1 Timothy 1:12-17

1 Timothy 1:12-17

[12] I thank  Christ  Jesus  Lord,  who  hath enabled  for  that he counted  faithful,  putting me  into  the ministry;  [13] Who  before  a blasphemer,  and  a persecutor,  and  injurious:  but  I obtained mercy,  because  I did  it ignorantly  in  unbelief.  [14] And  the grace  Lord  was exceeding abundant  with  faith  and  love  which  is in  Christ  Jesus.  [15] 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.  [16] Howbeit  cause  I obtained mercy,  that  in  first  Jesus  Christ  might shew forth  longsuffering,  for  a pattern  to them which should hereafter  believe  on  him  to  life  everlasting.  [17] Now  unto the King  eternal,  immortal,  invisible,  the only  God,  be honour  and  glory  for  ever  Amen. 

What does 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Paul thanked God for changing him to enable Timothy to appreciate the fact that God can transform even the worst of sinners and enable His saints to accomplish supernatural feats. What called forth Paul"s testimony here was the difficult situation Timothy faced in Ephesus made even harder by Timothy"s personal tendency toward timidity. The evidence that Timothy tended to be timid, perhaps partly because of the strong opposition he faced, comes out more clearly later in this epistle.
"V:11 with its assertion that the gospel was entrusted to Paul provides the setting for 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Paul demonstrates how this entrusting and his own reception of mercy and grace in Jesus Christ provides an illustration that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for any sinner, because it has been that to him, a terrible sinner." [1]