1Ti 1:16 | KingComments | STEP | . “It is a trustworthy statement.” This beautiful and encouraging expression only appears in the pastoral letters ( ; ; ). If every support has fallen away and you seem to stand alone, the statement of the Word of God will never fail you. You can always count on it. Whether it is about the salvation of sinners (here) or about the ministry in the house of God ( ) or about Godliness ( ) or about our future ( ) or about our inheritance ( ), the statement of the Word of God always gives security and something to hold on to. Because the Word of God is that faithful it is therefore “deserving full acceptance”. This addition is also to be found in 1 Timothy 4 ( ). And why is it worthy of all acceptance here? Because “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (cf. ). This truth has not the slightest effect if it is not accepted in faith. There is salvation only for him who believes this undeniable truth ( ). “The world” indicates the atmosphere the Lord Jesus entered as Man. He not only exchanged heaven for a place on earth, but He entered a world where sin and death rule, the territory where sinners live. He came from the wonderful realm of heaven into a realm of darkness, hatred and death to save sinners from that world. Sinners feel at home in the world as fish in the water. But where the world lies in evil and is ripening for judgment, the love that God our Savior has for mankind in Christ Jesus has appeared in the world to save men from this judgment. Before the Lord Jesus came into the world God used all means to enable man to come into connection with Him. However, man failed hopelessly. Then God gave His Son. This is what exactly fully revealed the desperate situation of man, for then his hatred toward God became apparent. At the same time on the contrary, God’s love was also fully revealed. Paul is better than anyone aware of that. When he thinks of himself as a sinner he can only say “among whom I am foremost [of all]” (cf. ; ). He wanted to be the active enemy of the faith everywhere to eradicate the Name of the Lord Jesus. He even went to foreign cities to do that ( ). He stood at the front of the line of those who were filled with hatred toward Christ. When Paul says that it is without exaggeration, but it is a profoundly conscious experience of his own unworthiness. This consciousness becomes bigger the more he sees the grace of the Lord Jesus. You see his consciousness grow bigger when he tells his conversion history. In his conversion there is mention of “a light from heaven” ( ). The first time that he testifies to this he tells that “a very bright light … from heaven” flashed around him ( ). The second time he speaks about “a light from heaven, brighter than the sun” ( ). Are you more and more impressed daily by what God has done with you in your conversion? . In Paul mentions the cause of God’s mercy toward him: he acted ignorantly. Here Paul explains what the purpose is of the mercy shown to him: God wanted to make him a pattern of the expression of grace to all. That is embedded in the words “so that”, which indicates the purpose. The mercy he obtained was therefore not for himself alone, but it also has a meaning to others. When there is salvation for the foremost of all sinners there is salvation for everyone. You can compare it to a sluice gate. If the largest ship can go through the sluice gate every other ship is able to go through it also. In his former life Paul is, as it were, the embodiment of all enemies of Christ. Now that he has turned to God and believes in the Lord Jesus he is also the representative of those “who would believe in Him”. God has shown him “perfect patience”. ‘Patience’ indicates how God responds to the kicking and bashing of the rebellious man whom Paul was. God tolerated him when he was fiercely bashing the disciples of the Lord Jesus. The conversion of Paul is the proof that in the fight for the salvation of a sinner God has the longest breath. His patience is perfect. The salvation of Paul as the foremost of the sinners is a pattern for every other salvation. Was God’s patience shown to him? Then God’s patience is there for everyone. Paul was the foremost, the most zealous and most embittered enemy. And he was saved. Then he is the best and most powerful witness that grace is abundant over sin and that the work of Christ is perfectly capable to remove that sin. The example of what happened to Paul is not meant to indicate that each conversion should be like that. It is meant to show what God can do. Each conversion happens differently because the life course of each person is different. God will not judge a person earlier than when His patience is fully shown to that person and because that person doesn’t respond to that. Concerning Paul, His patience has the desired result, a result that God wishes for every sinner ( ). Eternal life is the part of everyone who believes ( ). That regards to what a person inwardly receives. The Lord Jesus is the eternal life. He who believes, receives Him as his life. But there is also a future aspect. Paul’s view of the eternal life here is something that is in the future (cf. ). When the believer will be with the Lord Jesus in glory he will fully enjoy the eternal life till eternity: the uninterrupted fellowship with the Father and the Son ( ). . The gratitude of swells in a praise in . Paul is overwhelmed by everything that the Lord has done for him as a sinner and what He did to him by putting him into service. Praise arises from him for the grace of God. In Romans 11 the wisdom of God is the cause of a praise ( ) and in Ephesians 3 he cries out because of the love of God ( ). He praises God as “the King eternal”. As ‘King eternal’ God will achieve His aim with all things through the ages. In that way He directs the course of the world history, but also the history of every man. In His great majesty and sovereignty He is exalted above the time and turbulence of the world and people. He has the ages at His disposal. He accomplishes His plan of salvation with creation and with men. Paul has personally experienced that God is ‘the King eternal’. He honors Him as the “immortal, invisible, … only God”. Immortal means not to be decreased by death and stands opposite all things that are mortal and corruptible, especially the idols ( ). The same word is used for the bodies of the saints in the resurrection ( ), for the inheritance of the saints ( ) and for the gentle and quiet spirit of the Godly woman ( ). God is also “invisible”, which means not to be observed by the eye of man ( ; ; ; ). In Christ He has revealed Himself. That means He made Himself visible ( ; ). He also is “the only God” ( ; ). All other gods are idols, the work of men’s hands. God is absolutely unique in His Being and worthiness. He is worthy of all “honor and glory forever and ever”. All His dignities that He has revealed, His glory that became visible, are a reason to sing Him praises forever and ever. We are allowed to start with that now already and continue that endlessly. With a wholehearted “amen”, which means ‘so be it’, Paul concludes his praise. Of course we heartily agree to that. Now read 1 Timothy 1:15-17 again. Reflection: Praise God for Who He is, for what He has done for you and what He has made of you. Use the names of God that you have been made familiar with. Tell Him what these names mean to you.

‏ 1 Timothy 1:16

Honor and Glory to God

1Tim 1:15. “It is a trustworthy statement.” This beautiful and encouraging expression only appears in the pastoral letters (1Tim 3:1 ; 1Tim 4:9; 2Tim 2:11; Tit 3:8). If every support has fallen away and you seem to stand alone, the statement of the Word of God will never fail you. You can always count on it. Whether it is about the salvation of sinners (here) or about the ministry in the house of God (1Tim 3:1) or about Godliness (1Tim 4:9) or about our future (2Tim 2:11) or about our inheritance (Tit 3:8), the statement of the Word of God always gives security and something to hold on to.

Because the Word of God is that faithful it is therefore “deserving full acceptance”. This addition is also to be found in 1 Timothy 4 (1Tim 4:9). And why is it worthy of all acceptance here? Because “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (cf. Lk 19:10). This truth has not the slightest effect if it is not accepted in faith. There is salvation only for him who believes this undeniable truth (Rom 1:16).

“The world” indicates the atmosphere the Lord Jesus entered as Man. He not only exchanged heaven for a place on earth, but He entered a world where sin and death rule, the territory where sinners live. He came from the wonderful realm of heaven into a realm of darkness, hatred and death to save sinners from that world.

Sinners feel at home in the world as fish in the water. But where the world lies in evil and is ripening for judgment, the love that God our Savior has for mankind in Christ Jesus has appeared in the world to save men from this judgment. Before the Lord Jesus came into the world God used all means to enable man to come into connection with Him. However, man failed hopelessly. Then God gave His Son. This is what exactly fully revealed the desperate situation of man, for then his hatred toward God became apparent. At the same time on the contrary, God’s love was also fully revealed.

Paul is better than anyone aware of that. When he thinks of himself as a sinner he can only say “among whom I am foremost [of all]” (cf. 1Cor 15:9; Eph 3:8). He wanted to be the active enemy of the faith everywhere to eradicate the Name of the Lord Jesus. He even went to foreign cities to do that (Acts 26:11). He stood at the front of the line of those who were filled with hatred toward Christ.

When Paul says that it is without exaggeration, but it is a profoundly conscious experience of his own unworthiness. This consciousness becomes bigger the more he sees the grace of the Lord Jesus. You see his consciousness grow bigger when he tells his conversion history. In his conversion there is mention of “a light from heaven” (Acts 9:3). The first time that he testifies to this he tells that “a very bright light … from heaven” flashed around him (Acts 22:6). The second time he speaks about “a light from heaven, brighter than the sun” (Acts 26:13). Are you more and more impressed daily by what God has done with you in your conversion?

1Tim 1:16. In 1Tim 1:13 Paul mentions the cause of God’s mercy toward him: he acted ignorantly. Here Paul explains what the purpose is of the mercy shown to him: God wanted to make him a pattern of the expression of grace to all. That is embedded in the words “so that”, which indicates the purpose. The mercy he obtained was therefore not for himself alone, but it also has a meaning to others.

When there is salvation for the foremost of all sinners there is salvation for everyone. You can compare it to a sluice gate. If the largest ship can go through the sluice gate every other ship is able to go through it also. In his former life Paul is, as it were, the embodiment of all enemies of Christ. Now that he has turned to God and believes in the Lord Jesus he is also the representative of those “who would believe in Him”.

God has shown him “perfect patience”. ‘Patience’ indicates how God responds to the kicking and bashing of the rebellious man whom Paul was. God tolerated him when he was fiercely bashing the disciples of the Lord Jesus. The conversion of Paul is the proof that in the fight for the salvation of a sinner God has the longest breath. His patience is perfect.

The salvation of Paul as the foremost of the sinners is a pattern for every other salvation. Was God’s patience shown to him? Then God’s patience is there for everyone. Paul was the foremost, the most zealous and most embittered enemy. And he was saved. Then he is the best and most powerful witness that grace is abundant over sin and that the work of Christ is perfectly capable to remove that sin.

The example of what happened to Paul is not meant to indicate that each conversion should be like that. It is meant to show what God can do. Each conversion happens differently because the life course of each person is different. God will not judge a person earlier than when His patience is fully shown to that person and because that person doesn’t respond to that. Concerning Paul, His patience has the desired result, a result that God wishes for every sinner (2Pet 3:9).

Eternal life is the part of everyone who believes (Jn 3:16). That regards to what a person inwardly receives. The Lord Jesus is the eternal life. He who believes, receives Him as his life. But there is also a future aspect. Paul’s view of the eternal life here is something that is in the future (cf. Tit 3:7). When the believer will be with the Lord Jesus in glory he will fully enjoy the eternal life till eternity: the uninterrupted fellowship with the Father and the Son (Jn 17:3).

1Tim 1:17. The gratitude of 1Tim 1:12 swells in a praise in 1Tim 1:17. Paul is overwhelmed by everything that the Lord has done for him as a sinner and what He did to him by putting him into service. Praise arises from him for the grace of God. In Romans 11 the wisdom of God is the cause of a praise (Rom 11:33-35) and in Ephesians 3 he cries out because of the love of God (Eph 3:14-21).

He praises God as “the King eternal”. As ‘King eternal’ God will achieve His aim with all things through the ages. In that way He directs the course of the world history, but also the history of every man. In His great majesty and sovereignty He is exalted above the time and turbulence of the world and people. He has the ages at His disposal. He accomplishes His plan of salvation with creation and with men. Paul has personally experienced that God is ‘the King eternal’.

He honors Him as the “immortal, invisible, … only God”. Immortal means not to be decreased by death and stands opposite all things that are mortal and corruptible, especially the idols (Rom 1:23). The same word is used for the bodies of the saints in the resurrection (1Cor 15:52), for the inheritance of the saints (1Pet 1:4) and for the gentle and quiet spirit of the Godly woman (1Pet 3:4).

God is also “invisible”, which means not to be observed by the eye of man (1Tim 6:16; Rom 1:20; Col 1:15; Heb 11:27). In Christ He has revealed Himself. That means He made Himself visible (Jn 1:18 ; Jn 14:9; Col 1:15). He also is “the only God” (Jn 5:44 ; Jn 17:3; Jude 1:25). All other gods are idols, the work of men’s hands. God is absolutely unique in His Being and worthiness.

He is worthy of all “honor and glory forever and ever”. All His dignities that He has revealed, His glory that became visible, are a reason to sing Him praises forever and ever. We are allowed to start with that now already and continue that endlessly.

With a wholehearted “amen”, which means ‘so be it’, Paul concludes his praise. Of course we heartily agree to that.

Now read 1 Timothy 1:15-17 again.

Reflection: Praise God for Who He is, for what He has done for you and what He has made of you. Use the names of God that you have been made familiar with. Tell Him what these names mean to you.