This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.
Parallel Translations
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This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance.
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This is a sure sayinge and of all parties worthy to be receaved.
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This is a true saying, and by all meanes worthie to be receiued.
Cross-references (1)
Passages linked to 1 Timothy 4:9 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 1 Timothy 1:15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 9 This is a faithful saying He now sets…
9 This is a faithful saying He now sets down, at the conclusion of the argument, what he stated twice at the beginning of it; and he appears to do so expressly, because he will immediately subjoin the contrary objection. Yet it is not without good reason that he employs so strong an assertion; for it is a paradox strongly at variance with the feeling of the flesh, that God supplies his people, in this world, with everything that is necessary for a happy and joyful life; since they are often destitute of all good things, and, on that account, appear to be forsaken by God. Accordingly, not satisfied with the simple doctrine, he wards off all opposing temptations by this shield, and in this manner instructs believers to open the door to the grace of God, which our unbelief shuts out; for, undoubtedly if we were willing to receive God’s benefits, he would use greater liberality toward us.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain He goeth a little from his matter, and showeth…
He goeth a little from his matter, and showeth that they which give themselves to godliness, although they are afflicted and reproached, are notwithstanding not to be counted miserable as other men are, because they are not afflicted for that cause that other men are, and the end of them both is far different one from the other. For how can God forsake his, which is bountiful even towards his enemies? And he willeth that this doctrine be well beaten into their heads.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of…
9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
Ver. 9. This is a faithful saying] And yet who hath believed our report? The promises are good freehold, and yet little looked after. Godliness hath but cold entertainment, because she lives much upon reversions.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain This saying about the advantage of godliness is true,…
This saying about the advantage of godliness is true, and worthy to be received of all men. See the notes on 1Ti 1:15, where the same words are applied to the great proposition of the gospel: That Christ came into the world to save sinners. That Christ came into the world to save sinners, and that such sinners as from ungodly will become godly, and persevere in the practice of godliness, shall be happy in this life, and saved in the life to come, are two faithful and remarkable sayings, worthy the acceptation of all reasonable creatures.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Note, That this phrase of a faithful saying, and…
Note, That this phrase of a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, used here, was used before, 1Ti 1:15. That Christ came into the world to save sinners.
Learn thence, That this proposition, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and this, that such sinners as of ungodly will become godly, and persevere in the practice of godliness, shall be happy in the life that now is, and that which is to come; these two propositions are faithful and remarkable sayings, worthy of the acceptation of all reasonable creatures.
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Note farther, that the belief of this proposition, that godliness has the promise of this and the next life, will cause all Christians, as it did St. Paul, to labour in the work of God, to suffer reproach in the cause of God, and this without weariness and fainting.
Note, lastly, The title given to Almighty God, The Saviour of all men; that is, the preserver of all men, but especially of all good men, when their temporal preservation conduces most to the advantage of his glory and their good: or if it be understood of eternal salvation, we must take it thus; that he publishes and proclains, offers and tenders, salvation to all men, although believers only are actually saved, because they only accept the offers and conditions of salvation.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain This is a faithful saying,.... A true one, and…
This is a faithful saying,.... A true one, and to be believed, that godliness has such promises annexed to it; see Pe1 3:10.
and worthy of all acceptation; by all godly persons, to encourage them to the exercise of godliness.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 9. This is a faithful saying] The truth…
Verse 9. This is a faithful saying] The truth of this doctrine none need doubt; and every man has it in his power to put this to the proof. See note on 1Ti 1:15.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Ti 4:9-11. This — Concerning the advantage of godliness;…
1Ti 4:9-11. This — Concerning the advantage of godliness; is a faithful saying — A saying as important as it is true; and worthy of all acceptation — That is, of entire credit, and of the most earnest and continued attention and regard. For, therefore — On this account, because we are assured of the excellence and necessity of this godliness, and of the advantages attending it in time and in eternity; we both labour and suffer reproach — Take all manner of pains, and undergo all kinds of hardships, regarding neither wealth, nor honour, nor pleasure, nor any thing this world can offer; because we trust — Ηλπικαμεν, we have trusted, and at present do trust, (the word denoting continuation of action,) in the living God — Rest on him for the performance of his promises, fully persuaded he will give the life and felicity he has promised; who is the Saviour of all men — Saving them from many evils, and supplying them with manifold mercies; preserving them in this life, and willing to save them eternally; but especially — In a more eminent manner, is he the Saviour of those that believe — Saving them from their sins here, and from the consequences of them hereafter. These things command and teach — For they are of infinite importance.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain This is a faithful saying - see the notes…
This is a faithful saying - see the notes on 1Ti 1:15.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Ti1 1:15). This verse (Greek), "faithful is the saying,…
(Ti1 1:15). This verse (Greek), "faithful is the saying, " &c. confirms the assertion as to the "promise" attached to "godliness," Ti1 4:8, and forms a prefatory introduction to Ti1 4:10, which is joined to Ti1 4:9 by "For." So Ti2 2:11. Godly men seem to suffer loss as to this life: Paul hereby refutes the notion [BENGEL]. "God is the Saviour specially of those that believe" (Ti1 4:10), both as to "the life that now is," and also as to "the life which is to come" (Ti1 4:8).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 9. This—The value of godliness for either life. Note…
9. This—The value of godliness for either life. Note on 1Ti_1:15.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 9. This is a faithful saying] R.V. again, Faithful…
9. This is a faithful saying] R.V. again, Faithful is the saying, following the Greek construction. But ‘It is a faithful saying,’ is equally correct according to English idiom. The A.V. and R.V. end the verse with a full stop, leaving us apparently little liberty to make 1Ti_4:10 the ‘faithful saying.’ On the other hand A.V. (Parallel N.T.) gives a colon; and Drs Westcott and Hort alter the colon into a comma, as Conybeare gives it, Faithful is the saying and worthy of all acceptance,—‘For to this end we endure labour &c.’ Bp Ellicott’s objection to this, that the ‘for’ must be the Apostle’s and not part of the quotation, is set aside by the undoubted quotation from Aratus made by St Paul on Mars’ hill, Act_17:28, ‘For we are also his offspring:’ see the beginning of his Phaenomena:
‘We need him all,
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For we are e’en his offspring.’
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (9) This is a faithful saying and worthy of…
(9) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.—Again we have the striking formula which always calls attention to some great truth which, in the Church of the first days, had already obtained among the congregations a broad, if not a universal currency, as one of the great watchwords of the faith. Now we find one of these taken apparently from a Christian hymn, now from one of the public prayers or thanksgivings. The “faithful saying,” in this instance, was that “godliness,” that is, “active, living piety,” is profitable for all things, seeing it has the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Faithful is the saying for this is a faithful…
Faithful is the saying for this is a faithful saying, A.V. (1Ti_1:15, note) Here, however, the pistogov is that which precedes, viz. that "godliness is profitable for all things," etc., which we thus learn was a proverbial saying.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 9. This is a faithful saying. A trustworthy saying.…
9. This is a faithful saying. A trustworthy saying. Verse 8 is referred to.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 worthy of full acceptance
worthy of full acceptance
"worthy of your complete belief" or "worthy of your full trust"
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For it is for this
"This is the reason"
struggle and work very hard
The words "struggle" and "work very hard" mean basically the same thing. Paul uses them together to emphasize the intensity with which they serve God. (See: Doublet and Metaphor)
we have hope in the living God
Here "living God" probably means, "God, who makes all things live."
but especially of believers
The understood information can be stated clearly. AT: "but he is especially the Savior of those people who believe" (See: Ellipsis)
translationWords
trust
confidence
God
Savior
believe
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.