Prayer-1Tim2v1

Prayer –   Titled:  Prayer-1Tim2v1

At 1 Timothy 2:1 Paul uses three different forms of prayer in one verse…..  Note below:

ESV:   First of all, then, I urge that supplications (G1162)(GK1255) , prayers (G4335 (GK4666), intercessions (G1783 GK1950 LN33.347), and thanksgivings (G2169, GK 2374, LN33.349) be made for all people,

Will show you the definition provided by the GK – DBL Greek –  G – Strong’s  –   LN – Louw-Nida dictionaries.  Please note the Expositors Bible Commentary notes on this….   For convince here is the paragraph about these Greek words:

The apostle’s initial instruction in this section pertains to prayers being offered for “everyone” (v. 1; cf. vv. 4, 6), particularly “those in authority” (v. 2). Paul uses a series of four expressions (of a total of seven found in the NT), denoting the different elements of which such prayer may consist (NIDNTT 2:855–85): “requests” (deēseis, GK 1255) for specific needs directed toward God; general “prayers” (proseuchas, GK 4666); “intercession” (enteuxeis, GK 1950), i.e., the issuing of earnest, urgent, and bold appeals for divine action in behalf of others (cf. entynchanō in Ro 8:27, 34; 11:2); and “thanksgiving” (eucharistias, GK 2374; the order may be incidental).

GK1255 δέησις (deēsis), εως (eōs), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 1162; TDNT 2.40—LN 33.171 plea, prayer, request, petition (Lk 2:37; Ro 10:1; Eph 6:18; Php 4:6; 1Ti 2:1; 5:5; Heb 5:7; Jas 5:16; 1Pe 3:12)[1]

G1162 δέησις [deesis /deh·ay·sis/] n f. From 1189; TDNT 2:40; TDNTA 144; GK 1255; 19 occurrences; AV translates as “prayer” 12 times, “supplication” six times, and “request” once. 1 need, indigence, want, privation, penury. 2 a seeking, asking, entreating, entreaty to God or to man. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 1783, enteuxis; and 4335, proseuche.See entry 5828 for comparison of synonyms.[2]

LN33.171 δέησις, εως f: (derivative of δέομαι ‘to plead, to beg,’ 33.170) that which is asked with urgency based on presumed need—‘request, plea, prayer.’ μὴ φοβοῦ, Ζαχαρία, διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου ‘do not be afraid, Zechariah! (God) has heard your prayer’ Lk 1:13.[3]

GK4666 προσευχή (proseuchē), ῆς (ēs), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ DBLHebr 9525; Str 4335; TDNT 2.807—1. LN 33.178 prayer (Lk 19:46; Ac 1:14; 3:1; Mt 17:21 v.r.); 2. LN 33.179 place for prayer (Ac 16:13, 16+)

G4335 προσευχή [proseuche /pros·yoo·khay/] n f. From 4336; TDNT 2:807; TDNTA 279; GK 4666; 37 occurrences; AV translates as “prayer” 36 times, and “pray earnestly + 3346” once. 1 prayer addressed to God. 2 a place set apart or suited for the offering of prayer. 2a a synagogue. 2b a place in the open air where the Jews were wont to pray, outside the cities, where they had no synagogue. 2b1 such places were situated upon the bank of a stream or the shore of a sea, where there was a supply of water for washing the hands before prayer. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 1162, deesis; and 1783, enteuxis.See entry 5828 for comparison of synonyms.

LN33.178 εὔχομαιa; προσεύχομαι; εὐχήa, ῆς f; προσευχήa, ῆς f: to speak to or to make requests of God—‘to pray, to speak to God, to ask God for, prayer.’

εὔχομαιa: εὐχόμεθα δὲ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν ‘we pray to God that you will do no wrong’ 2 Cor 13:7.

προσεύχομαι: ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος κατ’ ἰδίαν προσεύξασθαι ‘he went up a hill by himself to pray’ Mt 14:23.

εὐχήa: ἡ εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως σώσει τὸν κάμνοντα ‘the prayer made in faith will save the sick person’ Jas 5:15.

προσευχήa: ἔσται ὁ οἶκός μου οἶκος προσευχῆς ‘my house will be a house of prayer’ Lk 19:46.

In some languages there are a number of different terms used for prayer depending upon the nature of the content, for example, requests for material blessing, pleas for spiritual help, intercession for others, thanksgiving, and praise. There may also be important distinctions on the basis of urgency and need. The most generic expression for prayer may simply be ‘to speak to God.’ It is normally best to avoid an expression which means primarily ‘to recite.’

GK1950 ἔντευξις (enteuxis), εως (eōs), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 1783; TDNT 8.244—LN 33.347 intercession, prayer (1Ti 2:1; 4:5+)

G1783 ἔντευξις [enteuxis /ent·yook·sis/] n f. From 1793; TDNT 8:244; TDNTA 1191; GK 1950; Two occurrences; AV translates as “intercession” once, and “prayer” once. 1 a falling in with, meeting with. 1a an interview. 1a1 a coming together. 1a2 to visit. 1a3 converse or for any other cause. 1b that for which an interview is held. 1b1 a conference or conversation. 1b2 a petition, supplication. Additional Information: For synonyms see entries 1162, deesis; and 4335, proseuche.See entry 5828 for comparison of synonyms.

LN33.347 ἐντυγχάνωb; ἔντευξις, εως f: to speak to someone on behalf of someone else—‘to intercede, intercession.’

ἐντυγχάνωb: ὃς καὶ ἐντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ‘who also intercedes on our behalf’ Ro 8:34.

ἔντευξις: ἁγιάζεται γὰρ διὰ λόγου θεοῦ καὶ ἐντεύξεως ‘for it is made acceptable to God through his word (literally ‘God’s word’) and through your intercession’ 1 Tm 4:5.

GK2374 εὐχαριστία (eucharistia), ας (as), ἡ (hē): n.fem.; ≡ Str 2169; TDNT 9.407—LN 33.349 thanksgiving, expressions of thanks, words of gratefulness (Ac 24:3; 1Co 14:16; 2Co 4:15; 9:11; Eph 5:4; Php 4:6; Col 2:7; 4:2; 1Th 3:9; 1Ti 2:1; 4:3; Rev 7:12)

G2169 εὐχαριστία [eucharistia /yoo·khar·is·tee·ah/] n f. From 2170; TDNT 9:407; TDNTA 1298; GK 2374; 15 occurrences; AV translates as “thanksgiving” nine times, “giving of thanks” three times, “thanks” twice, and “thankfulness” once. 1 thankfulness. 2 the giving of thanks.[4]

LN33.349 εὐχαριστέωa; εὐχαριστία, ας f: to express gratitude for benefits or blessings—‘to thank, thanksgiving, thankfulness.’

εὐχαριστέωa: τί βλασφημοῦμαι ὑπὲρ οὗ ἐγὼ εὐχαριστῶ; ‘why should anyone revile me about that for which I thank God?’ 1 Cor 10:30.

εὐχαριστία: μετὰ εὐχαριστίας τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν γνωριζέσθω πρὸς τὸν θεόν ‘let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving’ Php 4:6.

Thanks is often expressed in highly idiomatic ways. For example, in some languages one says thank you by saying ‘may God pay you.’ Such a phrase may be so standardized as to even be used in expressing thankfulness to God himself. In other instances, thankfulness may be expressed as ‘you have made my heart warm.’

From Expositors Bible Commentary:  (note: 2nd paragraph)

1 As in 1:3, Paul opens his exhortation with the term parakaleō (“I urge,” GK 4151), a verb used regularly by Paul in transitioning to the “business portion” of a letter (1 Co 1:10; 2 Co 2:8; 6:1; Eph 4:1; 1 Th 4:1; Phm 10). The terms “then” and “first of all” indicate that Paul is now moving past preliminaries and starting with the main body of his letter. “Then” loosely connects what follows with what has preceded; “first of all” may imply a series of exhortations or, more likely, mean “above all” or “especially,” since it is never followed by “second,” etc. (cf. 5:4; Ro 1:8; 3:2).

The apostle’s initial instruction in this section pertains to prayers being offered for “everyone” (v. 1; cf. vv. 4, 6), particularly “those in authority” (v. 2). Paul uses a series of four expressions (of a total of seven found in the NT), denoting the different elements of which such prayer may consist (NIDNTT 2:855–85): “requests” (deēseis, GK 1255) for specific needs directed toward God; general “prayers” (proseuchas, GK 4666); “intercession” (enteuxeis, GK 1950), i.e., the issuing of earnest, urgent, and bold appeals for divine action in behalf of others (cf. entynchanō in Ro 8:27, 34; 11:2); and “thanksgiving” (eucharistias, GK 2374; the order may be incidental).

All four terms are plural, indicating the variety and frequency of prayers to be lifted up to God. The term “thanksgiving” recurs in 4:3–4 (cf. enteuxeōs in v. 5). Paul himself engages in the regular offering of deēsesin (“requests”; NIV, “prayers,” 2 Ti 1:3). The first two terms (“requests” and “prayers”) are specifically applied to godly widows in 5:5. The close parallel of Philippians 4:6 features three of these four terms (“intercession” is replaced by “requests,” aitēmata, GK 161).

“For everyone” probably means “for all kinds of people” and is further specified (note the repeated hyper, “for,” in v. 2) by the subgroup of governmental authorities. [5]

Compare these translations and see how the different translations can aid in understanding the sense of the Greek words they (the translation team) have translated them.

1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV)
1  First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)
1  I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

1 Timothy 2:1 (NIRV)
1  First, I want all of you to pray for everyone. Ask God to bless them. Give thanks for them.

1 Timothy 2:1 (TNIV)
1  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—

1 Timothy 2:1 (YLT)
1  I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men:

1 Timothy 2:1 (HCSB)
1  First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,

1 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV)
1  Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

1 Timothy 2:1 (BBE)
1  My desire is, first of all, that you will make requests and prayers and give praise for all men;

1 Timothy 2:1 (CEV)
1  First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them.

[1] Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[2] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[3] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 407). New York: United Bible Societies.
[4] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[5] Köstenberger, A. (2006). 1 Timothy. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition) (Vol. 12, pp. 510–511). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.