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12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant[a] man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.[b] 15 This saying[c] is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them![d] 16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that[e] in me as the worst,[f] Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the eternal king,[g] immortal, invisible, the only[h] God, be honor and glory forever and ever![i] Amen.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:13 tn Or “violent,” “cruel.”
  2. 1 Timothy 1:14 tn Grk “with faith and love in Christ Jesus.”
  3. 1 Timothy 1:15 tn Grk “the saying,” referring to the following citation (see 1 Tim 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8 for other occurrences of this phrase).
  4. 1 Timothy 1:15 tn Grk “of whom I am the first.”
  5. 1 Timothy 1:16 tn Grk “but because of this I was treated with mercy, so that…”
  6. 1 Timothy 1:16 tn Grk “in me first,” making the connection with the last phrase of v. 15.
  7. 1 Timothy 1:17 tn Or more literally, “king of the ages.”
  8. 1 Timothy 1:17 tc Most later witnesses (א2 D1 Hc Ψ 1175 1241 1881 M al) have “wise” (σόφῳ, sophō) here (thus, “the only wise God”), while the earlier and better witnesses (א* A D* F G H* 33 1739 lat co) lack this adjective. Although it could be argued that the longer reading is harder since it does not as emphatically affirm monotheism, it is more likely that scribes borrowed σόφῳ from Rom 16:27 (Rom 14:26 in M) where μόνῳ σόφῳ θεῷ (monō sophō theō, “the only wise God”) is textually solid. It is difficult to explain why Alexandrian and Western scribes would omit “wise” in 1 Tim 1:17 while keeping it in Rom 16:27 for a similar benedition.
  9. 1 Timothy 1:17 tn Grk “unto the ages of the ages,” an emphatic way of speaking about eternity in Greek.

Paul’s Testimony

12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened(A) me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer,(B) a persecutor,(C) and an arrogant man.(D) But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy(E) and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world(F) to save sinners”(G)—and I am the worst of them.(H) 16 But I received mercy(I) for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience(J) as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.(K) 17 Now to the King(L) eternal,(M) immortal,(N) invisible, the only[a] God,(O) be honor(P) and glory(Q) forever and ever. Amen.(R)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:17 Other mss add wise