1 Timothy 1:12-17

1 Timothy 1:12-Esther : . Further Digression on God’ s Mercy.— The connexion is not obvious. P. Ewald has suggested that 1 Timothy 1:12-Esther : has been displaced and should properly follow 1 Timothy 1:12. It is, however, in keeping with Paul’ s style that the mention of the Gospel entrusted to him should lead to such an outburst of thanksgiving. He, the persecutor, forgiven because ignorant ( cf. Luke 23:34, and the close parallel in Testament of Judah 19:3 ), was counted trustworthy for God’ s service. To forgiveness was added salvation. For, accompanying Christ’ s grace to him, faith had supplanted his “ unbelief,” and love his former cruelty. In this mercy bestowed on himself he sees a special fitness. Since he, Paul, is chief of sinners (who but Paul could have written this?) it forms the supreme example of God’ s long-suffering with sinners generally.

1 Timothy 1:13 . injurious: i.e. one who commits violent outrage.

1 Timothy 1:15 . faithful is the saying: a formula, peculiar to the Pastorals, used to affirm that an assertion is reliable. It sometimes introduces, and sometimes follows, the declaration (either in an aphorism or in a formal statement of doctrine) of what is apparently an accepted belief. The saying here is plainly a familiar maxim, which implies Christ’ s pre-existence, confesses His Incarnation, but lays chief stress upon the work of salvation.— worthy, etc.: cf. Enoch, 94:1 .— chief: as a man draws nearer to the light he gains a clearer vision of his own shadow.

1 Timothy 1:17 . King eternal: rather, “ King of the ages,” i.e. of the great periods into which Jewish thought divided time. There is no allusion to the Gnostic “æ ons.”— only God: some authorities wrongly insert “ wise” from Romans 16:27.