Commentary for: 1 Timothy 2:8
1 Timothy 2:8
And doubting - This word, as used here, does not mean, as our translation would
seem to imply, that we are to come before God without any doubts of our own
piety, or in the exercise of perfect faith. The word used dialogismos (NT:1261)
means, properly, computation, adjustment of accounts; then reflection, thought;
then reasoning, opinion; then debate, contention, strife; Luke 9:46; Mark
9:33-34; Philippians 2:14. This is the sense evidently in this place. They were
not to approach God in prayer in the midst of clamorous disputings and angry
contentions. They were not to come when the mind was heated with debate, and
irritated by strife for victory. Prayer was to be offered in a calm, serious,
sober state of mind, and they who engaged in polemical strife, or in warm
contention of any kind, are little fitted to unite in the solemn act of
addressing God. How often are theologians, when assembled together, so heated by
debate, and so anxious for party victory, that they are in no suitable state of
mind to pray! How often do even good people, holding different views on the
disputed points of religious doctrine, suffer their minds to become so excited,
and their temper so ruffled, that they are conscious they are in an unfit state
of mind to approach the throne of grace together! That theological debate has
gone too far; that strife for victory has become too warm, when the disputants
are in such a state of mind that they cannot unite in prayer; when they could
not cease their contentions, and with a calm and proper spirit, bow together
before the throne of grace. ~from Barnes' Notes