1 Timothy 1:16 16But on account of this, I was given mercy, so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus might show his all around patience as an example for those who would believe in him for eternal life.
On account of this refers back to Jesus’ sacrifice of his life for sinners mentioned in verse 15. Verse 16 is Paul’s personal testimony of experiencing this salvation. The verb given mercy (ēleēthēn) is a passive voice with the assumed actor being Jesus Christ. As a result of Paul’s recognition of his sin and dependence upon grace, he experienced God’s mercy in Jesus Christ. Paul’s shifts from his problem of sin to God’s solution of forgiveness.
The reason (hina) Paul received mercy was so he could be used as an example by Christ of this mercy. Since Paul was the worst of sinners, he serves as a good example of the extent of God’s mercy. The clear message is that no one is beyond redemption from sin. Christ’s mercy is shown through patience (makrothymian). This word is intensified by the superlative word all around (hapasan, literally “all” or “total”). Christ’s patience is more than any sin that we can ever commit. There is no sin that grace is not greater (Romans 5:20), but grace must be accepted by faith for salvation to become effective and actual for eternal life. This point will help Timothy deal with the false teachers in Ephesus. Even they can be redeemed.
Christ had a great plan for Paul than eternal life. Christ sets aside certain people for special ministries. Paul’s ministry because with his own testimony of transformation, which was expressed through his preaching of the gospel. An example (hypotypōsin) is someone who serves as a “type” or pattern for others. Paul next mentions the crucial response of faith in a long participial phrase translated as or those who would believe in him for eternal life. Faith is the condition to receive Christ’s mercy. The object of this faith is Christ. The result is eternal life.
Although not everyone might call themselves the “worst of sinners,” we all have sinned and need the “grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (1:2). This passage is optimistic with a letter dealing with many troubles the Ephesian church faced. The optimism of grace shows that no one is beyond God’s mercy, but to receive this mercy, we must come in humility and faith.
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