Paul meant he was the leader or head of the line of sinners saved by grace, not the worst sinner.
Les Feldick teaches that the Greek word 'protos' (chief) means 'first,' 'leader,' or 'head of the line,' not 'most wicked.' Paul saw himself as the first to receive God's saving grace, setting a pattern for all who would believe afterward. This is confirmed by the verse's emphasis on 'in me first' and 'a pattern to them which should hereafter believe.'
1 Timothy 1:15-16 — These verses contain Paul's exact statement about being 'chief of sinners' and explain its purpose as a pattern for others.
In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul writes, '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.' The Greek word translated 'chief' is 'protos,' which means 'first' or 'foremost' in rank or time. The verse emphasizes Paul's position as the foremost sinner—not necessarily the worst in moral depravity, but the one who stands at the head of the line of sinners saved by grace. The next verse (1 Timothy 1:16) clarifies this: '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.' Here, 'in me first' and 'pattern' confirm that Paul's salvation was the first example of God's saving grace to be displayed as a model for others.
Les Feldick teaches that the common interpretation of Paul as the 'worst sinner ever saved' is incorrect. He explains that the Greek word 'protos' (chief) means 'leader,' 'head of the line,' or 'first in rank,' not 'most wicked' (Clips 4, 6). Paul himself was admittedly a persecutor of believers, but that does not make him morally worse than all others; in God's sight, every person is equally a sinner (Clip 1). Les emphasizes that Paul's role as 'chief of sinners' points to his being the first saved by grace as a pattern. Just as a sewing pattern is made first and then used to cut out many garments, Paul's salvation was the original example of God's longsuffering and mercy, to be followed by all who would later believe (Clips 3, 2). This pattern is not retroactive; it applies to those who believe 'hereafter' (Clip 3).
Les Feldick points out that the Greek word translated 'chief' is 'protos' (spelled P-R-O-T-O-S). This same word is used elsewhere in the New Testament to denote a chief man, governor, high priest, or leading speaker—positions of prominence and leadership, not moral wickedness. Therefore, 'chief of sinners' simply means Paul was at the head of the line of sinners saved by grace.
Les uses the analogy of a sewing pattern. A pattern is drawn first, then used to cut out the first piece of material when making more garments. Similarly, Paul was the first pattern of God's saving grace. God showed mercy to Paul 'first' so that His longsuffering and grace would be displayed as an example for all who would later believe on Christ for everlasting life.
Les explicitly denies this. He acknowledges Paul was 'awful' and a 'religious nut' for persecuting Christians, but the verse does not say he was the most vile. In God's sight, all are equally sinners. Paul was simply the first saved by grace, and thus he calls himself chief—the leader of the line.
Paul's Gospel vs. Peter's: What You Must Believe to Be Saved
for us. Now since I've gotten this far, I might as well answer the question that has already been coming in over the phone, especially because in some of our stations we're only about a week or two behind the taping. We're not as far behind as we are here in Tulsa. But turn on with me to 1 Timothy, didn't intend to do this, but we got on this, we might as well continue it. First Timothy chapter 1.
Not the Worst, But Head of the Line
Les explains that 'chief of sinners' does not mean Paul was the worst, but that he was the head of the line of sinners saved by grace.
Pattern for Those Who Believe
Paul's salvation was a pattern for all who would later believe on Jesus Christ for eternal life.
Pattern Comes First
Using the analogy of cutting cloth or lumber, Les shows that the pattern comes first, and Paul is that pattern for saved sinners.
The Greek Word Protos
Les points out that 'chief' is from the Greek 'protos,' which does not imply wickedness but denotes prominence and leadership.
Paul's Persecuting Background
Paul was indeed a persecutor and religious fanatic, but that does not make him the worst sinner; it was extreme grace that saved him.
Leader, Not Wicked
The same word 'protos' is used for leaders like chief priests and governors; no wicked meaning should be attached to it.
Why Two Genealogies of Jesus? Matthew vs Luke Explained
Paul says in Timothy that this is a faithful saying, that Christ Jesus came into the world to what? To save sinners. Well, that's true, but always remember that the Bible is a progressive revelation. Everything is chronologically unfolding, and so there is no mention in the Old Testament of a statement like Paul, that he came into the world to save sinners, but instead the whole emphasis is that h…
1 Timothy 1:15: 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.
Paul's direct statement about being 'chief of sinners' is the subject of the question.
1 Timothy 1:16: 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.
This verse clarifies that Paul's salvation was first and a pattern for others.
No. Les Feldick explains that the Greek word 'protos' means 'first' or 'head of the line,' not 'most wicked.' Paul was a great sinner, but not necessarily the worst. He was the first person saved by grace as a pattern for others.
Paul called himself the chief of sinners because he was the first to receive God's saving grace, and his salvation serves as a pattern for all who would believe afterward. He was the head of the line of sinners saved by grace.
Watch the Teaching: Paul's Gospel vs. Peter's: What You Must Believe to Be Saved