QT 23 May 16, 1 Tim 2:1-4, Live peaceful quite lives that witness to others God's goodness

1 Tim 2:1-4 (ESV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

NOTE: Paul's "first of all" seems out of place since he has been quite insistent on standing up to poor teaching and false teaching in the first part of the letter. So, in context, his 'first of all' may be more detail on how to approach teachers, or what to teach, or neither, but rather a restart of his letter to Timothy with the real reason for his writing. In any case, Paul argues for the necessity of intercession. And rather than expecting the Christian life to be painful and full of persecution, he offers an interesting promise, "that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." Not only is it a result, but that kind of life, is a good thing and is pleasing to God. Men are always looking for ways to please God--well, here is one: pray for everyone and lead peaceful, quiet, godly and dignified lives. God's ultimate desire is for the whole world to come to a knowledge of the truth and that is not possible if his children do not exhibit lives that are different from the world around them. So the bottom line is that God has called us to pray and live lives that witness goodness.