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

13even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and our Lord’s grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them! 16But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! 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 1:19To do this you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith.
• 1 Timothy 3:1This saying is trustworthy: “If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.”
• 1 Timothy 4:9This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.
• 2 Timothy 2:11This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him.
• Revelation 21:5And the one seated on the throne said: “Look! I am making all things new!” Then he said to me, “Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.”
• Revelation 22:6Then the angel said to me, “These words are reliable and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.”
• John 1:12But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children
• John 3:16For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
• Acts 11:1Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God.
• 1 John 5:11And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
• Matthew 1:21She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
• Matthew 9:13Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
• Matthew 20:28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Mark 2:17When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
• Luke 5:32I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

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