What does Paul mean by 'chief of sinners'?
By 'chief of sinners,' Paul means he is the head of the line of sinners saved by grace, not that he was the worst, most wicked, or most vile. He was first in that line, and others would be saved like he was.
Les explains that Paul's phrase does not imply he was the worst, the most wicked, or the most vile. Instead, Paul is the head of a line of sinners who would be saved like he was. He was the chief, the most prestigious, the head of the line, saved first, and now others come down through the ages. In verse 16, 'first' means at the head of the line. Les also notes that even if a person never persecuted someone or put people to death, that person was just as great a sinner in God's sight as Saul of Tarsus was. God saved him by grace, and such were some of us.
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.
More Questions
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.