October 22, 2024 - 1 Timothy 2

“First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2:1-4).  I opened yesterday’s Cultural Anthropology class with this text.  I wanted to emphasize that, though we speak many different languages, have different cultures, and even look different than one another, God desires for his kingdom to be inhabited by people from all over the world.  Many peoples, many cultures, but only “one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time” (2:5-6).  The gospel!  Good news for all!

O Father, Thou whose love profound

a ransom for our souls hath found,

before Thy throne we sinners bend;

to us Thy pard’ning love extend.

Almighty Son, Incarnate Word,

our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord,

before Thy throne we sinners bend;

to us Thy saving grace extend.

Eternal Spirit, by whose breath

the soul is raised from sin and death,

before Thy throne we sinners bend;

to us Thy quick’ning pow’r extend.

Jehovah! Father, Spirit, Son,

mysterious Godhead, Three in One,

before Thy throne we sinners bend;

grace, pardon, life, to us extend.   -- Edward Cooper (1805)