1 Timothy 2:8 8Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray by lifting up holy hands without anger and dispute.
The topic of prayer continues (indicated by the consequential therefore) but expands to how the gathered church should worship together. Verse 8 focuses upon the attitude men should have while praying. Men (andras) can mean the gender male or husband. Since marriage is not the topic of this section of the letter and there is the possibility of broad application, Paul likely intends to address this to the men of the church. In the Jewish synagogues of the time, only men were allowed to pray out loud. Paul may have this setting in mind with his instructions here. His directions are meant to be applied in every place.
The basic command is to pray, which is modified by the instrumental participle by lifting holy hands. This is not necessarily the only way to pray. The emphasis is not so much the physical position of prayer but the spiritual condition of the one who prays. First, the men should pray with hands that have been made holy. Their hands honor God and are not involved in unholy activities.
Second, they should not come to God with anger in the hearts. Anger (orgē) that has not been resolved right away usually indicates the creeping sin of selfishness, pride, arrogance, or unforgiveness. Jesus taught that if disciples do not forgive others, their prayers will not be heard (Matthew 5:23; 6:12, 14-15).
Third, men should pray without dispute (dialogismos), which can simply mean a dialogue or discussion, but because it is joined here with the word anger, it has a negative nuance of verbal grumbling or argument. Unrighteousness, anger, and verbal abuse will stop our prayers from being effective. The answer is in seeking God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and then respond to God by loving others with the same grace, mercy, and forgiveness that we have received.
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