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

11Moses’ Teachings were intended to be used in agreement with the Good News that contains the glory of the blessed God. I was entrusted with that Good News. 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord that he has trusted me and has appointed me to do his work with the strength he has given me. In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief. 14Our Lord was very kind to me. Through his kindness he brought me to faith and gave me the love that Christ Jesus shows people. 15This is a statement that can be trusted and deserves complete acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the foremost sinner.

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 tried to destroy the church. He dragged men and women out of one home after another and threw them into prison.
• Acts 9:1Saul kept threatening to murder the Lord’s disciples. He went to the chief priest
• Acts 22:4I persecuted people who followed the way ⌞of Christ⌟: I tied up men and women and put them into prison until they were executed.
• Acts 26:9“I used to think that I had to do a lot of things to oppose the one named Jesus of Nazareth.
• 1 Corinthians 15:9I’m the least of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God’s church.
• Galatians 1:13You heard about the way I once lived when I followed the Jewish religion. You heard how I violently persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it.
• Philippians 3:6When it comes to being enthusiastic, I was a persecutor of the church. When it comes to winning God’s approval by obeying Jewish laws, I was perfect.
• 1 Timothy 1:16However, I was treated with mercy so that Christ Jesus could use me, the foremost sinner, to demonstrate his patience. This patience serves as an example for those who would believe in him and live forever.
• Hosea 2:23I will plant my people in the land. Those who are not loved I will call my loved ones. Those who are not my people I will call my people. Then they will say, ‘You are our God!’ ”
• Romans 5:20The laws in Moses’ Teachings were added to increase the failure. But where sin increased, God’s kindness increased even more.
• Romans 11:30In the past, you disobeyed God. But now God has been merciful to you because of the disobedience of the Jewish people.
• Hebrews 4:16So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.
• 1 Peter 2:10Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.
• Numbers 15:30“But any native-born Israelite or foreigner who deliberately does something wrong insults the Lord and must be excluded from the people.
• Luke 12:47“The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn’t get ready to do it will receive a hard beating.
• Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” Meanwhile, the soldiers divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.

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