The prayers of Paul

In part 1 we looked at Paul’s argument that the law is good, it shows where dangers lie but it does not transform lives. The Gospel shows the glory of God in Jesus and Jesus transforms people. Paul sets out in the prayer about how his life has been transformed.

This is a series on the prayers of St Paul found in the letters attributed to him in the order he is believed to have written them. Letters to the same place or person will be treated together with the first letter to that destination.

¹² I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, ¹³ though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ The saying is trustworthy and deserving of 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, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. ¹⁷ To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:12-17 ESVUK

Law, even the law of God, shows where the dangers are. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that reveals God’s glory, and this Gospel transforms people.

At this point Paul talks about himself and his transformation, not as a testimony to strengthen his preaching, as he had done elsewhere, but in a prayer of thanks to God for what he had done in his life. Paul, blasphemor of Jesus Christ and murderer of Christians became the great preacher of the Gospel to the Gentiles because of God’s grace. Paul did not earn his way into God’s kingdom, it was free. In the same way there is no need for us to earn our way into the kingdom, God give it to us for free. Paul’s prayer of thanks is that he, the worst of the worst as far as the Gospel was concerned. could be transformed. If God could do that there is nobody on earth whose heart is so hard, is too angry or too outside the reach of God’s patience and mercy.

My story is mild by Paul’s standard. But Paul thought that he was working for the kingdom of God that was to come and that the Christian message might hold that day back, I by contrast turned my back on the God of my youth. on the lessons taught in Sunday School and Church, on the promises made for me in my baptism and by myself at my confirmation, I even denied the feelings that the Holy Spirit had put in my heart, preferring a life of rock music and recreational drugs. Even though I had turned my back on God, God was still faithful to the promises I had made the turn around back to God, God was still there to welcome me home. I have the people at Newcastle Polytechnic Student Union to thank for helping me back, but the thanks are mostly to God for being faithful where I had not been.

It was revealed to Paul that the new age to come was dawning in Jesus Christ and was not just for the Jews but to be spread to the nations. God’s kingdom is here in Jesus. Paul became one of the key figures in the spread of the Gospel to non-Jews: The the murdrer of Christians became a spreader of the good news about Jesus Christ.

This passage can be read as being Paul blowing his own trumpet, but in reality it is about God; God has done everything to bring undeserving Paul into his family, God has done this to me, undeserving Steve, and he can do it for undeserving … (insert your own name here).

It is about God’s grace freely given to those who do not deserve it. I am very big on God’s forgiveness and the need to repent, to turn to God, but God’s undeserving grace was poured on me first, repentance was a response in gratitude and love to Jesus who loves me. Looking back on you life is supposed to bring gratitude, not shame. If it doesn’t God is waiting for you to turn to him again or for the first time.

Writing this has brought me to tears of joy. So I’ll end here and dry my eyes.

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