The passage
      v11. Having discussed the function of the law in relation to the gospel, Paul goes on to write about how the gospel reflects the glory of God and how wonderful it is to be entrusted with something so precious.
      v12. Paul is extremely thankful toward Jesus for counting him worthy to undertake gospel ministry. The full title of Jesus is used and Paul adds the descriptive phrase, "my strengthener - Jesus, the one who has enabled my ministry." Paul is thankful twice over, first, because Jesus "considered me faithful", worthy to be trusted, and second, because Jesus "appointed me to his service", apostle to the Gentiles.
      v13. This point is now expanded. Paul blasphemed by heaping reproach on Jesus' name. He was a persecutor of the faithful and a scorner of the faith. Yet, in all this Jesus showed mercy. It was "because I acted ignorantly", says Paul. The best that Paul could say of his actions was that he had failed to understand who Jesus was and so was without faith in Christ. Yet, as a seeker after God, his eyes were inevitably opened and God's mercy in Christ flowed to him.
      v14. It was God's unmerited favour ("grace") which secured Paul's forgiveness and freed him to serve God. A "faith and love" which flows from God's grace seems a little incongruous. We would normally say, faith is the instrument to operate God's grace of forgiveness and that love is a fruit of the operation of that grace in our lives. Yet, faith in the rule of Christ, in our day-to-day life, is a growing thing, in the same way as love is a growing thing. So, Paul tells us that faith and love will grow in our life as a consequence of God's abundant mercy.
      v15. Paul goes on to quote a commonly accepted statement of belief. There are five "faithful sayings" in the Pastorals. The saying here identifies Jesus' role to "save sinners", with the focus on his incarnation, rather than his death and resurrection. This is a very Johannine perspective. Jesus came from the Father to stand in the dust with us, that we might stand in eternity with him.
      v16. Having admitted his sinful state, Paul goes on to say how his own salvation can be seen as a pattern for all arch-offenders. God's mercy was extended to him, the "worst of sinners", and can therefore touch all rebels. Mind you, only rebels who "believe on him ... receive eternal life."
      v17. This focus on salvation leads Paul to burst into praise and adoration. His words are in the form of a doxology - a hymn of praise to God. God is the eternal king, he rules forever, cf. Rev.15:3. He is also imperishable. The first line of the hymn "Immortal, invisible, God only wise" repeats this verse, but follows the AV translation. The "only wise God" is best translated "the only God."

The Lord's grace to sinners
      The first of Paul's "trustworthy sayings" in this his first letter to Timothy says that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Jesus did not come to stand in the dust of our age to reform our social structures, rather he came to "save sinners."
      Jesus' service to the Father is also ours. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, calls this work to "save sinners" a "ministry". What he means is that it is a service to Christ. Mind you, not that Jesus needs us in this service. In fact, the service is for our own good, rather than God's good. Actually, Paul calls this service a "grace" of God. To be given the opportunity to perform such a wonderful task is a blessing from a gracious God.
      As ordinary men and women facing a mighty challenge, we are not left in the lurch by God. Paul, in our passage for study, does not hesitate to identify the source of his strength in this service to God. God himself strengthens ordinary people so that they can overcome the challenge of a lost humanity. Says Paul, Jesus "has given me strength." We are not alone as we face the foe; the might of God stands beside us.
      The great challenge we face is the rescue of lost humanity - mankind lost in sin. We find ourselves as ordinary people caught in the circumstances of life and facing this great challenge. We may wonder if anyone can overcome the lostness of all that is around us. Yet, we shouldn't worry. Paul uses his own example to encourage us in the task. As he said of himself, he was the "worst" of sinners. He persecuted the church, defamed Christ and so stands as the arch-rebel. Yet, through the gospel, God's forgiveness was "abundantly" poured out on him. This, says Paul, can serve as an "example for those who would believe." It displays the "unlimited patience" of God.
      So then, we who seek to make known the mercy of God to a lost humanity, can do so in the sure knowledge that the worst sinner can be forgiven. We have the right to announce the forgiveness of God to all.
      What then is the message we are privileged to proclaim? Jesus Christ came to this earth and stood with a lost and broken humanity. He stood with us here that we might stand with him there.

v12
      carin exw "I thank" - I have grace. Possibly in the sense of actively thank, "I render thanks", Moffatt, or feel thankful, "my gratitude goes out to him", Barclay.
      tw/ endunamwsanti (endunamow) aor. part. "who has given me strength" - to the one having empowered, enabled, strengthened. "Enabled" for service, the aorist possibly indicating Paul's initial strengthening in the Spirit, rather than ongoing strengthening, although most translators opt for a perfect sense. "Has made me equal to the task", REB.
      oJti "that" - that, because, since. Probably causal, "because."
      hJghsato (hJgeomai) aor. + acc. "he considered" - he considered, counted, regarded, reckoned, deemed. Again, the aorist indicating a punctiliar action, best understood as past. "He judged me faithful", NRSV.
      piston adj. "faithful" - reliable, faithful, trustworthy, dependable. "He considered that I was someone who could be depended on", TH.
      qemenoV (tiqhmi) aor. part. "appointing" - having put. "Assigning / giving responsibility to."
      diakonian (a) "his service" - service, ministry. Paul commonly uses this word for Christian ministry, so "appoint me his minister", Phillips.

v13
      onta (eimi) pres. part. "I was" - Possibly temporal, "before", but more likely concessive, "even though", Robertson. "Though I had formerly been ...", Moffatt.
      proteron adv. "once" - formerly, previously. "Before I became a Christian", TH.
      blasfhmon (oV) "a blasphemer" - A person who speaks ill of God or others, here probably of defaming the things of God, but also used of a person who claims divine standing.
      diwkthn (hV ou) "a persecutor" - A hapax legomenon, once only use in the NT. A person who treats others badly, here probably of Paul's persecution of the church.
      uJbristhn (hV ou) "a violent man" - an insolent person. Probably here Paul's violence toward the church is in mind, as NIV.
      alla "but" - Adversative.
      hlehqhn (eleew) aor. pas. "I was shown mercy" - I was shown kindness. The agent of the action is obviously Christ; "the Lord Jesus took pity on me."
      oJti "because" - Causal is unlikely, rather it introduces an epexegetic clause which serves to explain why the Lord did not regard his sin as beyond redemption.
      agnown (agnoew) pres. part. "in ignorance" - being ignorant. A circumstantial participle of manner, Robertson. "I didn't know what I was doing", CEV.
      en apistia/ (a) "unbelief" - Paul obviously believed in God, but not Jesus; "I had not yet put my faith in him (Jesus as the Christ)", CEV.

v14
      hJ cariV (iV ewV) "the grace" - the mercy, kindness. Particularly used of God's undeserved kindness and love toward sinners, as here.
      hJmwn pro. "our" - Paul is being inclusive.
      tou kuriou "Lord" - the lord. Probably still referring to Jesus.
      uJperepleonasen (uJperleonazw) "was poured out on me abundantly" - was present in great abundance. A hapax legomenon. The prefix extends the meaning of "overflow" by adding the sense "above its usual measure." "He has greatly blessed my life", CEV.
      meta + gen. "with [faith and love]" - Possibly grace comes with divine faithfulness and love or even grace may be described as divine faithfulness and love. It is more likely that grace prompts in the believer faith and love in that these qualities are found in those who are "in Christ." "My sin was great, but the grace of our Lord was still greater, and with it there came (flourished!) the faith and love which are to be found in Christ Jesus", Barclay.
      en + dat. "in [Christ Jesus]" - The sense is "in union with", "identified with". Both nouns, "faith and love" flourish "in our identification with Christ Jesus."

v15
      pistoV oJ logoV "here is a trustworthy saying" - The first of 5 "faithful sayings."
      apodochV (h) "acceptance" - approval, acceptance, reception. Deserving of recognition; "to be completely accepted and believed", TEV.
      hlqen eiV ton kosmon "came into the world" - Although the incarnation is not spelled out, it is surely implied in the terms of Jesus coming from the Father to be with us.
      kosmon (oV) "world" - the sphere of human habitation.
      swsai (swzw) aor. inf. "to save [sinners]" - to save, rescue, restore to a state of wellbeing. The infinitive is final (expressing purpose); "in order to save sinners."
      prwtoV adj. "the worst" - foremost, first, prominent, former. "I am the greatest."

v16
      alla "but" - but, rather. This connective may establish continuity in the argument leading to a reason why God showed mercy toward Paul, namely that he may be an example. This seems a questionable purpose, so probably a contrast is being expressed: Paul's opinion of himself as compared to, "rather than", God's opinion, namely, that Paul was worth saving.
      dia + acc. "for [that] very reason" - because of [this].
      touto "that" - Either what precedes, God's grace or Paul's sinfulness, or what follows, God's intention to use Paul as a display of his patience. Surely it is what precedes.
      hlehqhn (eleew) aor. pas. "I was shown [mercy]" - I received. The agent being God or Christ. "I was mercifully treated", NAB.
      iJna "so that" - that. Probably forming a purpose clause, although a consecutive (consequence, result) clause is possible given that "that very reason" points back. "I realize that I was the worst of them all, and that because of this very fact God was particularly merciful to me. I was a kind of demonstration of the extent of Christ's patience towards the worst of men, to serve (which serves) as an example to all who in the future should trust him for eternal life", Phillips.
      endeixhtai (endeixnumi) aor. subj. "might display" - might display, point out, demonstrate / prove. The prefix emphasizing completeness. Here "show" or "demonstrate".
      thn apasan makroqumian (a) "his unlimited patience" - the all long-suffering, forbearance, patience. "The endless patience of Christ Jesus", CEV.
      uJpotupwsin (iV ewV) "an example" - pattern, model. Paul's situation, his state of rebellion and then his salvation, is "a perfect example."
      twn mellontwn (mellw) pres. part + inf. "would [believe]" - of the ones being about [to believe]. The participle + infinitive forming a durative future; "for those who were going to believe in him", Barclay.
      ep "[believe] on [him]" - upon, on. As of putting ones weight upon. An uncommon way of expressing faith in Christ.
      eiV "receive [eternal life]" - toward, to [eternal life]. "For eternal life", NJB, although it makes more sense to say "gain eternal life", Moffatt.