1 Timothy 1:16

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. HOWBEIT - contrasting his own conscious sinfulness with God's gracious mercy to him. THAT IN ME - in my case. As I was 'foremost' (1 Timothy 1:15) in sin, so God has made me the 'foremost' (not "first") sample of mercy. SHOW - to His own glory [ endeixeetai (G1731): middle voice, Ephesians 2:7 ]. ALL LONG-SUFFERING, [ teen (G3588)...

16_That in me the first Jesus Christ might shew _When he calls himself _the first, _he alludes to what he had said a little before, that he was the first (26) among sinners and, therefore, this word means “chiefly,” or, “above all.” The Apostle’s meaning is, that, from the very beginning, God held out such a pattern as might be visible from a conspicuous and lofty platform, that no one might doubt that he would obtain pardon, provided that he approached to Christ by faith. And, indeed, the distrust entertained by all of us is counteracted, when we thus behold in Paul a visible model of that grace which we desire to see....

12-17 The apostle knew that he would justly have perished, if the Lord had been extreme to mark what was amiss; and also if his grace and mercy had not been abundant to him when dead in sin, working faith and love to Christ in his heart. This is a faithful saying; these are true and faithful words, which may be depended on, That the Son of God came into the world, willingly and purposely to save sinners. No man, with Paul's example before him, can question the love and power of Christ to save him, if he really desires to trust in him as the Son of God, who once died on the cross, and now reigns upon the throne of glory, to save all that come to God through him. Let us then admire and praise the grace of God our Saviour; and ascribe to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three Persons in the unity of the Godhead, the glory of all done in, by, and for us....

HOWBEIT FOR THIS CAUSE - That is, this was one of the causes, or this was a leading reason. We are not to suppose that this was the only one. God had other ends to answer by his conversion than this, but this was one of the designs why he was pardoned - that there might be for all ages a permanent proof that sins of the deepest dye might be forgiven. It was well to have one such example at the outset, that a doubt might never arise about the possibility of forgiving great transgressors. The question thus would be settled for ever. THAT IN ME FIRST - Not first in the order of time, as our translation would seem to imply, but that in me the first or chief of sinners (ἐν ἐμοὶ ποώτῳ en emoi poōtō) he might show an example. The idea is, that he sustained the first rank as a sinner, and that Jesus Christ designed to show mercy to him as such, in or

EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 1:1 _Christ Jesus _for _Jesus Christ_,_ _A.V. and T.R.; _according to _for _by_,_ _A.V.; _Christ Jesus our hope _for _Lord Jesus Christ_,_ which is our hope_,_ _A.V. and T.R. For the inscription, comp. Romans 1:1, Romans 1:5; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:1;...

HOWBEIT, FOR THIS CAUSE I OBTAINED MERCY,.... Though so great a sinner, and even the chief of sinners: THAT IN ME FIRST JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHOW FORTH ALL LONGSUFFERING; not that the apostle was the first that was converted upon Christ's coming to save sinners; for there were many converted before him, and very great sinners too, and he speaks of himself as one born out of due time; unless it can be thought that he was the first of the persecutors of the church, upon the death of Stephen, that was converted: but the word "first" is not an "adverb" of time, but a "noun" expressing the character of the apostle, as before; and the sense is, that in him, the first or chief of sinners, Jesus Christ exhibited an instance of his abundant longsuffering exercised towards his elect for their salvation; he waiting in the midst of all their sins and rebellions to be gracious to them; and of this, he...

1 Timothy 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;_ Christ is our hope; we have not a shadow of a hope apart from him. I remember, when on the Continent, seeing on a cross the words «Spes unica,» the unique, the only hope of man; and that is true of the cross of Christ, and of Christ who suffered on it, he is our hope. 1 Timothy 1:2. _Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord._ Notice the apostle's triple salutation, «Grace, mercy, and peace.» Whenever Paul writes to a church, he wishes «grace and peace»; but to a minister he wishes «grace, mercy, and peace.» Ah! we want mercy more than the average of Christians; we have

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. CONCERNING DOCTRINE CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The salutation (1 Timothy 1:1)_ 2. The charge concerning false doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3) 3. The law, its use, and in contrast with grace (1 Timothy 1:5) 4. Exceeding abundant grace (1 Timothy 1:12) 5. The charge to Timothy, and the danger of shipwreck (1 Timothy 1:18) 1 Timothy 1:1 Paul writes as an apostle and mentions the fact t

FURTHER DIGRESSION ON GOD'S MERCY. The connexion is not obvious. P. Ewald has suggested that 1 Timothy 1:12 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

THE ROYAL COMMAND (1 Timothy 1:1-2)...