1 Timothy 1:11-15
 
1 Tim 1:11 (KJB)
According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
 
Was committed to my trust - Entrusted to me or was entrusted with
 
The Apostle Paul here states that the true Gospel was entrusted to him. When the true gospel was compared to the false gospel which Timothy was dealing with, there will be seen a wide chasm. The false teachings and doctrines which were prevalent at Ephesus would now be shown that they are false according to the true Gospel which is taught by the church at Ephesus. Paul wants to make sure that those who hear this letter read will know that what Paul is saying to the Ephesians that it is true gospel and if there are any who are still on the fence concerning the cult of Diana, then the true gospel will convince them of their errors. This verse is also very revealing that God entrusts the true gospel only to those whom He has saved. The unbeliever will never have the true gospel unless it is being preached to them. (Psa 50:16-17 KJV) But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? {17} Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. Asaph was given the same insight that those who are unbelievers hate the true Gospel and hate God. Paul was stating that the true Gospel was entrusted to Him by the Lord Jesus Christ and is entrusted to all true believers. However, if a believer begins to teach what is false and not open to be corrected, then they may be given a delusion which will visibly show that they have gone after a different teaching so others will not support them nor hear them.
 
1 Tim 1:12 (KJB)
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
 
Hath enabled - Strengthen or give power
He counted - Considered or esteemed
Putting - Placing or setting
 
Here Paul begins to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for giving him the strength and power to perform ministry. He also thanks Jesus for considering Paul faithful and thus placing him into the ministry. Paul wanted Timothy to understand the gratefulness of grace in his life leading to a life of service in ministry. Now we must be careful here and realize that the Lord does not save by looking around and seeing who would be faithful enough to carry the gospel. The Lord saves those whom He has written in the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world and then empowers them to do certain ministries after He saves them. No unbeliever is ever empowered or thought to be faithful to carry the gospel. The Lord saves us, enables us, and then places us in the ministry He has set up for us. Paul was very happy because he found joy in the ministry God gave him. Whatever ministry the Lord places you in, you too will find joy in that ministry. The only time we do not find joy in ministry is when we attempt to do a ministry we are not empowered to do. For example a person may have the gift of hospitality but instead of them building on that gift, they want to be a Pastor in a church, so they go to a school and graduate. Then they sign on with a church and they fail as a pastor. That is because they were not empowered to be a pastor but having the gift of hospitality, they could entertain missionaries and learn much about the world and their ministries. If every Christian would work in the realm where God empowers them, there would be no sloppy ministries and Christianity would be stronger.
 
1 Tim 1:13 (KJB)
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
 
Blasphemer - Speak harmfully against or slanderous
Persecutor - To persecute in an active sense
Injurious - Violent person
Ignorantly - Not knowing or not understanding
 
Paul now gives his pre-salvation résumé and details exactly what he was in comparison to what he is today. He first states that he was a blasphemer which meant when he persecuted the Christians verbally, he did it for the purpose slandering them, and no doubt he did it loud enough so it would stir up others around him. Then he states that he was a persecutor and the word means that he did it actively. He was present when Stephen was stoned and when the Lord stopped him on the road to Damascus, he was going there to kill and persecute more Christians. Then he states that he was a violent person and hatred can stir anyone up to do violence and he did violence to the church. (Gal 1:13 KJV) For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: Then we read one of the great “buts” of Scripture. Paul received mercy and became saved. Then as he got to know the Lord Jesus Christ and Christians, he then realized the truth and then he states he did all of this in ignorance, not knowing the truth because he was in unbelief. Now this passage is important to all Christians since it shows us why unbelievers oppose us because they are in unbelief which means they are spiritually dead, so they would have no way of knowing the truth until they become saved.
 
1 Tim 1:14 (KJB)
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
 
Exceeding abundant - Super abounded, overflow, exceedingly abounded
 
Here the apostle Paul states that even though he was guilty of murder and hatred against the Christians, when he became saved, the grace of our Lord was exceedingly sufficient to forgive Paul of his sins and to remove them making him able to work in the ministry. Even though Paul had persecuted the church, the grace Paul received was also overflowing with faith and love but which is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ and not the law or any type of works. This verse is a connection from verse 13 when he spoke of persecuting the church in unbelief and the grace of Christ took him from unbelief to belief. So this verse tells us that no one’s sin is beyond the salvation and mercy of God. So don’t stop praying for the one in your life who seems to only live for trouble and sin.
 
1 Tim 1:15 (KJB)
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.
 
Acceptation - Worthy to be received with approbation or approval
Chief - First
 
Paul begins this verse by stating that what he is about to say is a faithful saying and it is worthy to be received by all Christians. Based upon what Paul had stated about his history of persecuting the Christians, he makes the faithful statement that Christ came into the world to save sinners. He then states that because of his sinful past, he claims that he is the chief or the first of the sinners. Now we know that Adam and Eve committed the first sins but here Paul is stating that he is so joyous that Christ’s mercy was greater than his sin, that he claims to be the chiefest of sinners because he was guilty of killing those who he now calls brothers and sisters. His sin had made him believe that he was the chiefest of sinners in his own eyes but once he became saved, those sins had become heinous in his sight and with understanding, he realized the great sins he committed against God and the church. This is why Paul had a great appreciation for the great mercy of God. We should follow Paul’s example and realize what God has saved us from and thank Him for the great mercy He has shown to all Christians, when instead if He desired too, He could have allowed the whole human race to die by attrition.

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