Paul means he is the leading or preeminent sinner, not necessarily the worst, as Les Feldick teaches.
Les Feldick says the Greek word for 'chief' (protos) indicates a head of the line or leader, not inherently the most wicked. Paul's salvation showcased God's grace to the chief of sinners, and he was deeply remorseful for persecuting believers, but the primary emphasis is on leadership, not superlative badness.
1 Timothy 1:15 — This is the verse where Paul calls himself the chief of sinners.
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.' In Luke 22:26, Jesus uses the same Greek word (protos) when He says, 'But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.' The word is used for leaders like the chief priest or chief speaker, indicating a place of prominence or head of the line.
Les Feldick explains that the Greek word for 'chief' (protos) means 'head of the line' or 'leader,' not necessarily 'worst.' He points out that in other New Testament uses, this word refers to leaders like the chief priest or chief speaker, which carries a positive connotation of leadership. Paul was not inherently the worst sinner ever, but he was the leader of sinners because his salvation set the pattern for all who would follow. Les also emphasizes Paul's deep remorse for persecuting the church, noting that Paul never got over the fact that he had persecuted Jewish believers. This remorse, however, does not mean 'chief' equals 'worst'; rather, it highlights the extreme grace of God in saving such a zealous opponent.
Les Feldick shows that the Greek word translated 'chief' (protos) is used elsewhere to denote leaders such as the chief priest, the chief man of the island, and the chief speaker. None of these indicate something bad; rather, they denote a place of leadership or preeminence. Thus, Paul is saying he is the head of the line among sinners, not necessarily the absolute worst.
Paul had aggressively persecuted Jewish believers, forcing them to blaspheme Jesus and even putting them to death. After realizing that the Jesus he persecuted was the Old Testament Jehovah, he was overwhelmed with regret and never fully got over it. However, Les clarifies that this remorse does not automatically mean 'chief' means 'worst'; rather, it was Paul's past as a leading persecutor that made him feel this way.
God saved Saul of Tarsus, a man who was a renegade and upsetting everything, even though humanly we would have zapped or punished him. Instead, God saved him by grace, making Paul the epitome of grace. This shows that anyone can be saved, and believers today are no different—we were rebels and lost, but God saves us by His grace.
Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained
And so now he says, The grace of God, which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. Now I always ask my classes here in Oklahoma, when we teach this verse. Any of you have ever built a home, or a building, or whatever, and you need a contractor.
Greek Word for Chief
Les teaches that the Greek word for 'chief' is used for leaders like chief priest or chief speaker, denoting leadership, not badness.
God Saved the Chief of Sinners
Les explains that Paul was not necessarily the worst but the leader of sinners, and everyone saved after him follows his pattern.
Common Misinterpretation
Les notes that many preachers interpret 'chief' as 'worst,' but he challenges that view based on the Greek.
Paul's Remorse
Les describes Paul's sorrow over persecuting believers, which contributed to his feeling of being chief, but does not define the word.
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…
Why Paul Said "We Are Not Ignorant of Satan's Devices" — 2 Corinthians 2:11
Now Paul had absolutely no power of forgiving sin, we know that. No one does, but Christ Himself. But in the name of Christ, He could agree with them, that when they had restored this individual and forgiven him, He could concur. Now verse 11.
Grace Demonstrated
Les highlights that Paul's salvation is the epitome of grace, because God saved such a rebel instead of punishing him.
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 calling himself the chief of sinners.
Luke 22:26: But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
The same Greek word for 'chief' is used, illustrating leadership, not badness.
No. Les Feldick explains that the Greek word 'protos' means 'head of the line' or 'leader,' not inherently 'worst.' Paul was the leader of sinners because his salvation set the pattern, but not necessarily the most wicked.
Paul persecuted Jewish believers, forcing them to blaspheme Jesus and putting them to death. After his conversion, he deeply regretted this and never got over it, but his feeling of being chief is more about his leadership role.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained