1 Timothy 1:12-14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And I thank Christ Jesus Here thanksgiving, an important branch of divine worship, is addressed to the Lord Jesus; who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful The meaning is, I thank him for putting me into the ministry, and enabling me to be faithful therein; who was before a blasphemer Of Christ; a persecutor Of his church; and injurious In my behaviour toward it; or rather a reviler, as υβριστην may be properly rendered, namely, of his doctrine and people. But I obtained mercy He does not say, because I was unconditionally elected, but, because I did it ignorantly Because, though I acted in a very rash, savage, and criminal manner, yet I did not therein contradict the sentiments of my own conscience; in unbelief Not knowing nor believing that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, or that those whom I persecuted were his servants. Not that his ignorance took away his sin, but it left him capable of mercy, which he would hardly have been, had he acted as he did in contradiction to the conviction of his own mind: for had he knowingly opposed what he apprehended to be truth, (especially truth of such unspeakable importance to the glory of God and the salvation of mankind,) out of regard to his secular interest, he would doubtless have been left to perish under a judicial blindness and hardness of heart. It is probable, as Paul was “then a scholar at Gamaliel's feet, he might not have been present when any of Christ's miracles were performed, as Christ spent but little time at Jerusalem. The popular cry was strong against him, and the Pharisees and rulers treated him with so much contempt, and were so full of malignity toward him, and so ready to advance the most slanderous reports to the prejudice of his character, that it is the less to be wondered at that this rash, hot youth was borne down by the torrent. Yet we see how far Paul was from thinking all this, and whatever could be added to it, a sufficient excuse. Instead of insinuating, with some, that the miracle wrought for his conversion to Christianity was a reward for his extraordinary integrity and virtue while a Jewish zealot, he speaks of himself as one of the greatest sinners upon earth, and thereby shows, by the way, how much guilt a man may contract without acting directly contrary to the convictions of his mind, if he has neglected an impartial care in forming his principles of action.” Doddridge. And the grace of our Lord Whereby I obtain mercy; was exceeding abundant Υπερεπλεονασε, super-abounded; with faith Opposite to my preceding unbelief; and love Opposite to my blasphemy, persecution, and reviling; which is in Christ Jesus Which, through his mediation and the influence of his Spirit, was implanted in my heart, thereby giving life and comfort to my profession.