In 1 Timothy 2, Paul ties the cross to prayer, urging believers to pray for all people because God desires all to be saved and Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all. This article explores what that means for prayer, evangelism, and the scope of Christ’s atonement—especially in light of the claim that Jesus died only for the elect.

Main Reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 So far, in Ecclesiastes, we’ve been to the courtroom—where justice ought to be… We’ve been to the marketplace—where honest work should take place…and now we’re going to the temple—where people are supposed to gather and worship God. But Solomon, the Preacher & narrator, sees that true worship is rare and hypocrisy is the norm . Many people come and go in and out of the temple, “praising God,” praying, sacrificing, and making vows, but man