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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - 1 Timothy 2:2 - 2:2
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1Ti 2:2. Ὑπὲρ βασιλέων, for kings) on whom other men depend, [and who frequently enjoy less opportunity of arriving at the knowledge of saving truth.-V. g.]-πάντων, all) Often the humblest magistrates, even in villages, do much harm, or else are of much benefit.-ἐν ὑπεροχῇ, in eminent stations, authority) as for instance the counsellors of kings, or, where there is no king, other magistrates.-ἵνα, that) The reason, why we must pray for kings.-ἤρεμον, quiet) free, aliens being removed out of the country. Chrysostom, for example, applies ἠρεμίαν to the Holy of Holies in the temple; and the word agrees with ἔρημος, lonely, by Metathesis.-ἡσύχιον, peaceable) free; those who are aliens, if allowed to reside, at least giving us no disturbance.-εὐσεβείᾳ, in godliness) piety towards God. The word is frequently used in the epistles to Timothy and Titus. [Luke uses the same word in the Acts, and Peter in his second epistle. It may be mentioned among the vile rabble of a most perverse world as a remarkable stratagem, contrary to the kingdom of God and advantageous to the aims of Satan, that piety, in name at least never hitherto lightly esteemed, has at length been converted into a term of reproach, ‘Pietist,’ by an anonymous person of the worst character, whose death, as we are informed, was shocking. Nor even does the termination itself involve anything bad in itself, as it corresponds to the words, Statist, Copyist, Linguist. But if the intention is to distinguish by a peculiar name fanatics and men assuming the appearance of holiness (in which case it ought to be made certain, that a blow is not dealt at those really innocent), why, pray, is piety hereby virtually punished? A serious matter is at stake. Experience cries out in witness of the fact; in conversations and social meetings, when a man, having said not as much as a word for the cause of religion, has conducted himself somewhat more modestly, he is easily assailed by this title, of which not even the pronunciation is in some instances well known to the common people. It can scarcely be told, what a number of sparks of piety have been quenched by the use of the scoffing term, pietist. GOD will execute judgment for all this, Jude, 1Ti 2:15.-V. g.]-σεμνότητι, [honesty] propriety) on the part of men towards one another.