1 Timothy 1:12-17

EXAMPLE OF SOUND DOCTRINE. 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Text 1:12-17

12 I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; 13 though I was before a blasphemer and a persecutor, and injurious: Howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief: 16 howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all His longsuffering for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Thought Questions 1:12-17

23.

Please be able to relate this section with the whole chapter. -How do 1 Timothy 1:12-17 relate to what has proceeded and what follows?

24.

In what way did Christ enable Paul to enter His service?

25.

In what sense did Christ count Paul faithful? Refer to 1 Timothy 1:12.

26.

Define each of the three words in 1 Timothy 1:13.

27.

Is Paul saying in 1 Timothy 1:13 b that he was saved in his ignorance? If not, what is he saying?

28.

Just how is the word grace to be understood as in 1 Timothy 1:14?

29.

Show the relationship between the three words: grace, faith, and love, as in 1 Timothy 1:14.

30.

Why refer to the statement in 1 Timothy 1:15 as a faithful saying?

31.

Give the meaning of the word chief as here used by Paul.

32.

Paul gives two reasons for his obtaining mercy, one in 1 Timothy 1:13, and one in 1 Timothy 1:16; explain the one in 1 Timothy 1:16.

33.

Paul's conversion should be a great encouragement to allWhy?

34.

Define three characteristics of God as found in 1 Timothy 1:17.

Paraphrase 1:12-17

12 Now I thank Christ Jesus our Lord; who strengthened me for preaching it (the glorious gospel), by bestowing on me the gifts of inspiration and miracles, because he knew that I would be faithful to my trust, when he appointed me to the apostleship;
13 Who was formerly a defamer of him and of his doctrine, and a persecutor of his disciples, and an injurious person in my behaviour towards them. But I received pardon because I acted from ignorance, being in a state of unbelief, and fancying that I was doing God service.
14 And in thus pardoning me, and making me his apostle, the goodness of our Lord hath super-abounded toward me, accompanied with the faith and love which is required by Christ Jesus, but in which I was greatly deficient formerly.
15 This saying is true, and worthy of cordial and universal reception, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom, on account of my rage against Christ and his disciples, I reckon myself the chief; I mean of those who have sinned through ignorance.
16 However, though my sin was great, for this cause I received pardon, that in me, the chief of those who sin through ignorance, Jesus Christ might show forth the greatest clemency in forgiving offenders, for an example of mercy to encourage them who should in future ages repent and believe on him, in order to obtain everlasting life,
17 Now, ravished with the goodness of God, in making me an example of pardon for the encouragement of future penitents, I say, to the Ruler of the ages, who is immortal and invisible to the wise God above, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Comment 1:12-17

As Donald Guthrie has stated, This section appears to be a digression. but it is not. Paul has said that the end of the charge was love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience and faith unfeigned. These qualities Paul obtained from the Good News or the Sound Doctrine. Timothy can now present to these law teachers an example of the results of the right use of the Law and the Gospel. Paul is saying, If Christ can change me, and He did, then He can change anyone; preach it! Cease dabbling in law speculation.

1 Timothy 1:12. The gratitude of the Apostle is genuine. The enabling power of Christ and God are a favorite theme of Paul's letters. He is to say: I am what I am because of the grace of God(1 Corinthians 15:10), My grace is sufficient for thee. (2 Corinthians 12:9), I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13)

As to just where and when and how Christ enabled Paul, we need but refer to the place nigh unto Damascus. There are three records of this event: (Acts 9:1-43; Acts 22:1-30; Acts 26:1-32). Perhaps the order of names in this verse is significant: Christ, which means the anointed of God, Jesus, which means Saviour, Our Lord, which means Sovereign. This is the one who is well able to enable. How could Paul be counted faithful before he was converted? We understand this word to mean trustworthy as here used. Christ knew the character of Paul from the time of his birth (Galatians 1:15). It was because of this dependable quality that he called him. Because of his sin Paul felt unworthy to be called or counted trustworthy. How wonderously precious must Christ have been to Paul that he could thank Him for calling him into a life of privation, imprisonment and death. And yet he was glad to share in this service.

1 Timothy 1:13. Here is an elaboration of the reason for the thankfulness. Paul says of himself that he was: a blasphemer i.e. one who speaks againstand this he did openly and often; a persecutorhe not only spoke against Jesus himself but in his persecution he strove to make others blaspheme (Acts 26:11). To summarize his evil work he says he was injurious or a violent, insolent man. He was the most loathsome of men. Still speaking of his appointment to the service of Christ, Paul uses the word mercy. He says he obtained mercy because he did all that he did against Christ in ignorance and unbelief. He was unlike his countrymen who had access to the knowledge of Jesus as their Messiah. He was unlike some who refused to believe in spite of the evidence. Is not Paul's word applicable to all who obtain mercy? It is only when we are informed and believe, that we are granted mercy.

1 Timothy 1:14. What is called mercy in 1 Timothy 1:13 is called grace in 1 Timothy 1:14. Of course the emphasis in 1 Timothy 1:14 is upon the unmerited favor shown to Saul of Tarsus. In 1 Timothy 1:13 the thought of meeting the need of Saul is in the forefront with the use of the word mercy. Where sin abounded, (as in the life of Paul), so grace did abound more exceedingly (Romans 5:20). The love and confidence Christ had for Paul overflowed, and received in kind. Paul responded with faith and love for the one who so loved and trusted him. In it all was a deep awareness of his own unworthiness.

1 Timothy 1:15. It might be well to say just here that the expression: Faithful is the saying, seems to be the preface to a statement used in Paul's day which Paul here adapts to his purpose. There are five such Faithful sayings in the Pastorals. They are found in: 1 Timothy 3:1; 1 Timothy 4:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:11-13; Titus 3:4-8 a; and here in 1 Timothy 1:15, We might refer to these five sayings as slogans or axioms. They were current and very popular in Paul's day. Such sayings summed up The Faith, The saying in 1 Timothy 1:15 expresses the very heart of the gospel (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Paul calls Timothy to recall this reliable saying and relate the apostle to it, Christ came to save sinners. He saved me, and I indeed was the chief of sinners, so deeply in need of saving, There is much to be said to present day application of this grand statement. We are sorely tempted to become homiletical instead of exegetical.

1 Timothy 1:16. Here we are introduced to another reason for the mercy shown to Paul. 1 Timothy 1:13 attributes God's grant of mercy to ignorance and unbelief on the part of Paul. 1 Timothy 1:16 attributes the purpose of mercy to the presenting of an example to the world of God's longsuffering. Paul is saying that what happened to him is a sketch of what could happen to anyone. The power of Christ is seen in Paul. No one is too sinful, or too stubborn, or too ignorant to receive mercy. Paul was to demonstrate this in his own preaching. He came to know it was true as he saw barbarians converted to Christ and by Christ. Paul's experience gives the bold outline of God's Power and Mercy. The personal details will be different as each person fills them in to complete the picture of his own life experience with Christ. Paul's Damascus encounter will ever remain the outline sketch of God's infinite mercy.

1 Timothy 1:17. A spontaneous expression of joy and adoration is so typically Pauline. The past three verses are cumulative in their feeling; a climax is reached at the end of verse sixteen, hence the doxology of 1 Timothy 1:17 is a natural response.

God is the king of agesall ages. In the context we might say that He is also the Saviour of all men of all ages. All the qualities of God here described should be associated with the thought of His providing salvation in Christ. Notice: He is king, therefore able to save. He is ruler over all men of all ages and hence can save all of them; He is not subject to corruption; He shares His nature with man and thus gives him an eternal salvation; He is invisible to mortal eye; He is of Spirit-quality thus superseding this temporal sphere. God is the only one who could and does save; to Him we ascribe all honor and adoration without end. Amen.

Fact Questions 1:12-17

18.

How does this section develop the purpose of the charge?

19.

Discuss the subjective and objective aspects of Christ's enabling power with Paul.

20.

How are we to understand the word faithful as used in 1 Timothy 1:12?

21.

Give the meaning of the three words used to describe Paul in 1 Timothy 1:13.

22.

Explain the relationship of ignorance and mercy.

23.

In what sense did grace super-abound?

24.

In what way was Paul chief of sinners?

25.

State five ways in which Paul is an example to all who would be saved?