{Faithful is the saying} (pistos ho logos). Five times in
the Pastorals ( 1Ti 1:15 3:1 4:9 Tit 3:8 2Ti 2:11 ). It will
pay to note carefully pistis, pisteu(932c) pistos. Same use of
pistos (trustworthy) applied to logos in Tit 1:9 Re 21:5 22:6 . Here and probably in 2Ti 2:11 a definite saying seems to
be referred to, possibly a quotation (hoti) of a current saying
quite like the Johannine type of teaching. This very phrase
(Christ coming into the world) occurs in Joh 9:37 11:27 16:28 18:37 . Paul, of course, had no access to the Johannine writings,
but such "sayings" were current among the disciples. There is no
formal quotation, but "the whole phrase implies a knowledge of
Synoptic and Johannine language" (Lock) as in Lu 5:32 Joh
12:47 . {Acceptation} (apodoch(8873)). Genitive case with axios
(worthy of). Late word (Polybius, Diod., Jos.) in N.T. only here
and 4:9 . {Chief} (pr(9374)os). Not (886e) (I was), but eimi (I
am). "It is not easy to think of any one but St. Paul as penning
these words" (White). In 1Co 15:9 he had called himself "the
least of the apostles" (elachistos t(936e) apostol(936e)). In Eph 3:8
he refers to himself as "the less than the least of all saints"
( (9369) elachistoter(9369) pant(936e) hagi(936e)). On occasion Paul would
defend himself as on a par with the twelve apostles ( Ga 2:6-10 )
and superior to the Judaizers ( 2Co 11:5f. 12:11 ). It is not
mock humility here, but sincere appreciation of the sins of his
life (cf. Ro 7:24 ) as a persecutor of the church of God ( Ga
1:13 ), of men and even women ( Ac 22:4f. 26:11 ). He had sad
memories of those days.
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