1 Timothy 1:13

1 Timothy 1:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
• New King James Version (NKJV)although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Context of 1 Timothy 1:13

11that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me. 12I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry — even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” — and I am the worst of them.

1 Timothy 1:13 word by word

τὸ πρότερον ὄντα βλάσφημον καὶ διώκτην καὶ ὑβριστήν· ἀλλ᾽ ἠλεήθην, ὅτι ἀγνοῶν ἐποίησα ἐν ἀπιστίᾳ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Who wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• beforeπρότερονproteron · previouslyG4386
• a blasphemerβλάσφημοςblasphēmos · blasphemousG989
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• a persecutorδιώκτηςdiōktēs · persecutorG1376
• injuriousὑβριστήςhubristēs · insolent manG5197
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• I obtained mercyἐλεέωeleeō · to have mercyG1653
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• I didποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• ignorantlyἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• unbeliefἀπιστίαapistia · unbeliefG570

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 1:13

• Acts 8:3Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.
• Acts 9:1Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest
• Acts 22:4I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail,
• Acts 26:9In fact, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• Galatians 1:13For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.
• Philippians 3:6regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.
• 1 Timothy 1:16But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.
• Hosea 2:23I will sow her in the land for myself, and I will have compassion on Lo-ruhamah; I will say to Lo-ammi: You are my people, and he will say, “You are my God.”
• Romans 5:20The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
• Romans 11:30As you once disobeyed God but now have received mercy through their disobedience,
• Hebrews 4:16Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
• 1 Peter 2:10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
• Numbers 15:30“But the person who acts defiantly, whether native or resident alien, blasphemes the Lord. That person is to be cut off from his people.
• Luke 12:47And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.
• Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots.

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13A blasphemer - Speaking impiously and unjustly of Jesus, his doctrine, his ways, and his followers. And - persecutor - Endeavouring, to the uttermost of his power, to exterminate all who called on the name of the Lord Jesus. And injurious - ̔· As full of insolence as I was of malevolence; and yet, all the while, thinking I did God service, while sacrificing men and women to my own prejudices and intolerance. I did it ignorantly in unbelief - Not having…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Who was before a blasphemer - This does not mean that Paul before his conversion was what would now be regarded as an open blasphemer - that he was one who abused and reviled sacred things, or one who was in the habit of profane swearing. His character appears to have been just the reverse of this, for he was remarkable for treating what he regarded as sacred with the utmost respect; see the notes on Philemon 3:4-6. The meaning is, that he had reviled the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 The apostle knew that he would justly have perished, if the Lord had been extreme to mark what was amiss; and also if his grace and mercy had not been abundant to him when dead in sin, working faith and love to Christ in his heart. This is a faithful saying; these are true and faithful words, which may be depended on, That the Son of God came into the world, willingly and purposely to save sinners. No man, with Paul's example before him, can…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-17I thank Christ Jesus our Lord: This expression of thanks is a side note from Paul’s message to Timothy (1:3–11, 18–20). Paul’s role in proclaiming the good news about Jesus prompts gratitude and shows why he is thankful (1:11). It also serves as a model for readers. When discussing his work, Paul gives credit to God and makes it evident he is doing God's work (see also 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; 2:14–17; 3:4–6; 4:7; 12:9–10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. Who was before--Greek, "Formerly being a blasphemer." "Notwithstanding that I was before a blasphemer," &c. (Ac 26:9, 11). persecutor--(Ga 1:13). injurious--Greek, "insulter"; one who acts injuriously from arrogant contempt of others. Translate, Ro 1:30, "despiteful." One who added insult to injury. Bengel translates, "a despiser." I prefer the idea, contumelious to others [Wahl]. Still I agree with Bengel that "blasphemer" is against God…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 1:13

• Blasphemy
• God Continued...
• Ignorance
• Judgment
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Salvation
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Acceptation
• Blasphemer
• Charity
• Heed
• Immortal
• Save
• Blasphemy
• Ignorance
• Injurious
• Mercy; Merciful

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings