I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:
First of all ...  This indicates the primary importance of the public prayers of the church, and not necessarily that public prayers should be first in the order of worship.  Paul's use of "first" throughout all of his writings generally has the meaning of "the first thing I wish to write." However, by this initial stress of the prayers, the primary importance of them is surely indicated.  "Prayer in all its forms should occupy a central place in the church's service of worship."[5]