1 Timothy 1:13, 14 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
At this point Paul becomes highly autobiographical as he gives thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord for the amazing change that has come in his life and what it has led to. In verse 12 he gives thanks for the strength to change and then that he was considered trustworthy to be given the task of serving God. What adds to it all in Paul's case is that he was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man. He was convinced that it was God's will to engage in what he now saw to be blasphemy and violent behaviour against those he now sought to serve. He suggests that God showed him mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. It is not that his ignorance and unbelief made him innocent but it was one of the mitigating circumstances that led to God being merciful to him. In a further attempt to describe what happened he says The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. It was the abundant pouring out of God's grace that led to him having faith in Christ and love for him, where there had been anything but faith and love previously. We do well to reflect on our past and consider what sins ignorance and unbelief led us into. It is good too to recognise the abundant grace and faith and love we now have in our lives because of God's mercy.
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