“Paul's First Letter to Timothy — Once a Blasphemer, But Counted Faithful through Grace”

Continuing on today in the first chapter of this wonderful first epistle to Timothy, we see something of great importance.  Paul makes a statement in verses 15 and 16 that has significant dispensational importance.  He calls himself the chief of sinners and then the first in the line of recipients of God’s grace through Christ’s “longsuffering”.  In each case, whether regarding himself as ”chief” or “first” in a series, it is exactly the same Greek word used even though the translation in the KJV is different.  But the meaning is clear and it is exceedingly critical for us to understand it.  Paul, apostle of the Gentiles, and minister of “the dispensation of God, the one which is in faith” as verse 4 reveals, is first in the long line of those that would believe his precious good news summarized in verse 15 with these words: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”  May we take this teaching to heart and follow faithfully in his footsteps as he exhorts Timothy.  For indeed, as he writes in verse 17, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”