Why is Paul called the chief of sinners and the head of the line?
Paul is called chief of sinners and head of the line because he is the pattern, the first sinner saved by grace, whom Christ showed forth all longsuffering. As number one, he precedes all other sinners, especially Gentiles, who follow after him in the Body of Christ from his Damascus conversion onward.
Les explains that a pattern comes first—you do not cut many pieces and then draw the pattern. Paul, as the chief of sinners and the sinner saved by grace, is the head of the line, number one. Christ showed forth all long-suffering in him first as a pattern for those hereafter. This is not retroactive to Pentecost; from Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus onward, God calls people into the Body of Christ, a strictly Pauline revelation, and other sinners saved by grace, especially Gentiles, follow after him.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
More Questions
Does 'chief of sinners' in 1 Timothy 1:15 mean Paul was the worst sinner?
In 1 Timothy 1:15, the word 'chief' does not mean 'worst.'
Did Paul call himself the worst sinner in 1 Timothy 1:15?
In 1 Timothy 1:15 Paul identified himself as the chief of sinners, which Les says is commonly preached as Paul proclaiming himself the worst of sinners.