Vincent Word Studies - 1 Timothy 2:8 - 2:8

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Vincent Word Studies - 1 Timothy 2:8 - 2:8


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

I will (βούλομαι)

Better, I desire. See on Mat 1:19, and comp. Phi 1:12. Paul's word is θέλω I will. See Rom 16:19; 1Co 7:32; 1Co 10:20; 1Co 14:5, 1Co 14:19, etc.

Everywhere (ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ)

Lit. in every place. Wherever Christian congregations assemble. Not every place indiscriminately.

Lifting up holy hands (ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας)

The phrase is unique in N.T. olxx. Among Orientals the lifting up of the hands accompanied taking an oath, blessing, and prayer. The custom passed over into the primitive church, as may be seen from the mural paintings in the catacombs. See Clement, Ad Corinth. xxix, which may possibly be a reminiscence of this passage. The verb ἐπαίρειν to raise, twice in Paul, 2Co 10:5; 2Co 11:20; but often in Luke. Ὁσίους holy, oP. See on Luk 1:75.

Without wrath and doubting (χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ διαλογισμῶν)

The combination only here. Ὁργὴ is used by Paul mostly of the righteous anger and the accompanying judgment of God against sin. As here, only in Eph 4:31; Col 3:8. Διαλογισμός in N.T. habitually in the plural, as here. The only exception is Luk 9:46, Luk 9:47. By Paul usually in the sense of disputatious reasoning. It may also mean sceptical questionings or criticisms as Phi 2:14. So probably here. Prayer, according to our writer, is to be without the element of sceptical criticism, whether of God's character and dealings, or of the character and behavior of those for whom prayer is offered.