15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15–16 (ESV)
Why did Jesus come to this earth? The Apostle Paul provided the answer when he wrote his first epistle, or letter, to his young protégé Timothy. He prefaced his answer as to why Jesus Christ came as a saying trustworthy deserving of full acceptance.
The trustworthy saying deserving of full acceptance was this; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. This is why Jesus came to earth. This is the core truth of Scripture. The significance of this truth for Paul was he viewed himself as the foremost of sinners. Christ came to save sinners and this former Pharisee’s perspective was he was the worst sinner there ever was.
Prior to his conversion, Paul was the individual he described in his letter to the Ephesians. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV)
Notice the personal pronoun the apostle used in vs. 3; It is the pronoun “we.” He included himself in his description of fallen and unconverted sinners. Paul was honest in evaluating his status before God prior to his repentance and faith in Christ. He was an object of God’s wrath and judgment.
In both today’s text from I Timothy, and Ephesians 2, Paul provided the striking contrast of God’s grace and mercy. In Ephesians he continued by saying,
“4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—” (“Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV). Once again, Paul included himself by using the pronouns “we” and “us.” In today’s text from I Timothy, Paul’s testimony of conversion is more personal as evidenced in vs. 16.
“But I received mercy.” But (ἀλλὰ; alla) is a conjunction of contrast. It means “on the contrary,” “instead,” or “on the other hand.” The phrase I received mercy (ἠλεήθην; eleethen) means Paul received from God kindness because of his serious need of salvation. Mercy is “not” receiving what you deserve, which is judgment or punishment. Instead, the Lord gave compassion.
“Chief of sinners, nevertheless the recipient of infinite mercy! That accounts for the “but.” In fact, the magnitude of the sin made it necessary for mercy, if it was to be shown at all, to superabound,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.[1]
In acknowledging his former and foremost depravity of sinfulness, Paul also acknowledged Jesus Christ’s demonstration of perfect patience toward him. Perfect (ἅπασαν; hapasan) refers to the whole or completeness. Patience (μακροθυμίαν; makrothymian) is calmness in the face of provocation and irritation. Paul provoked and irritated Christ by his persecution of Christ in attacking Christiana (Acts 9:1-5).
Paul’s salvation in Christ was “an example to those who were to believe in him (Christ) for eternal life.”. Since the Lord Jesus saw fit to save Paul from the penalty, power and eventual presence of sin, He is willing, ready and able to save any kind of sinner. Example (ὑποτύπωσιν; hypotyposin) refers to a prototype or pattern.
“The apostle considers himself not only the chief of sinners but also—and in a certain sense for that very reason—the most glorious illustration of Christ’s longsuffering. Here in verse 16 two ideas blend into one: Paul is “foremost” as an example of what Christ’s longsuffering can accomplish. He is at the same time “foremost” as the head of a procession of persons to whom that longsuffering is shown. Longsuffering indicates the divine patience with respect to persons, by virtue of which wrath is withheld, the sinner is spared, and mercy is shown. In the case of Paul this longsuffering had been exhibited in full measure (note “all his longsuffering,” or as one might say, “the whole of it”), forgiving his frightful crimes, appointing him to the apostleship, and giving him strength for each day,” continues Dr. Hendriksen.[2]
“In his gallery of grace, the Artist-Savior had, as it were, drawn and put on exhibition a sketch (ὑποτύπωσις, acc.—ιν, used only here and in 2 Tim. 1:13), just like a master will first draw a rough pencil-sketch before attempting his final work. This sketch revealed Paul, as an illustration, pattern or model, of the type of work sovereign grace was going to perform in the lives of all those who through its efficacy would come to (cf. Acts 13:48: “had been ordained to”) rest their faith (note durative present infinitive πιστεύειν) on (note ἐπί) Christ, the solid rock or the precious cornerstone (Matt. 7:24, 25; Is. 28:16; cf. Rom. 9:33; 10:11; 1 Peter 2:6), with a view to life everlasting, a life that is opposed to “corruption” (Gal. 6:8) and “death” (Rom. 6:22). Death is wages; life everlasting is a free gift (Rom. 6:22, 23). It manifests itself in fellowship with God in Christ (John 17:3), partaking of the love of God (John 5:42), of his peace (John 16:33), and of his joy (John 17:13). It is also actually what its name indicates ever-lasting, never-ending life.[3]
Consider this biblical truth with the song My Worth Is Not in What I Own by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Graham Kendrick.
1 My worth is not in what I own,
Not in the strength of flesh and bone,
But in the costly wounds of love
At the cross.
2 My worth is not in skill or name,
In win or lose, in pride or shame,
But in the blood of Christ that flowed
At the cross.
Chorus
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure,
Wellspring of my soul!
I will trust in Him, no other.
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.
3 As summer flowers we fade and die,
Fame, youth and beauty hurry by,
But life eternal calls to us
At the cross.
4 I will not boast in wealth or might,
Or human wisdom’s fleeting light,
But I will boast in knowing Christ
At the cross.
5 Two wonders here that I confess,
My worth and my unworthiness.
My value fixed – my ransom paid,
At the cross.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 82.
[2] Ibid. 82.
[3] Ibid. 82–83.
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