And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, (13) although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  (14) And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  (15) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  (16) However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all long suffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.  (17) Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

The letter we study today is a  letter written by the Apostle Paul as a pastoral letter to a young beloved convert, Timothy, who was the pastor of the church Paul founded in Ephesus. The pastoral letters written by Paul addressed the duties to defend sound doctrine and maintain sound discipline in the early church.  It is believed that Paul wrote this prior to his final imprisonment in Rome and toward the end of his life on earth.  Clearly Paul loved Timothy dearly and the letter is full of insights into Paul’s life and character but it is also clear that Paul intended this letter to be shared with/read to, the people of the church in Ephesus.  This letter was to show Paul’s apostolic authority as commanded by God and also Timothy’s authority in Ephesus, as Paul’s appointed pastor.

The verses we study today begin with a thanksgiving to God and then Paul’s authority appointment.  Paul tells us he cursed the name of Jesus as Paul was a pharasitical Jew and now he realizes that Jesus is divine – hence blasphemy.  Paul was a persecutor in his zeal to protect Judaism and tried to destroy the early Jewish Christians.  In spite of this Paul was shown mercy – he was ignorant and actually believed that he acted in the service of God through violence against the Christian movement.  Paul tells us he received more than mercy:  he also received grace and faith with his rebirth.

In the ancient world the phrase “a trustworthy saying” was attached always to a maxim on which full reliance could be placed, in relation with either a practise or doctrine.  Paul uses the phrase here for the heart of the gospel – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”.  Paul felt that he was the worst sinner because of his persecution of Christ’s followers but in his own conversion, Paul was a powerful demonstration of what divine grace can accomplish.  Think of that ancient world – this utterly novel new covenant introduced in the face of centuries of accepted religious wisdom.  What powerful spiritual upheaval occurred in the first century for Christianity to have expanded so quickly – a completely new, unique in history, powerful upheaval of world thinking.

Paul then breaks out spontaneously into a praise of God for the glory of all done in, by and for us.  Beautiful.