1 Timothy 1:12-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Gratitude for Mercy
12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful and appointed me to his service,(A) 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,(B) 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me[a] with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(C) 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost.(D) 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible,[b] the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[c] Amen.(E)
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1 Timothy 1:12-17
New English Translation
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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- 1 Timothy 1:13 tn Or “violent,” “cruel.”
- 1 Timothy 1:14 tn Grk “with faith and love in Christ Jesus.”
- 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).
- 1 Timothy 1:15 tn Grk “of whom I am the first.”
- 1 Timothy 1:16 tn Grk “but because of this I was treated with mercy, so that…”
- 1 Timothy 1:16 tn Grk “in me first,” making the connection with the last phrase of v. 15.
- 1 Timothy 1:17 tn Or more literally, “king of the ages.”
- 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.
- 1 Timothy 1:17 tn Grk “unto the ages of the ages,” an emphatic way of speaking about eternity in Greek.
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