mercy

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin terms that are typically translated as “mercy” (or “compassion” or “kindness”) in English are translated in various ways. Bratcher / Nida classify them in (1) those based on the quality of heart, or other psychological center, (2) those which introduce the concept of weeping or extreme sorrow, (3) those which involve willingness to look upon and recognize the condition of others, or (4) those which involve a variety of intense feelings.

While the English mercy originates from the Latin merces, originally “price paid,” Romance languages (Italian, Spanish, Corsican, Catalan) and other Germanic languages (German, Swedish, Danish — Barmherzigkeit, barmhärtighet and barmhjertighed, respectively) tend to follow the Latin misericordia, lit. “misery-heart.”

Here are some other (back-) translations:

See also steadfast love.

complete verse (1 Timothy 1:13)

Following are a number of back-translations of 1 Timothy 1:13:

  • Uma: “Formerly I disparaged Yesus, I was really all-out to persecute his followers. But even so, he loved me, for at that time I did not yet believe in him, so I didn’t know the meaning/use of what I was doing.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa Almasi commissioned me even though formerly I spoke evil of him, and his followers were also persecuted by me and shamed by me. But I was pitied by him even though like that was my doing because I had not yet trusted in him therefore I didn’t know that those deeds of mine were bad/evil.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “A long time ago my words concerning Him were bad; I tormented His disciples and I spoke in rejection of Him. But in spite of that, He pities me for I carried out my evil doings because of the fact that I did not yet know the true doctrine, and I did not yet believe in Him.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “He did that even though previously, I was-speaking-evil-about him and at-the-same-time hardshipping and insulting (him). But God had-mercy-on me anyway, because previously I had not yet believed so I didn’t know that what I was doing was bad.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “In the past, my insulting/belittling him was really far-from-ordinary, I was insolent to those who believed in him, and I persecuted them without pity. But although what I did was like that, the Lord indeed just showed me grace/mercy, because those things I did, I did because I had no belief in him. I didn’t realize that it was in fact against the will of God.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “He made me his worker even though I looked on him with hate before. For I spoke evil of him and I persecuted the people who believed in him. But God was merciful to me. Because God knows that I didn’t know what I was doing when I was not yet a believer.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Timothy 1:13

Here Paul recalls a time in the past, particularly the stage in his life when he had his first contact with the Christian movement. Formerly clearly refers to the time when Paul was not yet a Christian, since he describes his condition at that time as acting out of ignorance and unbelief. Formerly may also be expressed as “before I became a Christian” or “during the time before I believed in Christ.” It will also be helpful in some languages to begin this verse with the words “He (or, God) did this even though…,” and the phrase though I formerly may be alternatively expressed as “God did this, even though before I became a Christian I….”

Regarding his relationship to Christ and the Christian movement, he uses three nouns to describe himself: a “blasphemer,” a “persecutor,” and “a man of violence” (so New Revised Standard Version). Blasphemed: in the Bible, “blasphemy” can sometimes have the meaning of claiming power and authority that are ascribed only to God. An example of this was when Jesus was accused of blasphemy after he pronounced the forgiveness of the sins of the sick man who was let down through the roof (see Mark 2.1-12, especially verses 5 and 6). However, the more usual meaning of “blasphemy” is speaking evil against God, although it is also possible to “blaspheme” against other people. In the present context God is the most likely object of the blasphemy. Persecuted comes from the verb “to pursue,” or “to treat badly.” There are various references in the New Testament that tell how Paul was indeed a persecutor of the church (see, for example, Acts 8.1-3). Insulted translates a Greek word used to describe a person who is aggressive, rude, insolent, and as a result treats others cruelly and with violence (so New Revised Standard Version “a man of violence,” and Contemporary English Version “I was cruel”). This must be related in some way to Paul’s act of persecuting the church. The text is silent as to who was the victim of these cruel actions; both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation identify this implicit victim as Christ, although it may very well be the Christian community. In languages where the goal or recipient of the action must be made explicit, translators are recommended to identify Christ as the more likely recipient of Paul’s persecution. Insulted has a similar meaning to blasphemed. In some languages one may say something like “called him [Christ] bad names.”

Despite all these, Paul was spared judgment (he received mercy) because he acted in ignorance and unbelief. I received mercy translates an aorist passive of a verb that means to show kindness or concern for people, especially those who are in need. The implicit source of mercy may either be God (as, for example, in Good News Translation) or Christ. Retaining the passive form as well as identifying the agent as “the Lord” would leave the text ambiguous (see, for example, New English Bible “the grace of our Lord was lavished upon me”). In languages that do not use the passive voice and must identify the agent of the action, Christ is the more likely agent, as he has been mentioned from the beginning of verse 12. One may thus translate “But he [Christ] had mercy on me (or, was kind to me).”

Paul’s preconversion state is described as characterized by ignorance and unbelief. This latter term (unbelief) could not have God as its object, since Jews do believe in God. Clearly then the implicit object of unbelief is Jesus Christ, and this is logical since, as already stated, this verse is referring to Paul’s pre-Christian state. The word for ignorance can be used to describe a state of failure to understand, but in the present context it refers to not having information on something or someone, and Good News Translation‘s translation “did not know what I was doing” is a good translation model. As in the case of unbelief, it is very likely that what is meant here is not ignorance about God but rather ignorance about Jesus Christ and perhaps about the nature of the Christian community.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• He [Christ] did this, even though before I became a Christian I used to say evil and insulting words about him. But Christ was merciful to me because I had not yet believed in him and I didn’t know what I was doing.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .