“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).
The great Apostle Paul considered himself to be the foremost, or chief, of sinners. How can this be with the richness of theology he provides in the Scriptures? Well, he used to be a murderer and persecutor of the Church. Along with all the other murderers, and the sexually immoral, those who practice homosexuality, enslavers, and others, the Law was written for sinners like him (vv. 8-10), which condemned him in his sin. “But,” Paul continues, “I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief” (v. 13).
Jesus came to save sinners, even the foremost like Paul, and even the foremost like all the others listed alongside murderers. Foremost sinners like Paul stand as an example of Christ’s “perfect patience,” that even they who believe and trust in Him will have eternal life.
What Christian is there on Earth who doesn’t think themselves to be the chief of sinners? It doesn’t matter what the sin is. It could be any of the sins Paul listed above. It could be a “lesser” sin we return to repeatedly like a dog after its own vomit (Proverbs 26:11). Who of us have not considered ourselves to be the chief of sinners—the worst sinner on the entire planet and the entire course of human history? “No one has sinned like I have,” we think.
At that point of despair, some will try to comfort us with words like, “Oh, your sins aren’t that bad. At least you’re not a murderer! There are worse things you could have done.” Such poor comforters make you into the Pharisee who counts it all joy that at least he’s not like that tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). They have good intentions, but sometimes good intentions lead to Hell. Rather, let them feel and think they are the chief of sinners, and say, “Fine, you are the worst sinner. So was Paul. He murdered God’s people. But hear what he says about Christ: that he, a murderer and persecutor, received mercy from our Lord that he might be a perfect example to terrible sinners like you that Christ’s patience is perfect, that you might believe in Him for eternal life. Sure, you just might be the worst of sinners, but Christ is still a greater Saviour.”
Thus, we sing:
Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed His blood for me,
Died that I might live on high,
Lives that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine,
I am His, and He is mine…Chief of sinners though I be,
LSB #611 Chief of Sinners Though I Be, stzs. 1, 4
Christ is all in all to me;
All my wants to Him are known,
All my sorrows are His own.
He sustains the hidden life
Safe with Him from earthly strife.
The Lutheran Column 