Paul’S Testimony
PAUL’S TESTIMONY
1 TIMOTHY 1:12-17
How much do you thank God for his great patience with you in your life?
Wonder at the miracle of grace that changed Saul the persecutor of the church into Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ never left this transformed sinner. The mention of the gospel with which he has been entrusted (1:11) immediately recalls to his mind what that gospel meant in his own experience. He had “blasphemed and persecuted and insulted” Christ. His conversion did not represent a minor change in a man who was fairly well disposed to things Christian. It represented God’s miracle in the heart of a deeply guilty man. Both the guilt and the miracle were real. There is always a tendency for Christ’s followers to limit God’s power. Without ever putting it into words, we frequently act as though we expect conversions only among those who have the right background and upbringing. While we should never undervalue the importance of good early training nor the way God so often uses this to bring about spiritual depth, we should not regard it as the necessary beginning to a real conversion. The miracle of Paul has been repeated many times in the history of the church, not least in our own day.
Out of this come two important lessons. The first is that the salvation of sinners was the purpose of the coming of Jesus into the world (1:15): he did not only come to seek; he came to save. The second is that God uses whatever experiences a person has before their conversion as well as those afterward. Paul received mercy “for this reason,” that Christ’s work in him might be an example. Every converted sinner has something in their background that now leads to the glory of God no matter how little credit it was to the sinner when they did it.
Notes 1:13: “blasphemed and persecuted and insulted” translates three nouns, “blasphemer and persecutor and insolent man.” That he acted “ignorantly in unbelief” is not the reason for Paul’s being saved, but it is a mitigating circumstance. He had even then acted “with a clear conscience” (2 Timothy 1:3). Notice that he does not exaggerate his sinfulness. 1:14: “overflowed” translates a strong term giving the thought of lavish and abundant supply. 1:15: “The saying is sure and worthy” renders a Greek expression found only in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy 3:1; 4:9; 2 Timothy 2:11; Titus 3:8). It marks the saying as both important and reliable. Paul’s humility comes out at the end of the verse. 1:17: typically Paul’s gratitude finds expression in a little outburst of praise. “The King of the ages” is found only here in the New Testament (unless it is read in Revelation 15:3). It is a strong affirmation of God’s eternity.