Answer
In 1 Timothy 2:1–15, the apostle Paul instructs his pastoral protégé Timothy concerning church worship. He begins with issues related to prayer (verses 1–7) and moves to exhortations for men and women regarding their spiritual responsibilities in public worship gatherings (verses 8–15). Paul specifically directs men to pray everywhere: “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Timothy 2:8–9, NKJV).
Bible scholars differ slightly on the meaning of the statement, “I desire that the men pray everywhere.” They agree that Paul addresses this part of his appeal to Christian males. Paul does not use the generic form of the word men, meaning “mankind,” but instead a term referring to adult males. He follows this statement with a specific directive for women in worship (see 1 Timothy 2:9).
So, we know Paul is speaking to male believers. But what does he mean by urging them “to pray everywhere?” Different Bible translations reflect nuances in meaning: “I want the men everywhere to pray,” states the NIV; “I desire then that in every place the men should pray” renders the ESV; and, “In every place of worship, I want men to pray,” informs the NLT.
The original term translated as “everywhere” in 1 Timothy 2:8 means “in every place or every topographical region.” A strong possibility suggests that this verse is tied to Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well. At one point, the woman questions Jesus about the appropriate place to worship: “So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” (John 4:20, NLT). Jesus answers, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. . . . But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. . . . For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21–24, NLT).
An ordinary Jewish layman and convert to Christianity may have been hesitant to pray at church gatherings. These men would have been accustomed to only the temple’s Jewish high priests and the synagogue leaders standing up to pray in worship. Paul was now instructing these male believers in Ephesus to boldly approach God in prayer (see Hebrews 4:16) and become the spiritual leaders God had called them to be in the church. They were free to pray anywhere the church met, whether in a home, by the river, or wherever believers united for worship (see Romans 16:3–5; 1 Corinthians 16:19).
Jerusalem was no longer the only appropriate place of worship. Jesus died for all people—Jews, Gentiles, and people of every nation, tribe, and language. God has sent Christ’s followers out into the whole world—to all people everywhere (Mark 16:15; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:8). “But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume” (2 Corinthians 2:14, NLT).
Believers are called to worship and pray everywhere—in every topographical region of the world. Men are to be at the front of this prayer movement anywhere the church gathers (see 1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2, 5; 4:11–16; 5:17). This does not mean women cannot pray in church, but men are to take the lead and set the example. Perhaps Paul said, “I want the men to pray everywhere,” simply because men in Ephesus were sitting back and letting the women take charge in prayer.
Another possibility is that the men in Ephesus were praying but had wrong heart attitudes toward others. Paul instructs them to pray everywhere, “lifting up holy hands without anger and disputing.” Lifting hands with arms open and extended to heaven was a typical Old Testament posture in prayer (Exodus 9:29; 1 Kings 8:22; Psalm 28:2). This posture represents a holy, pure, and clean life before the Lord (Psalm 18:20; 24:4; 66:18).
Paul singles out men and tells them to pray everywhere. He is teaching men their spiritual responsibility as leaders in the church and its worship services (1 Timothy 3:2; Acts 6:2–6) and showing them that, as leaders, they must be godly men of integrity (1 Timothy 3:8; 4:7–8; 6:11–12).
