Fathers

1 Timothy 1

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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ our hope; to Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going into Macedonia, stay at Ephesus that you might command certain men not to teach a different doctrine, and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause disputes, rather than God’s stewardship, which is in faith— but the goal of this command is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith, from which things some, having missed the mark, have turned away to vain talking, desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor about what they strongly affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a person uses it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine, according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service; although I used to be a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to you before, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience, which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 1:16

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting." See how he further humbles and depreciates himself, by naming a fresh and less creditable reason. …

Homily on 1 Timothy 4 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Pay attention to his humility. I was shown mercy, he says, so that none of those who have sinned would despair, but would have full hope of forgiveness, since the greatest of all sinners — Paul — receives salvation. By this the apostle shows that he himself did not deserve forgiveness, but for the sake of the salvation of others was deemed worthy of this lovingkindness of God. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

But for that very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his unlimited patience as an example to those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. But for that very reason I was shown mercy. See what humble thing Paul said. He says, "Since I, the most sinful of all, have been saved, there is no longer need to doubt about salvation." For he wants to show that he was not saved as one worthy of salvation, but in order not to cause others to despair of their salvation. unlimited patience. …

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

So note how this Saul, later Paul, ironically "congratulates himself" on having attained to the mercy of God, because he was found to be the first, that is the most outstanding, in sins!… This was so that others could all say to themselves, "if Paul was cured, why should I despair? …

Sermons 175.9 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

And he says this to show that whatever God does, he does to show his goodness: the Lord has made all things for himself (Prov 16:4); full of the glory of the Lord is his work (Sir 42:16), and for our benefit; hence he says, for this cause I have obtained mercy: first of all, for his glory. That in me first, i.e., first, in the order of time, or first in the order of rank. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗