Thoughts from Paul on his conversion and calling (1 Timothy 1)

I’m reading through Paul’s first letter to Timothy and was struck by how he wrote of his own conversion.  I wonder why it is that so many believers today don’t understand their salvation and how it came to them in the same way that Paul did.  Below is the text of 1 Timothy 1:12-17, along with some of my commentary (basically just my thoughts as I read through the passage).  

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he [looked upon / judged] me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent.  But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.  

 

1. Christ Jesus our Lord judged/looked upon/considered Paul faithful at a time when he was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent of the church.  
2. Paul believes the reason he received mercy was not because God foresaw that he would trust in Christ, but BECAUSE he had been acting in unbelief. Below he will expound on the purpose for his receiving mercy BECAUSE he was a sinner.
3. The grace of God did not come to Paul because of his faith in Christ, but the grace overflowed (brought about in abundance) faith and love in Christ.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.  But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.  Amen.

1. Immediately after declaring Christ saved him while he was still a sinner and gave him faith and love for Christ as a gift of grace, Paul declares that Christ came to save sinners.  He does not say that Christ came to make salvation possible for sinners who figure out they are headed the wrong way and turn to Jesus.  Jesus Christ came to do the definitive and certain work of saving sinners.
2. Paul concludes his paragraph on his conversion and calling with a God-centered, God-exalting declaration of praise.  He sees that all honor and glory for his salvation goes to the only God, the King of ages.
3. Paul understand the reason that he received mercy while being the foremost of sinners to be as a display of Christ’s patience meant to become an example for all who would believe in Him.  In other words, those who believe (and will believe) in Christ are to model Christ’s patience toward sinners.  It would be strange to understand this as a pattern of how we are to forgive if Jesus did not extend patience and grace until Paul asked for it.

How do you understand your conversion?  The closer I get to the Lord, the more I see that it was all of mercy, immense and free.

~ by jakeporter on May 12, 2008.