Further Digression on God's Mercy. The connexion is not obvious. P. Ewald has suggested that 1 Timothy 1:12-17 has been displaced and should properly follow 1 Timothy 1:12. It is, however, in keeping with Paul's style that the mention of the Gospel entrusted to him should lead to such an outburst of thanksgiving. He, the persecutor, forgiven because ignorant (cf. Luke 23:34, and the close parallel in Testament of Judah 19:3), was counted trustworthy for God's service. To forgiveness was added salvation. For, accompanying Christ's grace to him, faith had supplanted his unbelief, and love his former cruelty. In this mercy bestowed on himself he sees a special fitness. Since he, Paul, is chief of sinners (who but Paul could have written this?) it forms the supreme example of God's long-suffering with sinners generally.
1 Timothy 1:13. injurious: i.e. one who commits violent outrage.
1 Timothy 1:15. faithful is the saying: a formula, peculiar to the Pastorals, used to affirm that an assertion is reliable. It sometimes introduces, and sometimes follows, the declaration (either in an aphorism or in a formal statement of doctrine) of what is apparently an accepted belief. The saying here is plainly a familiar maxim, which implies Christ's pre-existence, confesses His Incarnation, but lays chief stress upon the work of salvation. worthy, etc.: cf. Enoch, 94:1. chief: as a man draws nearer to the light he gains a clearer vision of his own shadow.
1 Timothy 1:17. King eternal: rather, King of the ages, i.e. of the great periods into which Jewish thought divided time. There is no allusion to the Gnostic æ ons. only God: some authorities wrongly insert wise from Romans 16:27.