Bible Study - I Timothy
S – 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
O – Commentary
As the worst of sinners (cf. Paul’s other descriptions of himself in 1 Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8), Paul represents the extreme example. If God was patient and gracious enough to save Paul, He is patient and gracious enough to save anyone. All who follow can look back at Paul as a prototype or pattern (“example,” hypotypōsin; cf. 2 Tim. 1:13). The ultimate sinner became the ultimate saint; God’s greatest enemy became His finest servant. Somewhere between these extremes fall all the rest. In studying Paul’s pattern, Christians can therefore learn about themselves.
A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 733.
A – To be the worst at something, you have to be pretty bad. Really bad. Paul claimed the title. I love how the commentary puts it: “The ultimate sinner became the ultimate saint.” Sin is a powerful force. It pulls us away from God. And here’s the truth: we’re all sinners. Rank it however you want, count it however you want. Sin still separates us from God. But Jesus changed everything. He took us from enemy to adopted child. And Paul says God did it with patience. He put His mercy on display in Paul so the rest of us would know there’s room for us too. What a victory! Death to life. Isolation to relationship. Unloved to loved. God is BIG!
R – Heavenly Father, You are love. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sin. No matter how deep our sin ran, His blood covered all of it. Thank You for Your patience with us. You brought us into relationship and adopted us into Your family. We love You today. Amen.
