1 Timothy 1:15

1 Timothy 1:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Context of 1 Timothy 1:15

13In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief. 14Our Lord was very kind to me. Through his kindness he brought me to faith and gave me the love that Christ Jesus shows people. This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost sinner. 16However, I was treated with mercy so that Christ Jesus could use me, the foremost sinner, to demonstrate his patience. This patience serves as an example for those who would believe in him and live forever. 17Worship and glory belong forever to the eternal king, the immortal, invisible, and only God. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:15 word by word

Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος καὶ πάσης ἀποδοχῆς ἄξιος ὅτι Χριστὸς Ἰησοῦς ἦλθεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον ἁμαρτωλοὺς σῶσαι, ὧν πρῶτός εἰμι ἐγώ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a faithfulπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• sayingλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• worthyἄξιοςaxios · worthyG514
• of allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• acceptationἀποδοχήapodochē · acceptanceG594
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• to saveσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
• sinnersἁμαρτωλόςhamartōlos · sinfulG268
• of whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• chiefπρῶτοςprōtos · first: bestG4413

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 1:15

• 1 Timothy 1:19Some have refused to let their faith guide their conscience and their faith has been destroyed like a wrecked ship.
• 1 Timothy 3:1This is a statement that can be trusted: If anyone sets his heart on being a bishop, he desires something excellent.
• 1 Timothy 4:9This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance.
• 2 Timothy 2:11This is a statement that can be trusted: If we have died with him, we will live with him.
• Revelation 21:5The one sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” He said, “Write this: ‘These words are faithful and true.’ ”
• Revelation 22:6He said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord God of the spirits of the prophets has sent his angel to show his servants the things that must happen soon.
• John 1:12However, he gave the right to become God’s children to everyone who believed in him.
• John 3:16God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
• Acts 11:1The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that people who were not Jewish had accepted God’s word.
• 1 John 5:11This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is found in his Son.
• Matthew 1:21She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus [He Saves], because he will save his people from their sins.”
• Matthew 9:13Learn what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifices.’ I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.”
• Matthew 20:28It’s the same way with the Son of Man. He didn’t come so that others could serve him. He came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people.”
• Mark 2:17When Jesus heard that, he said to them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor; those who are sick do. I’ve come to call sinners, not people who think they have God’s approval.”
• Luke 5:32I’ve come to call sinners to change the way they think and act, not to call people who think they have God’s approval.”

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - This is one of the most glorious truths in the book of God; the most important that ever reached the human ear, or can be entertained by the heart of man. All men are sinners; and as such condemned, justly condemned, to eternal death. Christ Jesus became incarnate, suffered, and died to redeem them; and, by his grace and Spirit, saves them from their sins. This saying or doctrine he calls, first, a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15This is a faithful saying - Greek, “Faithful is the word,” or doctrine - ̔ ho logosThis verse has somewhat the character of a parenthesis, and seems to have been thrown into the midst of the narrative because the mind of the apostle was full of the subject. He had said that he, a great sinner, had obtained mercy. This naturally led him to think of the purpose for which Christ came into the world - to save sinners - and to think how strikingly that truth…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15This is a trustworthy saying: This phrase appears only in the letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy 3:1; 4:8–9; 2 Timothy 2:11–13; Titus 3:4–8). These sayings are probably quotes from tradition that Paul has adapted for the current situation. The saying emphasizes the mercy shown to Paul, but it also offers correction to the false teachers. The saying emphasizes Christ's arrival in history to save sinners. This saying was probably being suppressed in…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. faithful--worthy of credit, because "God" who says it "is faithful" to His word (1Co 1:9; 1Th 5:24; 2Th 3:3; Re 21:5; 22:6). This seems to have become an axiomatic saying among Christians the phrase, "faithful saying," is peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles (1Ti 2:11; 4:9; Tit 3:8). Translate as Greek, "Faithful is the saying." all--all possible; full; to be received by all, and with all the faculties of the soul, mind, and heart. Paul, unlike the false…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 1:15

• Humility
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Christ, Jesus
• Acceptation
• Blasphemer
• Charity
• Faithful
• Heed

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings