{"id":789,"date":"2021-02-06T12:16:19","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T12:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/?p=789"},"modified":"2024-01-17T12:56:15","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T12:56:15","slug":"should-christians-try-to-influence-the-government-1-timothy-21-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/?p=789","title":{"rendered":"Should Christians Try to Influence the Government? 1 Timothy 2:1-4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned in my earlier post, Grudem\u2019s Systematic Theology[i]<\/a> identifies four passages that support the position that Christians should try to influence government.  In this post, I look at what takeaways a Christian can gain from 1 Timothy 2:1-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A believer is supposed to pray for governmental officials according to 1 Timothy 2:1\u20134 (NASB95):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1<\/sup> First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and<\/em> prayers, petitions and<\/em> thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2<\/sup> for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3<\/sup> This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4<\/sup> who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The operative expression is \u201cso that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.\u201d  One commentator[ii]<\/a> helps define Paul\u2019s prayer requests (boldfacing added):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The final clause of v. 2 designates the content of the prayer. First, Paul\u2019s words imply that Christians must pray that their leaders will have the knowledge needed to guide them in their duties. Freedom from anarchy, persecution, and economic hardship can facilitate the spread of the gospel. Wise rulers can provide sound, solid leadership to accomplish these goals. Paul was not merely requesting that Christians pray for the conversion of their leaders, although this was at least a part of the prayer. The prayers include thanksgivings for those decisions that facilitate the spread of Christianity<\/strong> and requests for wisdom in making important decisions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Another commentator[iii]<\/a> writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It should be remembered that God has instituted government for our benefit. When government operates well, it is a significant ally to the gospel. Knowing that the mission of the church is to reveal and disperse the truth of Jesus Christ, Paul emphasized the need to pray for those in authority.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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**<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Governmental leaders and bureaucratic policies have a direct bearing on our freedom to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Peaceful literally means \u201ctranquil.\u201d This word refers to the absence of outside disturbances. Quiet refers to a composed, discreet order. Certainly we desire our nation to be peaceful and quiet. Paul implied that God is willing to help us achieve this. \u201cThe king\u2019s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases\u201d (Prov. 21:1).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The point of desiring a benign environment, however, is not for our own comfort. It is for the expression of godliness and holiness; it is for Christian witness.<\/strong> Paul still had in view the observing community and world, the spread of the gospel, the salvation of the lost. This became apparent as he continued.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Keeping in mind that a benign government is for the expression of godliness and holiness and Christian witness, 1 Timothy 2:1-4 supports trying to influence government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The takeaways from 1 Timothy 2:1-4 are Christians should try to influence government to (1) facilitate the spread of the gospel, (2) stop abortion, and (3) not to pass laws that encourage the LGBTQ lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are reading this post and are not a Christian, unless God intervenes, your eternal destination is hell.  But, your destiny can change.  Today can be the day of your salvation.  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Please see my blog (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/04\/20\/for-god-so-loves-you-2\/<\/a>) for a description of how you can be saved and a more concise description at my (https:\/\/stevebelsheim.com\/2020\/10\/20\/there-is-hope-even-when-there-seems-to-be-no-hope-2\/<\/a> ).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTICE OF PERMISSIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am mindful of and respect the rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  I thus try my best to not violate any copyright rights other authors and\/or publishers possess in their works.  The below copyright permission statement is the result of my best efforts to understand that limited usage or \u201cfair use\u201d is available and\/or to secure direct permission for specific works.  The quotations from commentaries are considered to be \u201cfair use.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked \u201cESV\u201d are from the ESV\u00ae Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNASB95\u201d are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE\u00ae, Copyright \u00a9 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cNCV\u201d is taken from the New Century Version. Copyright \u00a9 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Scriptures marked \u201cNET\u201d are quoted are from the NET Bible\u00ae  http:\/\/netbible.com copyright \u00a91996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture marked \u201cGW\u201d is taken from the God\u2019s Word Bible that is a copyrighted work of God’s Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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[i]<\/a> Footnote 11 at page 893 (Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (p. 893). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House) reads [in part]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that Christians should try to influence government to make laws consistent with biblical standards is indicated by passages such as Matt. 6:10; 14:4; Acts 24:25; and 1 Tim. 2:1\u20134.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[ii]<\/a> Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 88). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[iii]<\/a> Larson, K. (2000). I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol. 9, p. 165). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

INTRODUCTION As mentioned in my earlier post, Grudem\u2019s Systematic Theology[i] identifies four passages that support the position that Christians should try to influence government.  In this post, I look at what takeaways a Christian can gain from 1 Timothy 2:1-4.  1 TIMOTHY 2:1-4 A believer is supposed to pray for governmental officials according to 1 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[323],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-government"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=789"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2133,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/789\/revisions\/2133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stevebelsheim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}