1 Timothy 1:12-17

Paul ended the previous section with a bold statement (that the Gospel had been entrusted to him and not the false teachers). In this section, Paul explains WHY God entrusted him with the gospel. Three reasons are given to explain this odd choice.

1) Because He counted me faithful (v. 12 NKJV)
One reason God chose Paul seems to be that he knew Paul would be faithful to the call. Paul surrendered all to his worldview, even before he became a Christian. As a pharisees pharisee, Paul was passionate about his positions. This passion had negative results, but the passion was not the problem (the direction was). It seems that God appreciated the passion of Paul even though he was using that passion for the wrong purposes. God recognized a faithfulness (reliability) in Paul even before Paul was faithful to God. God harnessed that characteristic and strengthened it for Kingdom use.

2) Because I acted in ignorance and unbelief (v. 13)
God was merciful to Paul b/c he knew that Paul was ignorant of the reality of Jesus Christ. Paul's ignorance was sinful and serious, but Scripture is clear that God treats sins of ignorance much differently than willful sins (Luke 12:48-49).

3) So that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience (v. 16)
Just like God had chosen Moses (a murderer) and David (an adulterer and murderer) for leadership, God had now chosen Paul (a blasphemer, persecuter, and violent man) as the one entrusted with the gospel. As Paul shared his testimony, no sinner could then argue that God didn't have enough forgiveness to forgive him/her. If God had forgiven Paul, the chief of sinners, he could forgive all sinners.

God's gracious selection of Paul leads the Apostle to burst out in doxology (description of God's glory)...

The King is eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God
Honor and glory to Him forever and ever. Amen