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“But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).
“Christ Jesus…appointing to ministry him who before was a blasphemer and persecutor, and an insolent overbearing man” (1 Tim. 1:12-13 JND).
In these two verses we have two descriptions of the same person—the man who was once called Saul of Tarsus, and afterward called the Apostle Paul. Which verse gives a true description? Both of them! It is Paul himself who gives us both verses in the Word of God. The second verse describes Saul of Tarsus before he was saved, and the first verse describes him after he was saved.
Even as Christians, sometimes there can be part of our personality and character that is not very good, and we may excuse ourselves by thinking, “That is just the way I am made naturally.” But the Lord has given us new life in Christ, and is able to change us, just as He changed Saul of Tarsus. The Lord made him a gentle man, instead of an insolent, overbearing man.
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