The passage
      v1. Paul opens by encouraging Timothy to offer prayers for all members of the human family during church services; prayer in the terms of: petitions (requests to God), Intercessions (prayers for those in need) and thanksgiving.
      v2. Paul identifies a particular section of the human family deserving of prayer, namely "kings" (the emperor) and the government. Such prayer seeks to restrain the powers of evil. In specific terms, it is directed toward peace and security. When society is in a state of peace, believers can freely serve God ("godliness" - duty and devotion to God) and freely serve mankind ("holiness" - probably better translated "gravity", moral earnestness affecting outward behavior and inward intention).
      v3. Such prayer, says Paul, is acceptable to God (better than "pleasing" to God).
      v4. Paul gives the reason behind this prayer for government. God desires that the powers of darkness be limited in their effect upon society so that in peace and security the gospel may have ease of access, allowing all kinds of people (Gentiles, slaves, kings, etc., as well as Jews) to come to a knowledge of the truth.
      v5. The fact that there is one God, supports the idea that the gospel is offered to all kinds of people (given that pagan gods can't help anyone). Jesus achieves salvation as the one mediator between God and all mankind.
      v6. The mediating role of Christ is now defined. Christ offered his own person as a ransom price, of infinite value, for a captive humanity. "A testimony" says Paul, "in its proper time". This is a very compressed phrase, but its meaning is something along the following lines: "this truth of God's redemption, offered to the whole of mankind, rather than just Israel, was a mystery hidden in past ages, but is now revealed and realized in Christ and thus is a message which should be proclaimed openly to the ends of the earth."
      v7. Paul reminds Timothy that it was for this purpose that he, Paul, was called to declare this testimony to the Gentiles.
      v8. So, says Paul, in gatherings for worship, let there be prayer. The men should lead with outstretched arms and without controversy (male leadership is best viewed as cultural rather than normative). As for "lift up holy hands", this was the normal posture of prayer at the time. The emphasis is on "holy". Paul indicates what he means by "holy", ie. "without anger or disputing" - free from bitterness and controversy. Some suggest "without doubting", but there is little evidence to support such an interpretation.

Prayer for public welfare
      An observer once suggested that the overwhelming evidence is that prayer doesn't work. The evidence he used to support his argument was that in the Church of England, prayers are always offered for the monarch, but that there is no evidence that the monarchs had "health", or were "long to live", in comparison to any other person in England. A good point, that is of course if prayers for health and a long life are promised blessings of the kingdom, ours for the asking.
      We can ask God for anything. He is a loving father and wants us to place all our cares with him. Yet, a prayer that seeks to prompt the hand of God must be based on the will of God. The prayer that works is the prayer that taps into God's intentions.
      The Bible encourages us to respect the authority of government, Rom.13:1, 1 Peter.2:17, and in the passage before us we are prompted to pray for the political process. Our passage even tells us what to pray for. Remember, prayer that seeks to prompt the hand of God must be based on the will of God.
      We should pray for government so that "we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness", 2:2. This verse actually contains a clue to the content of our prayer for government. We are to pray for "peace", but what kind of peace? Is it peace in the sense of freedom from war, social and industrial strife and revolution?
      Most often our prayers for peace concern our own personal well-being. When society is at peace, life can go well for us and we can build that extra barn. Yet, when we pray that Satan's hands be tied, the prayer is only effective when it serves to create a positive environment for the proclamation and hearing of the gospel. Note what Paul says in verse 4. God "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." The realization of the kingdom of God can be either encouraged or undermined by the political environment. So then, we can confidently pray for government that gospel ministry be maximized. Mind you, this prayer may be answered in a way we would least expect. For example, we may end up in a time of persecution - great for gospel peace, but not so peaceful.
      So then, the evidence is that prayers for the English monarch, who represents the parliamentary democratic institutions of England, have indeed worked. The gospel has had a favoured place within Western society, and this through the prayers for the government of the day.