Paul's blasphemy was really an offense against God. His zeal was an assault on the Christian community. The prideful and arrogant motivation he had practiced in trying to silence the followers of Jesus led to the stoning of the faithful and the intimidation of the early church. But by the time Paul writes to Timothy, he has been confronted by the errors of his ways, and redeemed by the grace of God.

The mercy of God was revealed to Paul in its transforming forgiveness. The mercy of God, rather than accuse Paul outright, showed him that he was acting out of a very limited understanding of the Gospel. But now he knows the truth and declares it, namely that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. The forgiveness of God does not rest on a blanket condemnation and rejection of us, but seeks to build on the good that was planted in us when we were intricately formed and intricately formed, fearfully made, in our mother’s womb. Our potential for doing good is often eclipsed by our evildoing.