1 tn Grk “the saying,” referring to the following citation (see 1 Tim 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim 2:11; Titus 3:8 for other occurrences of this phrase).
2 tn Grk “of whom I am the first.”
3 tn Grk “but because of this I was treated with mercy, so that…”
4 tn Grk “in me first,” making the connection with the last phrase of v. 15.