Apostle Paul: Part 1: Worst of Sinners

Some time ago, I listened to an article by Desiring God titled "Was Paul Really the World’s Worst Sinner?" That made me think more about Paul and his sin, which is why I am writing this article.

Why does Paul say he was the worst of sinners? He writes,

1 Timothy 1:15 CSB17

“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them.”

Paul tells us one answer which is in the immediate context which says,

1 Timothy 1:16 CSB17

“But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.”,

So let's expand on Paul's reasoning.

When it says, "the worst of them," is he talking about all people or a group of people?

First, consider that Paul says he was the "worst." That word, in the literal Greek, means something closer to "in me as the first." If we take this meaning literally, it can very well open up a lot of implications; most noteworthy of all is what it means to be "first." First, in doing what?

Let's look at what else Paul says about Himself.

Philippians 3:3–6 CSB17

“For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh— although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.”

Notice that when Paul gives his pedigree here, he is quick to tell you how the world perceived him, which was extremely well. He had status, he had respect, he was thought of as "blameless" before the law. By all accounts, according to the world, Paul had it made. He was the man everyone wanted to rub shoulders with. Why, then, does Paul say he was the worst of sinners before his conversion? Because, simply put, the Torah does not cover everything. How do I know this? How do I know that it is not enough to keep the Law to be saved? Because we read,

Hebrews 8:7 CSB17

“For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one.”

The word "faultless" is the same Greek word for "blameless."

Elsewhere we read,

1 Thessalonians 3:13 CSB17

“May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.”

And,

Philippians 2:13–16 CSB17

“For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.”

So, how can we be blameless even though we sin? For does not our Lord say,

Matthew 5:20 CSB17

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.”

Why? Because it is ALWAYS a matter of the heart. The Law is not perfect. That is what Hebrews says, which is written to Messianic Jews.

So, if the Law is not perfect, and people can actually keep the Law, then it naturally means that the real test of a persons standing before God is based on the condition of their heart and not based on following all the rules. For Christ says,

Matthew 23:25–26 CSB17

““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside of it may also become clean.”

When your spirit is clean, your behaviors will also be clean. But if your behaviors are clean, then it says nothing about your spirit.

Getting back to when Paul said he was "first among sinners," I cannot make a deductive argument for this, but perhaps, this will shed some light on what Paul means by "first."

Acts 8:1 CSB17

“Saul agreed with putting him to death.”

Paul, also known as Saul, may very well have been the first person to say Stephen, who was the first Christain Martyr, should be killed.

That is why Paul said he was the "worst" of sinners: because his every being was against Christ. It was Paul's attitude toward Christ before his conversion that made him the worst of sinners among his peers. It was not based on what he actually did behaviorally. After all, Paul did not himself stone Stephen. In fact, he may very well have initiated the murder of Stephen by saying, "I will watch your coats if you stone him." And that may very well be why he was considered blameless by his peers--because he seems to be the kind of individual to take the initiative in things--in both evil things and good things.

And that is a little about Paul.

God bless you! Until next time!