1 Timothy 1:12-17
Devotions for Saturday 9th August
There are three important places in the New Testament where Paul recounts the story of his conversion experience on the road to Damascus and his personal call to follow Jesus Christ ‘(Acts 9:2f., Acts 22:5f., Gal 1:13f.). It is a story he must have repeated many times over, a personal testimony of the most powerful kind which would have been received with awe; but here in his letter to Timothy, Paul tells us not so much the details of the story, but the meaning of what happened on that great occasion. It is a unique analysis of an event which was used by God to change the world.
Paul describes the meaning of his call to his friend Timothy, as a way of telling him how important it was for any Christian leader to be open and frank about such things. It was vital, and still is, for a leader to be completely open about their Christian experience because this enabled a congregation to understand the faith and commitment of their leader. Paul’s own personal appeal to all he met was that he was the ‘scum of the earth’; without a shadow of doubt, one who had persecuted Christians and even participated in proceedings which led to their death (9:1). This was no idle testimony, but a matter of verifiable and open record, and one in which Paul did not glory, but used to illustrate how far a man could be changed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. He describes himself here as ‘a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence.’ (1:13), and yet it was he who was eventually trusted by God with the message of salvation for the Gentiles (1:12). Paul’s incredible experience had uniquely empowered him to be a servant of the Lord in taking the Gospel to the Gentile world in a unique mission, traced through the annals of the Acts of the Apostles (largely from chapter 13 onwards).
This was the reason why Paul was able to talk about the ‘grace of our Lord (which has) overflowed for me ...’ (1:14). This was no theological remark but a personal comment of wonder and amazement; how incredible it was that God almighty had chosen someone who was the worst of hypocrites and sinners to represent Him in the preaching of the Gospel to the whole world! Paul put it all down to the ‘faith and love which are in Christ Jesus’ (1:14). However, he went on. In describing himself as the foremost of sinners, he quoted what could well have been a liturgical statement from an early form of church service; ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’ (1:15 – see also Jesus’ own comment ‘I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners’ – Matthew 9:13), but he went further than this, explaining what this meant for one who was a leader of the church.
Paul was conscious that as a leader, his own experience was picked up by the whole of the church; not copied, but used as an example upon which to build in faith. This is why he described himself as a ‘prime example’ (1:16) of Christ’s patience for one who was a sinner. He could correctly say that the evidence of Christ’s patience in dealing with him meant that there was no one for whom he could not see the Lord waiting patiently to save and lead into eternal life. He was a ‘pattern for those yet to believe in Him for eternal life.’ (1:16). It would be easy to take the straightforward theological truth from this text which says that Jesus Christ’s patience is infinite, but Paul’s powerful point is that if the Lord could be patient with him, given his appalling background, there was no one who the Lord would not be equally patient for, in His great love. The difference is that the first comment is merely theological, and one who heard it could accept it or reject it. But when the point was made as a testimony, however, the hearer was under a greater obligation to take the matter seriously, because to reject the point, the hearer would have to reject the person who gave the testimony, and that would be a far harder thing to do!
You can see from within this passage that although Paul was telling Timothy his own experiences, his point to Timothy was that he should speak and preach from his own testimony and experience, because it was this that would win people for Christ and enable the church to grow. As Paul knew, Timothy had a conversion experience, being the product of a Jewish mother and a Gentile father (Acts 16:1f.); he therefore knew what it was like to make a decision for Christ from both a Jewish background and a Gentile background; his testimony could be used by God to His praise and glory! Paul concluded this introduction to his letter with a ‘doxology’, a statement of praise and thanksgiving to God who could use the experience of any of His chosen people to bring the Gospel of Christ to any other person. He was and is ‘eternal, immortal, invisible, and unique’ (1:17 and to be praised for ever more!
12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he counted me as trustworthy and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I been given mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord has overflowed for me, along with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners (of whom I am the foremost). 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, as the prime example, Jesus Christ might show complete patience, making me a pattern for those yet to believe in Him for eternal life: 17 to the King who is eternal, immortal, invisible, and the only God; be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.
© All text and pictures on this page copyright Paul H Ashby 2008 - all rights reserved
To read the questions and discipleship challenges for this text: go to the discipleship page
Glorious Lord, You who have revealed Yourself to countless people throughout the world, show Yourself to me today. Give me eyes to see where You are, ears to listen to Your word, a mouth to speak to You, and a heart to accept the challenge of Your abiding presence and will. Change and transform my life daily through the power of Your divine love; I praise You, glorious Lord: AMEN
Where is Your power and strength, O Lord?
Give me faith in Your unfailing provision.
Come to the aid of our embattled souls
when we need You most of all;
Come to the aid of Your glorious Church
when it is called to preach revival;
Come to the aid of the poor and weak
when they need a genuine Saviour;
Come to the aid of the sick and worried
when they need authentic healing;
Come to the aid of those who are unsaved
When they need to find hope in You;
Come to the aid of people trapped by evil
who need Your powerful deliverance;
Where is Your power and strength, O Lord?
Give me faith in Your unfailing provision.
Weekly Theme: The Environment
As the Olympics begin in Beijing embroiled in controversy about the levels of air pollution in the city, pray that the issue of pollution might raise genuine interest and concern.
On-going prayers
- Give thanks for the joy of music and song
- Pray for national leaders gathered in Beijing for the Olympics
- Pray for those who are victims of injustice in the legal system
