1 Timothy 1:15

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Faithful - worthy of credit, because "God" who says it "is faithful" to His word (; ; ; ; ): the phrase, faithful saying, is unique to the pastoral letters (; ; ). Greek, 'Faithful is the saying.' The New Testament prophets' inspired sayings had the same authority as the Old Testament Scriptures, and were accepted as axioms among Christians: soon they became embodied in New Testament Scripture. John, writing to the same church, Ephesus (one of the seven), records the same expression (; : cf. ).

All - all possible: to be received by all, with all the faculties of the soul, mind, and heart. Paul, unlike the false teachers (), understands what he says, and whereof he affirms; he confutes their abstruse unpractical speculations by the simple, but grand, truth of salvation through Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Acceptation - reception (as of a boon) into the heart, as well as the understanding, with all gladness: faith welcoming and appropriating the Gospel offer ().

Christ - as promised.

Jesus - as manifested (Bengel).

Came into the world - which was full of sin (; ; ; ). This implies his pre-existence.

To save sinners - even notable sinners, like Saul of Tarsus. His instance was unrivaled in the greatness of the sin and of the mercy; that the consenter to Stephen, the proto-martyr's death, should be the successor of the same! "Devout men" carried Stephen to his burial; and "a devout man according to the law," Ananias (; ), introduced Saul, Stephen's successor, into the Church.

I am - not merely, 'I was' (; : cf. ). To each believer his own sins always appear greater than those of others, which he never can know as he does his own.

Chief - same Greek as , "first." Translate in both verses, 'foremost.' Where there was mercy for him there is mercy for all who will come to Christ ().