1TI 1:12-20

Godʼs Grace to Paul

12I give thanks to him who has strengthened me — Christ Jesus our Lord — because he judged me faithful, appointing me to service, [1:13] though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. Yet I received mercy, because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief. [1:14] And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. [1:15] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. [1:16] But I received mercy for this reason — that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as a pattern for those who were to believe in him for eternal life. [1:17] To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [1:18] This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, [1:19] holding fast to faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have shipwrecked their faith, [1:20] among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, that they may be disciplined not to blaspheme.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, honor and shame were central to social identity, and public reputation was carefully guarded. Paul’s admission of being a blasphemer, persecutor, and (insolent aggressor) would have been shocking, as such behavior was deeply dishonorable. His transformation from persecutor to apostle underscores the radical nature of divine grace, which operates outside the bounds of human merit or social standing. The term (pattern or example) suggests Paul’s life now serves as a model of Christ’s patience and mercy, countering the cultural expectation of self-promotion. The mention of (discipline or instruction) aligns with Greco-Roman ideals of moral formation, but here it is reframed as divine correction for those who stray from faith. Paul’s emphasis on Christ’s mission to save sinners, with himself as the foremost example, challenges the Roman patronage system, where favor was earned through social connections or deeds. This passage subverts cultural norms, presenting grace as unearned and available to the most undeserving.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

1TI 1:12

KJV: And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
BSB: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.
Koinōnos: I give thanks to him who has strengthened me — Christ Jesus our Lord — because he judged me faithful, appointing me to service,

1TI 1:13

KJV: Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
BSB: I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
Koinōnos: though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. Yet I received mercy, because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief.

1TI 1:14

KJV: And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
BSB: And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Koinōnos: And the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

1TI 1:15

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.
BSB: This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.
Koinōnos: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

1TI 1:16

KJV: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
BSB: But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Koinōnos: But I received mercy for this reason — that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as a pattern for those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1TI 1:17

KJV: Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
BSB: Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Koinōnos: To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

1TI 1:18

KJV: This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;
BSB: Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
Koinōnos: This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

1TI 1:19

KJV: Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
BSB: holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
Koinōnos: holding fast to faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have shipwrecked their faith,

1TI 1:20

KJV: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
BSB: Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
Koinōnos: among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, that they may be disciplined not to blaspheme.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

1TI 1:13

insolent;:The word translated 'insolent' describes someone who is not merely rude, but violently arrogant and wantonly aggressive, often with a sense of public shaming or humiliation.

1TI 1:14

Christ:The term 'Christ' literally means 'anointed one' and refers to the Messiah, the divinely appointed king and deliverer prophesied in the Old Testament.

1TI 1:16

a pattern:The word translated 'a pattern' suggests an outline or a preliminary sketch, something that provides a clear example or model for others to follow.

1TI 1:20

they may be disciplined:The phrase 'they may be disciplined' carries the sense of being educated or trained, often through corrective instruction, with the goal of moral improvement.