Praying Men

1 Timothy 2-Part 6
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
1 Timothy 2:8


LET IT GLOW

Since I am not a man, is it ok to pass over today's lesson? No, of course not. Ladies, we are surrounded by men and they need our support concerning this subject of prayer, which Paul addresses in verse 8. Remember, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God for instruction. (See 2 Tim. 3:16)
Paul deals with issues concerning the place and performance of men and women in the church. He tells how they should behave in the house of God. Paul gives instructions regarding public worship for both men and women. So we've answered some of the  5 w's and how questions:

1. Who-Paul speaks of men first, then the women.
2. What-Of course, the subject is praying in public and behavior in the house of God.
3. When-The time is during public worship.
4. Where-Paul mentions praying everywhere.
5. Why-The reason he gives these instructions is so the Epehsians will have an effective prayers.
6. How-This is the main emphasis, I think, that verse 8 covers. How are the men to pray in church? Let's slip
             back into Paul's time, between A.D. 62-67, when he was released from his first and second Roman
             imprisonment.

Shepherd's Notes says this:

In the early church, the place of worship was usually the home of some believer. By implication, the men were to do the public praying. A common Jewish posture in prayer was evidently widely adopted by early Christians. While they stood, they looked upward toward heaven, lifting their arms with the palms turned upward. This may have symbolized the expectation of receiving God's blessings in answer to their petitions. Of course, no specific posture in prayer is sacred. Various postures are found in Scripture.
Paul's primary point in this passaged, however, is not the posture of prayer but the attitude which the men were to bring to prayer. They were to pray "without anger or disputing." [emphasis mine]


The Greek word for men used in verse 8 is aner. It is not the same word for women or mankind (anthropos).

Liberty Bible Commentary explains it this way:

Men should pray, not just the ladies' missionary circles or prayer groups. Some take this specifically to mean public prayer in a church and believe it indicates men should do the public praying. The emphasis, however, is that men should pray every where as opposed to infrequently or not at all. Paul stresses the "holy" or "unpolluted" (hands) and not the posture of "lifting up" hands, though there is nothing wrong with the raising of hands in prayer. Men who expect to get prayers answered must be men of God, godly men, or God won't hear them (Isa. 5:1; Ps. 66:18). Toward others, there must be no wrath, even against the evil rulers of the day. Toward God there must be faith without doubting (Matt. 13:58; 21:22).


LET IT GROW

Personally, I think it should be the godly men who lead in prayers, everywhere, whether in church or somewhere else. If such a man is available in a group, he should voice the prayer. This isn't to say that women shouldn't pray in public, but as a second choice. She is to be a follower, a learner, in subjection in the context of the church assembly. We'll get into that more in the next lesson, where Paul addresses the women's role.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary goes a little deeper:

The Greek word for holy means "unpolluted" or "unstained by evil." Hands symbolize the activities of life; thus, "holy hands" represent a holy life. Theis basis of effective prayer is a righteous life (James 5:16). Wrath and righteousness are mutually exclusive (James 1:20). A better translation for doubting is "dissension," and refers to a hesitant reluctance to be committed to prayer. "Effectual, fervent" prayer is effective (James 5:16). The two refer to one's inner attitude.

So the man who is praying should do so in faith, without doubting. Also, he shoud not be angry, have wrath in his heart, or open disagreements with others. Christians can disagree without being disagreeable. ( Wiersbe)

As a woman, do I support and encourage men, including my husband, to lead in prayer?


LET IT GO

Support and encourage godly men to pray everywhere.