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Pentecost Season · Proper 19 · Year C

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Christ Came to Save Sinners

September 17, 2028

The Apostle Paul, Jan Lievens
The Apostle Paul, Jan Lievens, c. 1627–1629Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
Lievens shared a studio with Rembrandt in Leiden, and the two painted the same subjects in the same years. His Paul is close-lit and heavy-browed, caught thinking rather than speaking.These passages are Paul working something out in the middle of a letter, which is the expression the painting holds.Jan LievensA Dutch painter who shared a studio with Rembrandt as a young man, was thought his equal at the time, and has been overshadowed ever since.Nationalmuseum, StockholmSweden's national gallery, founded on the royal collection and reopened in 2018 after five years of rebuilding.Nationalmuseum, Stockholm
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 15:1-10Lk 15:1-10
Epistle1 Tim. 1:12-171 Tm 1:12-17
Old TestamentJer. 4:11-12, 22-28Jer 4:11-12, 22-28Alt. OTExod. 32:7-14Ex 32:7-14
PsalterPs. 14Ps 14Alt. PsalmPs. 51:1-10Ps 51:1-10

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

Explains why Paul's conversion story functions as a paradigm of grace for the whole church.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 Commentary1 Tm 1:12-17 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Discusses Paul's self-description as 'foremost of sinners' as an ongoing, not just past, confession.

1 Timothy 1 Commentary: Fight the Good Fight1 Tm 1 Commentary: Fight the Good Fight Enduring Word · David Guzik

Walks through Paul's charge to Timothy and his own testimony verse by verse.

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

Gathers several older commentaries side by side on Paul's statement of thanks.

1 Timothy 1 (Barnes' Notes)1 Tm 1 (Barnes' Notes) StudyLight

Offers Albert Barnes' close reading of Paul's account of his call and mercy.

Background & Word Study

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

Shows the Greek behind 'mercy,' 'grace,' and 'foremost' in Paul's testimony.

The Church Fathers

1 Timothy 1 Catena1 Tm 1 Catena Catena

Gathers patristic comment on Paul's confession of having been shown mercy.

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