2:8

the men carry on prayer: Paul here refers to representing the congregation in public prayer, a privilege assigned only to men. (1Co 14:34; 1Ti 2:11, 12) The expression lifting up . . . hands describes a common posture of prayer in Bible times; a man offering a public prayer might raise his hands toward heaven as he begged for God’s favor. (Compare 1Ki 8:22, 23.) However, faithful worshippers also assumed other postures when praying, and the Bible does not consider one position to be better than another. (1Ch 17:16; Mr 11:25; Ac 21:5) The disposition of the person was most important. In this verse, Paul emphasizes that the one praying should be loyal. The Greek word for “loyal” that he used can also be rendered “holy,” “pure,” or “sanctified.” What matters to Jehovah, therefore, is the man’s moral purity and his loyal reliance on Him.​—Compare study note on Tit 1:8.

without anger and debates: This inspired counsel is in harmony with one of the qualifications for Christian overseers that Paul mentions later in this letter​—such an overseer must not be quarrelsome. (1Ti 3:1, 3) Paul thus shows that no Christian man should offer public prayers if he has a divisive attitude or, as one translation says, “angry or quarrelsome thoughts.” Such negative thoughts could easily influence the way prayers are expressed. This counsel fits in with Paul’s words telling all Christians to keep free from vindictive anger and divisive arguments.​—Eph 4:31; Php 2:14; Col 3:8 and study note.