Praying All Things For All People

The Great Commission needs Great Intercession. Though we may not find it directly in the passage of Matthew 28:19-20, prayer should be a constant companion to the Great Commission, as shown elsewhere (see passages like Colossians 4:3-4; Ephesians 6:19-20; Matthew 9:38). Something critical to our intercession for the Great Commission, though, is not just prayer but corporate prayer (1). We learn this lesson from the Apostle Paul through his interactions with Timothy. Yet, that’s not the only lesson we learn from Paul.

After leaving Timothy in Ephesus to correct the circumstances of false teaching, Paul writes to him and gives these instructions:

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Timothy 2:1-3 (ESV))
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As is usual with Paul, he is efficient with his words, packing much information into each sentence. It is here that we learn of the importance of corporate prayer with the call for all people to pray for all people . . . . those in the body of Christ should be praying for those not part of the body of Christ. There is a second point we should learn from this as well: corporate prayer is for the purpose of praying all things for all people.
We see this in the four different words Paul utilizes for prayer. Though some versions use different variations, those words in the English Standard Version (as written above) are supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving. Though similar, each conveys a specific aspect worth noting:

• Supplications: A supplication is a request made to God that is the result of someone who is in need but is helpless to fulfill that need. Such is the description of all people who live under God's judgment and are helpless to atone for their own sins. Supplications are our call to the Lord for His help in our helplessness.
• Prayers: Prayer is a more general word but implies reverence and adoration. Prayers then can only be directed to God.
• Intercessions: Intercession is a unique word because its appearance in the New Testament occurs only in this epistle (here in our text in verse 1 and later in 4:5). It implies conversation, suggesting that prayer is a time in which one converses with the Lord.
• Thanksgivings: And finally, thanksgiving is most notable as being the act of acknowledging a gift and the giver of the gift (2).

Each of these words expresses a particular facet of prayer. Like each facet of a diamond uniquely captures the light to show its radiance, each facet of prayer captures specific aspects of our communion with the Lord to reveal its radiance.

Together these words present prayer as something more than just a one-way exchange in which people simply make requests of the Lord. Prayer is profound, meant to be a dialogue between us and the Lord. Expressing our deepest spiritual needs, it is a time of request, but it is not that alone. It is a well-rounded exchange that also includes thankfulness to the Lord for fulfilling those needs according to His will (not necessarily our will). Finally, prayer is a time of adoration in which we respond to the activities and attributes of the Lord.

While highlighting the distinctions between each word is helpful, we must be cautious not to overemphasize their distinctions. Paul's point in this text is not that we pray differently but rather that we pray wholly each time we pray. In an era when we tend to highlight prayer for physical needs to the neglect of spiritual needs, these words serve as an evaluation of how well-rounded our prayer is.

Reading these verses, I am convicted about the need to pray corporately with other believers for the sake of the Lord's name that his gospel of truth may go forth. That forces us to ask ourselves, "When we pray, do we pray in all ways for all things for all people?" Truthfully, what are we willing to pray for people, and how often are we willing to pray for it? I can’t help but think to myself that the depth of my prayers for others indicates the depth of my concern for others.

(1) The discussion of corporate prayer was expounded upon in more depth in an article shared last week, which you can read by clicking here.
(2) There are a number of good commentaries that explain the significance of these words, including The Pastoral Epistles by Homer Kent, The Pastoral Epistles for Pastorsby John Kitchen. However, for a deeper yet accessible study of these words, Robert Gromacki’s Stand True to the Charge is a useful resource.

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