Paul, the WORST of Sinners… What?

1 Timothy 1:16 says, However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Is there any misunderstanding as to what this verse says? “For this reason” Paul obtained mercy... Right? I will address “for what reason” in a moment, but for now, the verse is saying that Paul obtained mercy because he was a sinner so that Jesus Christ might show forth His patience AS A PATTERN to those who are “going to” believe on Him for everlasting life. Can anyone understand this verse differently? Absolutely some do because they won’t let go of their religion. But this verse is more complicated because Paul says IN ME FIRST (protos).

What is Paul saying? Let’s look at the previous verse…

1 Tim. 1:15, This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
It is most unfortunate for Bible readers that the word “chief” has been interpreted to mean “worst.”





Consider...
Matt. 20:27, And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant
Mark 6:21, Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee
Luke 19:47, But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
Acts 13:50, But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city
Acts 16:12, And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia
Acts 25:2, Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul
Acts 28:7, In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was
Publius (Publius was the governor of the island)
Acts 28:17, And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together

The word “chief” is used in the KJV so most concordances will show only that word’s meaning from the Greek. But the Blue Letter Interlinear gives us a look at the NASB verses and the word in verse 15 is “foremost.” Many other translations also use “foremost” including the Berean Literal Bible, the Legacy Standard, and the New Revised Standard Version. All other versions translate the word as “WORST” in 1 Tim. 1:15. Do we believe the word chief in all those verses above means “worst”? I don’t!

The word in every instance in the original Greek is “protos” which means FIRST… “first in time or place; first in rank, influence, honor; foremost in time, place, order or importance; chiefest, first of all.

Now… look up the word “FIRST” in all the verses in the New Testament, like 1 Cor. 15:45, The FIRST man Adam was made a living soul. Does that mean Adam was the “worst” man? Not hardly because it is the same Greek word as in 1 Tim. 1:15 and 16… “PROTOS” = FIRST!

Protos is where we get our word prototype from. And what is a prototype? It is the first model on which to base future designs, the standard, the first example, a pattern (for imitation), a paradigm. And Paul reveals a detail about the “Body of Christ” in the next verse…

16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me FIRST Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a PATTERN to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Now the question becomes, “What does it mean… Paul was FIRST?”

Do your own Bible study… “Work out your own salvation” at least to the point that you can agree with what this scripture is saying; not with what I am saying, but what scripture says. And then learn what the “Body of Christ” really is. Connect the dots.