1 Timothy 1:16

“Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, etc.] Though so great a sinner, and even the chief of sinners: that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering; not that the apostle was the first that was converted upon Christ's coming to save sinners; for there were many converted before him, and very great sinners too, and he speaks of himself as one born out of due time; unless it can be thought that he was the first of the persecutors of the church, upon the death of Stephen, that was converted: but the word “first” is not an “adverb” of time, but a “noun” expressing the character of the apostle, as before; and the sense is, that in him, the first or chief of sinners, Jesus…”

“Howbeit--Greek, "But"; contrasting his own conscious sinfulness with God's gracious visitation of him in mercy. for this cause--for this very purpose. that in me--in my case. first--"foremost." As I was "foremost" (Greek for chief, Ti1 1:15) in sin, so God has made me the "foremost" sample of mercy. show--to His own glory (the middle Greek, voice), Eph 2:7. all long-suffering--Greek, "the whole (of His) long-suffering," namely, in bearing so long with me while I was a persecutor. a pattern--a sample (Co1 10:6, Co1 10:11) to assure the greatest sinners of the certainty that they shall not be rejected in coming to Christ, since even Saul found mercy. So David made his own case of pardon,…”

“Howbeit for this cause - That is, this was one of the causes, or this was a leading reason. We are not to suppose that this was the only one. God had other ends to answer by his conversion than this, but this was one of the designs why he was pardoned - that there might be for all ages a permanent proof that sins of the deepest dye might be forgiven. It was well to have one such example at the outset, that a doubt might never arise about the possibility of forgiving great transgressors. The question thus would be settled for ever. That in me first - Not first in the order of time, as our translation would seem to imply, but that in me the first or chief of sinners (ἐν ἐμοὶ ποώτῳ en emoi…”

“For this cause God showed me mercy, that all his longsuffering might be shown, and that none might hereafter despair. 1 Timothy 1:17”

“for this: Num 23:3; Psa 25:11; Isa 1:18, Isa 43:25; Eph 1:6, Eph 1:12, Eph 2:7; Th2 1:10 I obtained: Ti1 1:13; Co2 4:1 all: Exo 34:8; Rom 2:4, Rom 2:5; Pe1 3:20; Pe2 3:9, Pe2 3:15 for a: Ch2 33:9-13, Ch2 33:19; Isa 55:7; Luk 7:47, Luk 15:10, Luk 18:13, Luk 18:14, Luk 19:7-9, Luk 23:43; Joh 6:37; Act 13:39; Rom 5:20, Rom 15:4; Heb 7:25 believe: Joh 3:15, Joh 3:16, Joh 3:36, Joh 5:24, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:54, Joh 20:31; Rom 5:21, Rom 6:23; Jo1 5:11, Jo1 5:12 1 Timothy 1:17”