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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Third Sunday after Trinity

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Christ Came to Save Sinners

June 21, 2026

The Conversion of Saint Paul, Caravaggio
The Conversion of Saint Paul, Caravaggio, 1601Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome
Most of the canvas is taken up by a horse. Paul is on his back on the ground with his arms up and his eyes shut, and the groom has not noticed anything.I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, a man of violence, but I received mercy: this is the moment the mercy arrived, at ground level.CaravaggioThe painter who put street models and raking light into altarpieces, killed a man in a brawl, and changed European painting in under twenty years.Santa Maria del Popolo, RomeA church by the old northern gate of Rome, with a Raphael chapel and two Caravaggios facing each other in a side chapel.Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 15:1-10Lk 15:1-10Alt. GospelLuke 15:11-32Lk 15:11-32
Epistle1 Pet. 5:6-111 Pt 5:6-11Alt. Epistle1 Tim. 1:12-171 Tm 1:12-17
Old TestamentMic. 7:18-20Mi 7:18-20
PsalterPs. 103:1-13Ps 103:1-13

Overview & Insights

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15)

Paul thanks Christ for appointing him to service though he had once been a persecutor. He points to himself as the foremost of sinners so that others may see the perfect patience and mercy of Christ, and he breaks into praise of the eternal and only God.

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Take it further: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Timothy 1:12-17Commentary on 1 Tm 1:12-17 Working Preacher

The lectionary voice on Paul as the pattern of Christ's mercy.

1 Timothy 1 Commentary1 Tm 1 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse study of Paul's testimony to grace.

1 Timothy 1:12 Commentaries1 Tm 1:12 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators gathered on Christ saving the foremost of sinners.

1 Timothy Commentaries & Sermons1 Tm Commentaries & Sermons Precept Austin

A deep collection of study links and sermons covering 1 Timothy.

Barnes' Notes: 1 Timothy 1Barnes' Notes: 1 Tm 1 StudyLight

A historic verse by verse commentary on the passage.

Background & Word Study

Overview: 1 TimothyOverview: 1 Tm BibleProject

Animated overview of the message of 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 1:12 Interlinear1 Tm 1:12 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word of Paul's thanks for Christ's strength.

The Church Fathers

1 Timothy 1 - Catena1 Tm 1 - Catena Catena

Patristic comment on the saying that Christ came to save sinners.

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