I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 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.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12-17)
We should understand what Paul means when he writes, “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” He does not deny that he was very evil, since he calls himself “a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man.” He does not deny that he was a sinner because he acted in ignorance and unbelief, since he calls himself “the worst of sinners.” He does not mean that his ignorance and unbelief merited salvation for him or compelled God to save him, since then he would not have needed any “mercy” and “grace.” And certainly not everyone who acts in ignorance and unbelief receives mercy. Therefore, the “because” in “I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief” cannot refer to something that moved God to save Paul. It indicates only that he was in a condition that was not beyond salvation. That is, he had not committed the unpardonable sin, or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Or, he had not fall under the condemnation of Hebrews 6:1-6 and 10:26-31.
Putting aside the above potential confusion, Paul’s statement about his past provides us with insight about the true nature of a non-Christian.
First, a non-Christian is an ignorant person – he is stupid. From the world’s perspective, few men were more informed and intelligent than Saul of Tarsus. But the world’s perspective is wrong, since it is the viewpoint of foolish men. Now Paul sees that he was ignorant, and this by extension implies that other non-Christians are ignorant as well, since he was superior to most of them in non-Christian opinions, including the non-Christian (and thus false) interpretation of the Law. Non-Christians are ignorant people, and still they are guilty of sin. We must not confuse ignorance with innocence.
Second, Paul says that he acted in unbelief. In the Bible, unbelief very often indicates more than a mere lack of faith, but a hostility against God and against truth. Consider the unbelief of the Israelites whom Moses led out of Egypt. They murmured against God and riled against Moses on many occasions. And consider Paul himself. He was not passive in his disagreement with the Christian faith, but he harbored a deep hatred against Christ and those who followed him, and this turned into blasphemy and violence. We must not confuse unbelief with a healthy skepticism against incredible claims. Unbelief is an irrational and unintelligent hostility against truth. It is a denial of reality. Non-Christians are delusional, and have no sense of what is true and real.
The non-Christian is never intelligent and never innocent. And it is against this background that we can appreciate the grace of Christ all the more. Paul sees himself as a model example. If Christ could exercise patience toward someone like him, the worst of sinners, and if Christ could manifest his grace to someone like him, then God has once for all made the statement that others could also receive forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ. In saving someone like Paul, and in saving someone like you, Christ reveals the greatness of his mercy, and honors the Father by displaying this aspect of his nature.
Paul’s summary of what happened to him exhibits two essential ingredients of an accurate understanding and preaching of the gospel. First, the true extent of the depravity of man must be acknowledged. The stupidity and hostility of the non-Christian cannot be obscured or shoved aside, whether in our self-understanding regarding our pre-converted state or in our perception and preaching regarding the present state of non-Christians. If you do not think that non-Christians are stupid and hostile, like you were before you became a Christian, then you deny the gospel. You do not even fully acknowledge the sinner’s need for it. Second, the grace of Christ is announced against this background of the utter foolishness and depravity of man, and as a result, his glory is revealed and magnified.
Paul writes that the false teachers promote myths and controversies rather than God’s work. What, then, is God’s work? It is the preaching of this message about God’s mercy in saving sinners. It is to declare the sinfulness of man and to announce the grace of Christ that rescues him from condemnation. This is the proper use of Scripture, and our task is to publish this message to all nations.