I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength for my work.

I thank him for considering me worthy and appointing me to serve him,

even though in the past I spoke evil of him and persecuted and insulted him.

But God was merciful to me because I did not yet have faith

and so did not know what I was doing.

And our Lord poured out his abundant grace on me and gave me

the faith and love which are ours in union with Christ Jesus.

This is a true saying,

to be completely accepted and believed:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

I am the worst of them, but God was merciful to me

in order that Christ Jesus might show his full patience in dealing with me,

the worst of sinners, as an example for all those

who would later believe in him and receive eternal life.

To the eternal King, immortal and invisible,

the only God – to him be honor and glory forever and ever!

Amen

1 Timothy 1:12-17