Paul told the Thessalonian Jews of his former zeal for the ceremonial law and of his wonderful experience at the gate of Damascus. Before his conversion he had been confident in a hereditary piety, a false hope. His faith had not been anchored in Christ; he had trusted instead in forms and ceremonies. His zeal for the law had been disconnected from faith in Christ and was of no avail. While boasting that he was blameless in the performance of the deeds of the law, he had refused the One who made the law of value.

Paulus fortalte jøderne i Tessalonika om sin tidligere nidkærhed for ceremoniloven og om sin vidunderlige oplevelse ved Damaskus porte. Før sin omvendelse havde han følt sig tryg ved en nedarvet fromhed, ved et falsk håb. Hans tro havde ikke været forankret i Kristus; han havde sat sin lid til skikke og ceremonier. Hans nidkærhed for loven havde været uden forbindelse med tro på Kristus og var derfor uden værdi. Mens han pralede af at være uangribelig med hensyn til udførelsen af lovens gerninger, havde han afvist den eneste, som gjorde loven til noget værdifuldt.