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1 Timothy 1:14

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And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

And {G1161} the grace {G5485} of our {G2257} Lord {G2962} was exceeding abundant {G5250} with {G3326} faith {G4102} and {G2532} love {G26} which {G3588} is in {G1722} Christ {G5547} Jesus {G2424}.

Our Lord’s grace overflowed to me with trust and love that come through the Messiah Yeshua.

And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Commentary

1 Timothy 1:14 is a powerful declaration by the Apostle Paul, reflecting on the transformative impact of God's unmerited favor in his own life. Following his confession of being the "chief of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15), this verse highlights the overwhelming nature of the grace he received.

Context

This verse comes directly after Paul recounts his past as a persecutor and blasphemer, emphasizing that he acted out of ignorance in unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13). His miraculous conversion experience, detailed in Acts 9, is the backdrop for his profound appreciation of God's mercy. For Paul, grace was not just sufficient, but "exceeding abundant," demonstrating God's boundless capacity to save and transform even the most unlikely individuals.

Key Themes

  • The Abundance of God's Grace: Paul marvels at the sheer volume and transformative power of God's grace. It wasn't merely adequate for his past sins but was lavishly poured out, fundamentally changing his identity and purpose. This concept of grace superabounding over sin is central to Pauline theology.
  • Grace, Faith, and Love Intertwined: The verse connects grace directly with "faith and love." These are not conditions to earn grace, but rather the spiritual virtues that accompany and are produced by it. True grace leads to genuine faith in Christ and a love that reflects His character, demonstrating the reality of one's salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).
  • The Centrality of Christ Jesus: All these blessings—grace, faith, and love—are found "in Christ Jesus." He is the source, the sphere, and the object of this spiritual reality. It is through union with Him that believers experience this overflowing grace and are enabled to live lives characterized by faith and love (John 15:5).

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "exceeding abundant" translates the Greek word hyperperisseuō (ὑπερπερισσεύω). The prefix hyper- denotes "over" or "beyond," while perisseuō means "to abound" or "to be left over." Combined, it vividly conveys a sense of overwhelming, superabundant, or extravagant overflow. It's not just enough; it's more than enough, demonstrating the limitless generosity of God's grace, especially in redeeming a former persecutor like Paul.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Timothy 1:14 offers immense encouragement and assurance. It reminds us that no sin is too great for God's grace to cover and transform. Just as Paul was changed from a persecutor to an apostle, so too can anyone who turns to Christ experience profound spiritual renewal. This verse calls us to embrace God's abundant grace, allowing it to cultivate genuine faith and sacrificial love within us, empowering us to live lives that honor Christ Jesus.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Timothy 1:13 (10 votes)

    Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

  • Ephesians 1:7 (9 votes)

    In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

  • Ephesians 1:8 (9 votes)

    Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10 (7 votes)

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • 1 Peter 1:3 (5 votes)

    ¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

  • 2 Corinthians 13:14 (5 votes)

    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, [be] with you all. Amen.

  • Isaiah 55:6 (4 votes)

    ¶ Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: