Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 1:13

"though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;" — 1 Timothy 1:13 (ASV)

Formerly Paul had been “a blasphemer,” meaning that in his opposition to the Christian movement he cursed the name of Jesus. Now he realizes that this was blasphemy, because Jesus is divine. He was also “a persecutor” (9:1– 2, 4–5; 22:4–5; 26:9–11; Galatians 1:13). In his zeal to protect Judaism, the young Saul believed that he must destroy Christianity. Third and even worse, he was “a violent man” (GK 5616); this word refers to insolence and extreme violence (cf. Acts 8:3).

In spite of these characteristics, Paul was “shown mercy” (GK 1796) because he “acted in ignorance and unbelief.” He was sincere in believing that he was serving God through his violence against the Christian movement. When brought later before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, he testified, “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day” (Acts 23:1). This apparently included his pre-Christian life.