reynolds well comments on the hardness of the task set us here--"It is difficult for us always to love all men, to think of all men as equally dear to God, or to regard all men as equally capable of being blessed. Timothy, after reading this letter, probably walked along the marble colonnade of the great temple of Artemis, or heard the hum of some twenty thousand Asiatic Greeks crowded in the vast theatre to witness the gladiatorial fight, or encountered a procession of Bacchantes, or turned into the synagogue on the side of the Coresias and saw the averted looks, and felt the bitter hatred of some old friends. We, with some knowledge of the modern world, have to look into the 'hells' upon earth; to survey the gold-fields and battle-fields; the African slave-hunts; the throngs and saloons of Pekin, Calcutta, and Paris; the monasteries of Tibet; and make prayers, petitions, intercessions, and thanksgivings, too, on behalf of all men. In the beginning of the Gospel, Timothy received this quiet injunction from the Apostle Paul. Now the once whispered word peals like the voice of many waters and mighty thunderings over the whole Church of God."