1 Timothy 1:13

“Even though. was formerly a”: “His description of himself must not be attributed to false humility or exaggeration, but was undoubtedly the way he felt about his past life. Those who live closest to God are usually the most keenly aware of their own faults” (Kent pp. 89-90). The word “formerly” is such. hopeful word,. person can break from the past and does not have to accept an existence in which sin is dominating them (1 Corinthians 6:11).

1 Timothy 1:13 “Blasphemer”: (Acts 9:1; Acts 26:9; Acts 26:11). Paul had spoken evil, slanderous and reproachful things against Christ and His people. Paul had rejected Jesus' Messianic claims and had labeled Him an imposter. He not only spoke against the Lord, but also tried to get others to do the same (Acts 26:11).

1 Timothy 1:13 “Persecutor”: (Acts 9:4; Acts 22:4 “I persecuted this Way unto death”; 1 Timothy 26:11 “persecuted them even unto foreign cities”; Galatians 1:13 “How that beyond measure. persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it”). Paul even traveled from Jerusalem to Damascus, 120 miles to the NE, in the hopes of finding Christians to persecute.

1 Timothy 1:13 “And. violent aggressor”: “One whose insolence and contempt of others break forth in wanton and outrageous acts. If the term could be allowed, ‘a bully', one who not only ill-treats others but does so with the insolence of superior strength” (Hiebert p. 40). Paul not only arrested people, but he was violent in so doing (Acts 8:3 “dragging men and women”; 1 Timothy 9:13; 1 Timothy 26:10-11). He had no mercy on Christians, he acted like. tyrant, he treated them with spite, and he handled them roughly. “Paul sums up the characteristic features of his brilliant career as. young Pharisee leader. Can his readers see the danger at Ephesus if the church members become disciples of those would be ‘Law-teachers'?” (Reese p. 27). Paul is an excellent example of what happens when someone does not use the Law lawfully!

1 Timothy 1:13 “Yet. was shown mercy”:. mercy that Paul had not shown Christians. Paul realizes that his chance to become. Christian was completely undeserved (1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 1:15; Acts 9:6; Acts 22:10).

1 Timothy 1:13 ‘Because. acted ignorantly in unbelief”: This statement of ignorance was not an excuse for his guilt, for he calls himself. former blasphemer. Sins committed in ignorance are still sins before God. Yet Paul is noting that his opposition to Christ was not. determined opposition to God or His will, for Paul thought he was serving God by persecuting the church (Acts 26:9; Acts 23:1; Galatians 1:14; 1 Peter 3:5). The “unbelief” was not in God for Paul would have claimed to have been serving God, but unbelief in Jesus and His claims, yet it was still unbelief and would have condemned him if he had never become. Christian.

“Paul is not seeking to mitigate his guilt. His ignorance did not excuse him. But he had not deliberately acted against better convictions, stubbornly hardened his heart” (Hiebert p. 41). Compare with Numbers 2:27. Paul was not of those who believed in Jesus but were afraid to confess Him (John 12:42). He followed his conscience, what he had been taught, and understood to be true. He was willing to suffer, die, or oppose all that stood against what he thought to be true. He was. man of conviction, faithful to what he believed. Such. person, if confronted with the truth and convicted, will make. wonderful Christian.