Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
faithful—worthy of credit, because "God" who says it "is faithful" to His word (I Corinthians 1:9; I Thessalonians 5:24; II Thessalonians 3:3; Revelation 21:5; Revelation 22:6). This seems to have become an axiomatic saying among Christians the phrase, "faithful saying," is peculiar to the Pastoral Epistles (I Timothy 2:11; I Timothy 4:9; Titus 3:8). Translate as Greek, "Faithful is the saying."
all—all possible; full; to be received by all, and with all the faculties of the soul, mind, and heart. Paul, unlike the false teachers (I Timothy 1:7), understands what he is saying, and whereof he affirms; and by his simplicity of style and subject, setting forth the grand fundamental truth of salvation through Christ, confutes the false teachers' abstruse and unpractical speculations (I Corinthians 1:18-28; Titus 2:1).
acceptation—reception (as of a boon) into the heart, as well as the understanding, with all gladness; this is faith acting on the Gospel offer, and welcoming and appropriating it (Acts 2:41).
Christ—as promised.
Jesus—as manifested [BENGEL].
came into the world—which was full of sin (John 1:29; Romans 5:12; I John 2:2). This implies His pre-existence. John 1:9, Greek, "the true Light that, coming into the world, lighteth every man."
to save sinners—even notable sinners like Saul of Tarsus. His instance was without a rival since the ascension, in point of the greatness of the sin and the greatness of the mercy: that the consenter to Stephen, the proto-martyr's death, should be the successor of the same!
I am—not merely, "I was chief" (I Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; compare Luke 18:13). To each believer his own sins must always appear, as long as he lives, greater than those of others, which he never can know as he can know his own.
chief—the same Greek as in I Timothy 1:16, "first," which alludes to this fifteenth verse, Translate in both verses, "foremost." Well might he infer where there was mercy for him, there is mercy for all who will come to Christ (Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10).
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Timothy 1:15:
Song of Solomon 1:5
John 1:9
1 Corinthians 2:14
1 Corinthians 9:17
Ephesians 3:8
1 Timothy 1:16
1 Timothy 4:9
1 Timothy 4:10
2 Timothy 2:11
Titus 1:9
Hebrews 10:7
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