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 used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is 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 1:19Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
• 1 Timothy 3:1This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”
• 1 Timothy 4:9This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it.
• 2 Timothy 2:11This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him.
• Revelation 21:5And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”
• Revelation 22:6Then the angel said to me, “Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God, who inspires his prophets, has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.”
• John 1:12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
• John 3:16“For this is how 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 11:1Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.
• 1 John 5:11And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
• Matthew 1:21And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
• Matthew 9:13Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
• Matthew 20:28For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Mark 2:17When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
• Luke 5:32I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

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