Survey of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 1:13
1 Timothy 1:13The commentary on "that I ought to do
many things." That I ought to do - That I was bound, or that it was a duty incumbent on me - δεῖν dein. “I thought that I owed it to my country, to my religion, and to my God, to oppose in every manner the claims of Jesus of Nazareth to be the Messiah.” We here see that Paul was conscientious, and that a man may be conscientious even when engaged in enormous wickedness. It is no evidence that one is right because he is conscientious. No small part of the crimes against human laws, and almost all the cruel persecutions against Christians, have been carried on under the plea of conscience. Paul here refers to his conscientiousness in persecution to show that it was no slight matter which could have changed his course. As he was governed in persecution by conscience, it could have been only by a force of demonstration, and by the urgency of conscience equally clear and strong, that he could ever have been induced to abandon this course and to become a friend of that Saviour whom he had thus persecuted. ~Barnes Notes |
Adam Clarke says...
A blasphemer - Speaking impiously and unjustly of
Jesus, his doctrine, his ways, and his followers.
~Adam Clarke
John Gill says...
Who was before a blasphemer - Of the name of Christ,
contrary to which he thought he ought to do many
things; and he not only blasphemed that name
himself, calling him an impostor and a deceiver, but
he compelled others to blaspheme it also, Acts 26:9.
This, as well as what follows, is said, to
illustrate the grace of God in his conversion, and
call to the ministry: ~John Gill
And a persecutor - Acts 9:1 ff; Acts 22:4; Acts
26:11; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:13,
Galatians1:23.
Acts 9:1
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went
unto the high priest,
Acts 22:4
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding
and delivering into prisons both men and women.
Acts 26:11
And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and
compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly
mad against them, I persecuted them even unto
strange cities.
1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet
to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the
church of God.
Galatians 1:13
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in
the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I
persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Galatians 1:23
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us
in times past now preacheth the faith which once he
destroyed. ~all the verses above mentioned in
Barnes Notes
And injurious - The word here used (hubristēs),
occurs only in one other place in the New Testament,
Romans 1:30, where it is rendered “despiteful.” The
word injurious does not quite express its force. It
does not mean merely doing injury, but refers rather
to the manner or spirit in which it is done. It is a
word of intenser signification than either the word
“blasphemer,” or “persecutor,” and means that what
he did was done with a proud, haughty, insolent
spirit. There was wicked and malicious violence, an
arrogance and spirit of tyranny in what he did,
which greatly aggravated the wrong that was done;
compare the Greek in Matthew 22:6; Luke 11:45; Luke
18:32; Acts 14:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Corinthians
12:10, for illustrations of the meaning of the word.
Tyndale and Coverdale render it here “tyrant.”
~Barnes Notes
Matthew 22:6
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated
them spitefully, and slew them.
Luke 11:45
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him,
Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
Note: "reproachest" here means to express
disapproval of, criticism of, to bring shame upon,
to blame, rebuke and disgrace.
Luke 18:32
For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and
shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and
spitted on:
Note: "spitefully" here means malicious.
"Malicious" means deliberately harmful.
Acts 14:5
And when there was an assault made both of the
Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to
use them despitefully, and to stone them,
1 Thessalonians 2:2
But even after that we had suffered before, and were
shamefully entreated [causing shame], as ye
know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak
unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
1 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak,
then am I strong. ~all these verses above quoted
in the commentary Barnes Notes
More commentaries now...
And injurious - As full of insolence [bold
disrespect] as I was of malevolence [wishing
harm on others]; and yet, all the while,
thinking I did God service, while sacrificing men
and women to my own prejudices and intolerance. ~
Adam Clarke
And injurious - Not barely using contumelious [rudely
contemptuous] and reproachful words of Christ,
and his people, which is the sense of some versions,
and seems to be included in the first character; but
using force and violence, and doing injury, not only
to the characters, but persons and properties of the
saints, making havoc [widespread destruction]
of the church, haling [to pull, draw or drag]
men and women out of their houses, and committing
them to prison; and now it was that Benjamin ravined
as a wolf [violent rush], the apostle being
of that tribe. ~John Gill
But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in
unbelief - compare notes on Luke 23:34. The
ignorance and unbelief of Paul were not such excuses
for what he did that they would wholly free him from
blame, nor did he regard them as such - for what he
did was with a violent and wicked spirit - but they
were mitigating circumstances. They served to modify
his guilt, and were among the reasons why God had
mercy on him. What is said here, therefore, accords
with what the Saviour said in his prayer for his
murderers; “Father, forgive them, for they know not
what they do.” It is undoubtedly true that persons
who sin ignorantly, and who regard themselves as
right in what they do, are much more likely to
obtain mercy than those who do wrong designedly.
~Barnes Notes
Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and
cast lots.
Notice the commentary on this prayer: We may learn from this prayer: 1. The duty of praying for our enemies, even when they are endeavoring most to injure us. 2. The thing for which we should pray for them is that “God” would pardon them and give them better minds. 3. The power and excellence of the Christian religion. No other religion “teaches” people to pray for the forgiveness of enemies; no other “disposes” them to do it. Men of the world seek for “revenge;” the Christian bears reproaches and persecutions with patience, and prays that God would pardon those who injure them, and save them from their sins. 4. The greatest sinners, through the intercession of Jesus, may obtain pardon. God heard him, and still hears him “always,” and there is no reason to doubt that many of his enemies and murderers obtained forgiveness and life. Compare Acts 2:37, Acts 2:42-43; Acts 6:7; Acts 14:1. Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2:42-43 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. ~Barnes Notes |
The Barnes Notes commentary goes on...
Yet we cannot but regard Paul’s “ignorance in
unbelief” as, in itself, a grievous sin, He had
abundant means of knowing the truth had he been
disposed to inquire with patience and candor. His
great abilities and excellent education are a
further aggravation of the crime. It is, therefore,
impossible to acquiesce [consent] in any
solution of this clause which seems to make criminal
ignorance a ground of mercy. The author, however,
intends nothing of this kind, nor would it be fair
to put such construction on his words. Yet, a little
more fullness had been desirable on a subject of
this nature. It is certain, that, independent of the
nature of the ignorance, whether willful or
otherwise, the character of crime is affected by it.
He who should oppose truth, knowing it to be such,
is more guilty than he who opposes it in ignorance,
or under the conviction that it is not truth, but
falsehood. In a certain sense, too, this ignorance,
may be regarded as a reason why mercy is bestowed on
such as sin desperately or blasphemously under it.
Rather, it is a reason why they are not excluded
from mercy. It shows why persons so guilty are not
beyond its pale. This is, we think, the true key
both to the passage, and that in Luke 23:34. The
ignorance is not a reason why God should bestow
mercy on such persons, rather than on others left to
perish, but a reason why they obtain mercy at all,
who, by their blasphemies had been supposed to have
reached the sin against the Holy Spirit.
Luke 23:34
And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not
crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny
that thou knowest me.
Now consider the passage [But I obtained mercy,
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief] in this
view. The apostle had just been showing how great a
sinner he had formerly been. His criminality had
been so great that it went near to shutting him out
from mercy altogether. Had he maliciously persecuted
and blasphemed Christ, knowing him to be the
Messiah, his had been the unpardonable sin, and his
lot that of judicial, final obduracy [hardened].
But he had not got that length. He was saved from
that gulph [gulf or separation], and obtained
mercy, because, sinning ignorantly and in unbelief,
he was not beyond its range.
That Paul should set himself to excuse his guilt is
altogether impossible. He does the very reverse. He
has but escaped the unpardonable sin. He is chief of
sinners. He owes his salvation to exceeding abundant
grace. All long-suffering has been exercised toward
him. He affirms, that mercy was extended to him,
that, to the end of time, there might be a proof or
pattern of mercy to the guiltiest. Had he been
assigning a reason why he obtained mercy, rather
than others left to perish, doubtless that had been
what he has elsewhere assigned and defended, “God
will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he
will have compassion on whom he will have
compassion;” Romans 9:15. ~Barnes Notes
Other commentaries:
I did it ignorantly in unbelief - Not having
considered the nature and evidences of Christianity,
and not having believed that Jesus was the promised
Messiah, I acted wholly under the prejudices that
influenced my countrymen in general. God therefore
showed me mercy, because I acted under this
influence, not knowing better. This extension of
mercy, does not, however, excuse the infuriated
conduct of Saul of Tarsus, for he says himself that
he was exceedingly mad against them. Let us beware,
lest we lose the man’s former crimes in his after
character. ~Adam Clarke
But I obtained mercy - the Vulgate Latin version
reads, "the mercy of God"; God had mercy on him,
unasked and unsought for, as well as unmerited; God
had mercy on him when he was in the career of his
sin, and stopped him; and of his abundant mercy
begat him again to a lively hope of forgiveness and
eternal life; and through his great love quickened
him, when dead in trespasses and sins; and according
to the multitude of his tender mercies, forgave and
blotted out all his iniquities; and put him openly
among his children, his family and household; and to
all this added the grace of apostleship: he put him
into the ministry, and, of a blaspheming and
injurious persecutor, made him a laborious,
faithful, and useful preacher of the Gospel,
Because I did it ignorantly in unbelief - This is
said, not as an extenuation of this sin, or as an
excuse for himself; for this was not the apostle's
method, since in the next verse he calls himself the
chief of sinners; besides, ignorance is not an
excuse but an aggravation of sin, especially when
there are means of knowledge, and these are not
attended to; and when persons are not open to
conviction, and reject the fullest evidence, which
was the case here: nor can unbelief be pleaded in
such a man's favour, who heard what Stephen had to
say; and though he could not resist his wisdom,
received not the truth spoken by him, but consented
to his death; moreover, all sins spring from
ignorance, and are aggravated by unbelief: but this
phrase describes the apostle's state and condition;
he was a poor, blind, ignorant bigot, an unbelieving
and hardened creature, and so an object of mercy,
pity, and compassion; and he who has compassion on
the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, had
compassion on him. He indeed did not know that Jesus
was the Christ, or that his followers were the true
church of God; he really thought he ought to do what
he did, and that, in doing it, he did God good
service; he had a zeal, but not according to
knowledge; and therefore did not sin wilfully and
maliciously against light, and knowledge, and
conscience, and so not the sin against the Holy
Ghost; as some of the Pharisees did, and therefore
died without mercy, and were not capable subjects of
mercy, and proper objects of it; nor is it ever
extended to such: but this not being the case of the
apostle, mercy was of sovereign good will and
pleasure vouchsafed to him; his ignorance and
unbelief were not a reason or cause of his obtaining
mercy, which is always shown in a sovereign way; but
a reason, showing, that that was mercy that was
vouchsafed to him, since he was such an ignorant and
unbelieving creature. It is a good note of Beza's on
the place, "en merita preparationis quae profert
apostolus"; "what works, merits, previous
qualifications and preparations were there in the
apostle, fitting him for the grace and mercy of
God", seeing in the midst of his sins, and in the
full pursuit of them, the grace of God laid hold
upon him, and mercy was shown him? there is nothing
between his being a blasphemer, a persecutor, an
injurious person, an ignorant unbeliever, and his
obtaining mercy. ~John Gill
Now from the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge:
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and
injurious:
Acts 8:3
As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering
into every house, and haling men and women committed
them to prison.
Acts 9:1
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went
unto the high priest,
Acts 9:13
Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of
this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints
at Jerusalem:
Acts 22:4
And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding
and delivering into prisons both men and women.
1 Corinthians 15:9
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet
to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the
church of God.
But I obtained mercy:
1 Timothy 1:16
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me
first Jesus Christ might shew forth all
longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should
hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Hosea 2:23
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will
have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and
I will say to them which were not my people, Thou
art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Romans 11:30-31
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God,
yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that
through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.
1 Peter 2:10
Which in time past were not a people, but are now
the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but
now have obtained mercy.
Because I did it ignorantly in unbelief:
Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know
not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and
cast lots.
Acts 3:17
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye
did it, as did also your rulers.
Hebrews 6:4-8
4 For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift,
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the
powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto
repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the
Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain
that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs
meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth
blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is
rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to
be burned.
2 Peter 2:21-22
21 For it had been better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than, after they have
known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the
true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit
again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing
in the mire.