1 TIMOTHY 1:13 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”
even though I was formerly a blasphemer, persecutor, and arrogant — but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief — Paul's past violence (blasphēmeō, diōktēs) against the church is reframed through the lens of ignorance and unbelief, not malice. Mercy (eleos) retroactively transforms his trajectory from enemy to servant.
Church Fathers on 1 Timothy 1:13
The advantages arising from humility are generally acknowledged, and yet it is a thing not easily to be met with. There is affectation of humble talking enough and to spare, but humbleness of mind is nowhere to be found. This quality was so cultivated by the blessed Paul, that he is ever looking out for inducements to be humble. They who are conscious to themselves of great merits must struggle much with themselves if they would be humble. And he too was one likely to be…
Read all 2 entries in the readerNicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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