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.
Faithful - worthy of credit, because "God" who says it "is faithful" to His word (1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Revelation 21:5; Revelation 22:6): the phrase, faithful saying, is unique to the pastoral letters (1 Timothy 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 3:8). Greek, 'Faithful is the saying.' The New Testament prophets' inspired sayings had the same authority as the Old Testament Scriptures, and were accepted as axioms among Christians: soon they became embodied in New Testament Scripture. John, writing to the same church, Ephesus (one of the seven), records the same expression (Revelation 21:5; Revelation 22:6: cf. 1 Kings 10:6).
All - all possible: to be received by all, with all the faculties of the soul, mind, and heart. Paul, unlike the false teachers (1 Timothy 1:7), understands what he says, and whereof he affirms; he confutes their abstruse unpractical speculations by the simple, but grand, truth of salvation through Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18-28).
Acceptation - reception (as of a boon) into the heart, as well as the understanding, with all gladness: faith welcoming and appropriating the Gospel offer (Acts 2:41).
Christ - as promised.
Jesus - as manifested (Bengel).
Came into the world - which was full of sin (John 1:29; John 16:28; Romans 5:12; 1 John 2:2). This implies his pre-existence.
To save sinners - even notable sinners, like Saul of Tarsus. His instance was unrivaled in the greatness of the sin and of the mercy; that the consenter to Stephen, the proto-martyr's death, should be the successor of the same! "Devout men" carried Stephen to his burial; and "a devout man according to the law," Ananias (Acts 8:2; Acts 22:12), introduced Saul, Stephen's successor, into the Church.
I am - not merely, 'I was' (1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8: cf. Luke 18:13). To each believer his own sins always appear greater than those of others, which he never can know as he does his own.
Chief - same Greek as 1 Timothy 1:16, "first." Translate in both verses, 'foremost.' Where there was mercy for him there is mercy for all who will come to Christ (Luke 19:10).