Four Kinds of Prayer: 1 Timothy 2:1
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Publication Date: 06-28-2013
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Four Kinds of Prayer: I Timothy 2:1
(1984 Timothy-Titus-Philemon Way Corps Teachings)
Prayer—is the Greek word proseuchē and it is the second word in the verse (not the first one). It
is the word translated “prayers,” not the one that is translated “supplications.” I’m giving you
that one first and I’ll tell you why. The Aramaic is sslutha. Now both of those words (the Greek
and the Aramaic) are the general term for prayer. That’s why I gave it to you first. It’s the
general term for prayer indicating a commitment to God in which you give preeminence to God
by your commitment to personal devotion.
Supplication—the second word I’ll give you is deēsis. The Aramaic word is bautha. Both of
those words indicate a request for a need. It’s an expression of necessity where you give a
specific request or petition. When you pray, you must get specific as far as your needs are
concerned, and this is the term for a specific request or petition.
Philippians 1:4 Always in every prayer (deēsis) of mine (a request for a specific need) for you
all, making request with joy (there you have the same word used over) for your
fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” What is the specific request in this
verse? For their fellowship, see? He’s making (in his prayer) a specific request for their
fellowship in the gospel. It is important that you pray for your fellowship.
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication (deēsis) in the spirit (praying
in the spirit would be speaking in tongues/praying in tongues) and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and for me (not only for all saints,
but for me also) that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to
make known the Mystery of the gospel.” Here it’s a specific request for Paul to be able to
speak the Word boldly. You need to pray for that—that’s a specific need: a specific need
for fellowship; a specific need to pray (to open your mouth more boldly to share, preach,
herald the Word), as well as specific physical or mental needs you may have in your life.
Intercessions—the Greek word is enteuxis; the Aramaic word is tachnantha. This is a prayer on
behalf of another. When you pray on someone else’s behalf you make intercession for that
individual (i.e., you stay your mind, speak in tongues, lift them). It’s a perfect prayer and that’s
intercession. The Greek word is only used a couple of times in the New Testament (we’ll get to
the other one later on in Timothy). The Aramaic word is only used once—there may be verb
forms that are used. For example, there are some related verb forms used in Romans:
Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the spirit itself ....” Maketh what? Intercession, see it?
This is a verb form related to enteuxis. “...Maketh intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind (or
thoughts) of the spirit, that it maketh intercession (there’s another verb form) for the
saints according to God.” The spirit (as you speak in tongues, praying, making that
perfect prayer), makes intercession for someone else/a prayer on behalf of someone else.
Romans 8:34 You have a verb form used where it says: “Who is he that condemneth? Christ
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also
makes intercession for us”—see it? Intercession on behalf of another.
Romans 11:2 “God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. Don’t you know (that
phrase keeps coming up) that the scripture saith of Elijah how he maketh intercession to
God against Israel.” Here the word intercession is used of making intercession against,
rather than for, someone/something. I don’t know if speaking in tongues works that way,
but Elijah made a prayer in that respect.
Whenever you are praying, lifting someone else, it’s done with a childlike confidence. This is
something Dr. Wierwille brought out when he taught this originally. It’s done with a childlike
confidence because when you lift someone else and make intercession, you don’t worry about
the thing! You simply lift it and expect God to take care of it. There’s no doubt in your mind.
That’s this type of intercessory prayer.
Giving of thanks—is the Greek word eucharistia. The Aramaic word is tauditha. Both of those
indicate a prayer of thanksgiving or gratefulness. Now you see, when you pray, you give thanks;
you may make intercession for someone; you may also pray for a specific need; and you are
always praying with that devotion/commitment to God. It’s not that you’re praying just to
exercise your jaws, okay? But it’s with personal devotion and commitment, and you make
request with specific needs that you have. When you pray, get specific, make intercession for
individuals, and give thanks in your prayer. Now those are the four aspects of prayer that you
must always keep in mind.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer proschuchē (your
commitment/personal devotion to God) and supplication deēsis (request for specific
needs) with (both your personal devotion and request with a specific need are coupled
with thanksgiving—your giving thanks to God for what He has done or will do). And
that’s how you let your requests be made known unto God. The word “request” there is a
different word (it simply means you ask or make a request).
I want to say one thing. These are the four words that are used in this verse in both the Greek and
the Aramaic. However, every time the Greek word uses one of these words, it does not mean the
Aramaic will use the corresponding word, okay? As a matter of fact, the Aramaic tends to use
salutha more often than the Greek uses proschuchē which is the general term for prayer (a prayer
of commitment). Therefore to decide exactly what the verse is indicating, you have to look at the
context, i.e., [ask yourself] what word should really be used here? Which one is right, the Greek
or the Aramaic? Then you decide by the context, okay? All right. So that’s the four words for
prayer.
The first and foremost thing to keep in your mind (as a leader) is to pray. Pray making
intercession for others; pray for specific needs in the Body; pray with a commitment in
your heart; and of course (when you are making intercession) do it with that childlike
confidence; and with all of that you give thanks in your prayer for all God has already
done and continues to do for you.