Praying for Our Leaders

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,  for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Why do you think Paul tells the Church to pray for kings and those in authority – and, by logical extension, the nation a Christian finds himself or herself in?

One reason is that God desires that all men and women should be saved and that we should pray that our national leaders come to a saving relationship with God and under his authority.

I think another reason is more practical.

The Roman Empire that ruled the Mediterranean world at the time of Paul and the early Christians had unsuccessfully attempted to force the Jews to pray to Caesar. The monotheistic Jews refused and proved to the Romans that they were willing to die before they would pray to anyone other than Yahweh. The Romans, ever the practical conquerors, wisely decided to offer an exemption to the Jews from participation in Emperor Worship and only asked that they pray for Caesar and pray for Rome. The Jews agreed to this compromise and prayed to Yahweh for Caesar and Rome so that they could lead tranquil and quiet lives and avoid the wrath of Rome.

For quite a while, Roman authorities did not make a distinction between Jews that followed Christ and Jews that didn’t. They realized that there was some controversy among the Jews about a certain “Chrestus” but that it was all and intra-Jewish conflict.

It wasn’t until the Romans began to make that distinction between Jews and Christians that Christians lost the protective exemption from Emperor Worship that Jews enjoyed. That was when the persecution really began.

It’s quite possible that Paul is encouraging the Church to pray for the national authorities so we do not face the persecution that comes from being at odds against the national culture.