1 Timothy 2:1–15 (NKJV)
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
The kingdom of the left (the world) and the kingdom of the right (God’s kingdom of grace) need each other. The world (fallen and filled with nothing but sinners) needs grace. Yet God’s grace (that is, Christ’s fully atoning merits, delivered through His Word and Sacraments) needs faithful rulers that maintain a freedom for the Church to exist in order to rightly deliver God’s grace through the Office of the Holy Ministry.
Thus, God, through St. Paul, speaks the important exhortation “that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” Why such an exhortation? Because when the Church is free to exist, then Christ can be proclaimed, for God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
Upon that scriptural truth we confess and proclaim: “Faith justifies… Just as it is necessary to maintain this sentence: Christ is Mediator, so is it necessary to defend that faith justifies. For how will Christ be Mediator, if, in justification, we do not use Him as Mediator; if we are not convinced that, for His sake, we are accounted righteous? But this is to believe, to trust in the merits of Christ, that for His sake God certainly wishes to be reconciled with us” (Ap:IV, 69, Jacobs).
Let us pray: Almighty and Everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain what You have promised, make us to love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
