IT IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD TO BE CHIEF
Probably all the saints look up to Paul. He was used by God to teach millions the truths of the Gospel through his inspired writings. Some might call him the greatest Christian. We doubt Paul would accept this title. Some might think that he would not accept it from a false modesty. All of us have had bouts of this false modesty. Some brother or sister pays us a compliment of some type and we demean ourselves. But many times deep inside in a place we do not like to look at often, there is a sense of pride and accomplishment. This is false modesty. This is the old man in us gratifying itself as the carnal man.
At other times, we are made by the Spirit of God, our vileness, sinfulness and hypocrisy. The accuser of the brethren - Satan tries to make us feel guilty. How can someone like me make any claim to be a follower of Christ? We look at ourselves and feel nothing but repulsion. Sadly all we see in ourselves is absolutely true - we are vile. This will make us say like Paul "I am the chief of sinners!". All true believers have felt this way, only those who do not have Christ dwelling in them the new man and hope of glory feel no tension and are perfectly comfortable in their sins.
At other times, we are made by the Spirit of God, our vileness, sinfulness and hypocrisy. The accuser of the brethren - Satan tries to make us feel guilty. How can someone like me make any claim to be a follower of Christ? We look at ourselves and feel nothing but repulsion. Sadly all we see in ourselves is absolutely true - we are vile. This will make us say like Paul "I am the chief of sinners!". All true believers have felt this way, only those who do not have Christ dwelling in them the new man and hope of glory feel no tension and are perfectly comfortable in their sins.
But we can safely say that in the above passage these two ideas are not what was going on in Paul's heart. Not that he did not possess the old carnal man. He most certainly did and confessed that whenever he would do good evil was present with him. (Rom. 7:21) . What else did Paul say in this passage? "For the good that I would do I do not: but the evil I would not, that I do." (Rom 7:19) . Paul often found in his life, when he examined himself, that he did evil things. These were not thoughts, or desires, although those certainly existed in his heart, but he is talking about actions. In fact, the good things he wanted to do, those he did not do. But that evil things he did not wish to do, those he did.
What did Paul mean by the chief of sinners?
We provide below an exhaustive list of the uses of the words chief and the related cheiftest. As one might expect, these terms relate to rank. Paul is the highest or leader of sinners. To be the highest sinner was to be the least among the apostles, not being worthy of being counted among them. We find no other apostle or believer in the scriptures calling himself this. This leads us away from the idea that Pauls was being falsely modest, or using hyperbole. For those who may doubt what we say, we include an exhaustive list where the word chief in its different grammatical forms appears in the Bible:
chief
Gen. 21:22, 32; 26:26; 40:2, 9, 16, 20–23; 41:9–10; Lev. 21:4; Num. 3:24, 30, 32, 35; 4:34, 46; 25:14–15; 31:26; 32:28; 36:1; Deut. 1:15; 33:15; Josh. 22:14; Judg. 20:2; 1 Sam. 14:38; 15:21; 2 Sam. 5:8; 8:18; 20:26; 23:8, 13, 18; 1 Kings. 5:16; 8:1; 9:23; 14:27; 2 Kings. 25:18; 1 Chr. 5:2, 7, 12, 15; 7:3, 40; 8:28; 9:9, 17, 26, 33–34; 11:6, 10–11, 20; 12:3, 18; 15:5–10, 12, 16, 22; 16:5; 18:17; 23:8–9, 11, 16–18, 24; 24:4, 6, 31; 26:10, 12, 21, 26, 31; 27:1; 27:3, 5; 29:6, 22; 2 Chr. 1:2; 5:2; 8:9–10; 11:22; 12:10; 17:14; 19:8, 11; 23:2; 24:6; 26:12, 20; 31:10; 35:9; 36:14; Ezra. 1:5; 2:68; 3:12; 4:2–3; 5:10; 7:5, 28; 8:1; 8:16–17, 24, 29; 9:2; 10:5, 16; Neh. 7:70–71; 8:13; 10:14; 11:3, 13, 16; 12:7, 12, 22–24, 46; Job. 12:24; 29:25; 40:19; Psa. 4:0; 5:0; 6:0; 8:0; 9:0; 11:0; 12:0; 13:0; 14:0; 18:0; 19:0; 20:0; 21:0; 22:0; 31:0; 36:0; 39:0; 40:0; 41:0; 42:0; 44:0; 45:0; 46:0; 47:0; 49:0; 51:0; 52:0; 53:0; 54:0; 55:0; 56:0; 57:0; 58:0; 59:0; 60:0; 61:0; 62:0; 64:0; 65:0; 66:0; 67:0; 68:0; 69:0; 70:0; 75:0; 76:0; 77:0; 78:51; 80:0; 81:0; 84:0; 85:0; 88:0; 105:36; 109:0; 137:6; 139:0; 140:0; Prov. 1:21; 16:28; Song. 4:14; Is. 14:9; 41:9; Jer. 13:21; 20:1; 31:7; 49:35; 52:24; Lam. 1:5; Ezek. 27:22; 38:2–3; 39:1; Dan. 2:48; 10:13; 11:41; Amos. 6:1, 6; Hab. 3:19; Matt. 2:4; 16:21; 20:18, 27; 21:15, 23, 45; 23:6; 26:3, 14, 47, 59; 27:1, 3, 6, 12, 20, 41, 62; 28:11; Mark. 6:21; 8:31; 10:33; 11:18, 27; 12:39; 14:1, 10, 43, 53, 55; 15:1, 3, 10–11, 31; Luke. 9:22; 11:15; 14:1, 7; 19:2, 47; 20:1, 19, 46; 22:2, 4, 26, 52, 66; 23:4, 10, 13, 23; 24:20; John. 7:32, 45; 11:47, 57; 12:10, 42; 18:3, 35; 19:6, 15, 21; Acts. 4:23; 5:24; 9:14, 21; 13:50; 14:12; 15:22; 16:12; 17:4; 18:8, 17; 19:14, 31; 21:31–33, 37; 22:24, 26–30; 23:10, 14–15, 17–19, 22; 24:7, 22; 25:2, 15, 23; 26:10, 12; 28:7, 17; Eph. 2:20; 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Pet. 2:6; 5:4; Rev. 6:15
chiefest
1Sam. 2:29 fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of
1Sam. 9:22 made them sit in the chiefest place among them
1Sam. 21:7 the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to
2Chr. 32:33 buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of
Song 5:10 ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Mark 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall
2Cor. 11:5 was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
2Cor. 12:11 nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles,
1Tim. 6:21 which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.
Paul expresses sentiments similar to I Tim 1:15 in other passages (I Tim 1:13; I Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8). We shall take each one at a time. Paul connected his being the chief of sinners with his persecution of the church, which by extension is to persecute Christ himself (Acts 9:4). We cannot say that all sinners persecute Christ, because otherwise this sin would not distinguish Paul from other people, as he distinguishes himself. Again, we no other apostle or disciple having or claiming Paul's background in persecution. Indeed, Paul says that he is the least of the apostles because he persecuted the church of God. This was the reason he gave. As far as we can tell from scripture, no other apostle spoke in these terms or persecuted Christians before his conversion. In another passage Paul states that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor and injurious.
PAUL THE BLASPHEMER
We shall examine these terms to get the full impact of what Paul was saying. First, he called himself a blasphemer. A blasphemer is one who speaks things against God or who speaks in a disrespectful way about or towards him. To the Jews of the time, this was the understanding of the word. We can see examples of its use in the New Testament. In Acts 6:11-13, it relates to actions of speech. Certain Jews who had debated Stephen earlier, with no success, paid men to lie with accusations that Stephen had spoken blasphemous words against Moses, God, the temple and the law. Paul had done this, when he spoke words of insult against Jesus. We have no actual direct biblical evidence of this, but he says it, so we can assume it happened. What happened to Stephen happened to Naboth in the Old Testament (I Kings 21:8-13). Again, it involved accusations of things said against God and the King. In the gospels (Mark 3:26-30), the Pharisees accused the work of the Spirit in the casting out demons by Jesus as the work of Satan. This then was blasphemous as they spoke words of disrespect towards the Spirit of God. Satan, the dragon himself is a blasphemer (Rev. 13:4-6). How? He "...opened his mouth in blasphemy against God..." We could go on, but we will move on to the next Paul said he was.
PAUL THE PERSECUTOR OF JESUS
Yes, we have no doubt that Paul recalled the words of Jesus when he thought about himself as a persecutor of Matthew 23:34-35. "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar." Paul had killed christians through crucifixion, others he had scourged in the synagogues. It did not matter if some were mothers with their children. He persecuted them unto death (Acts 22:4). He pursued them from city to city. He sacrificed righteous blood which the time of righteous Abel unto the present. He had been the enemy of Christ! What do you think he felt after he became a christian? Do you not think those memories came back flashing into this mind? Do you think this would have been much comfort to the families of those he killed to say he was ignorant of what he was doing?This man, although he did it in ignorance and unbelief was a sinner! Paul realized that while he was doing these cruel acts to God's children, Christ had already died for him on the cross (Rom. 5:8)! Oh what mercy and love! So here is a mystery, one of the elect, was found persecuting and killing others of the elect! This is beyond our understanding to see. Indeed, when one examines the word persecute in all its forms in the Bible, nowhere does it say that God or Jesus was persecuted except when it comes to Paul and the Jews. We list all the places where persecute is used in both the Old and New Testaments:
Persecute (1)
PAUL THE INJURIOUS
This is a word that confuses many. What does injurious mean? To our modern ears it sounds like someone who has injured someone, usually physically. There is some aspect to this meaning in the New Testament (To see the meaning of this term, we need to look at the two places where it is mentioned (Rom. 1:30; I Tim. 1:15) in the New Testament. In Romans 1:30 we can see synonyms for this word injurious, which is here translated spiteful or in older English despiteful - arrogant, a boaster, a hater of God, all of these things Paul admits by the use of this word. Paul as a man, may have been a difficult man to get along with. He had conflicts with Barnabas concerning Mark (Acts 15:36-39), as well as Peter concerning his hypocrisy when he sat left eating with the Gentiles when Jews walked in withstanding "...him to his face..." (Gal. 2:11-14). Whatever the case, it is certain that the Paul did not behave civilly, with pity or show compassion towards the Christians he persecuted.
WHY? - PAUL THE PATTERN
So we come to the question as to why Paul would use these events in his life to describe himself as the chief of sinners? It seems, that he was to be a "pattern" for those who would believe after him (I Tim. 1:16). Patterns are important to our Lord. Here we show an exhaustive list of all the related words in the New Testament, pattern, form, manner, etc., to illustrate this point:
Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Acts 7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
Acts 23:25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
Rom. 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom. 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Rom. 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
1Cor. 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Phil. 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phil. 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
1Th. 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
2Th. 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
1Tim. 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.
1Tim. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
2Tim. 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Heb. 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
1Pet. 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Timothy was to be an example or pattern of good works to those around him (Titus 2:7), but, Paul's life, especially before his conversion, was to display God's all, perfect or extreme longsuffering (I Tim 1:16). This is why he obtained mercy. Paul's pattern was God's pattern of deliverance and salvation - taking the things that seem worthless and which in the judgment of man, would be the least likely to be picked by God and showing forth his glory and power through them. Paul like Israel was the least of the apostles, like Israel was the least of all the nations (Deut 7:7). Like Israel who made "mention of the God of Israel" (Isa. 48:1), so Paul also was "exceedingly zealous of the traditions" of his Jewish fathers (Gal 1:14). Like Israel who when they spoke of God spoke "not in truth, nor in righteousness", so Paul's righteousness before his conversion, would have been his own righteousness which was of the law, but not the righteousness which is of God by faith (Phil. 3:9). Paul as a Jew and like his fellow Jews, were the only two who are said to have persecuted Christ and his followers (John 5:16). This relationship with the Jews was not a coincidence mentioned in the Bible, in fact, nowhere does it say that the Gentiles persecuted Jesus. Yes, Pilate did crucify Jesus, but he did it unwillingly so as to not lose face before the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus dead. Paul was a type of Israel's salvation. Those Israel who were of the true Israel, would follow Paul as a pattern.
Paul was not the first to be saved of the apostles, indeed he was the last. So when the passage says that "...that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering..." (I Tim. 1:16), he was not talking about time, but about being the foremost, the most illustrative of God's amazing mercy, love and patience! Just like our Lord picks the "foolish things of this world" to confound the wise (I Cor 1:27). The more foolish the thing God picks, the more obvious it is that it is by his grace and power that it is brought to pass.
But also, Paul is pattern to every believer in displaying God's perfect and complete love and mercy. Brethren, do you think you are vile? You were not more vile than Paul. Do you think you are the chief of sinners? You are not Paul is. Have you brethren, ever physically killed or cheered on the killing of Christians, as Paul did in the murder of Stephen, when he gladly held the coats of those who were stoning him? The message seems clear. If saved Paul he can save us. Paul, I think gladly bore this burden of infamy that he might gain Christ. May we through all our sufferings and dark experiential moments do the same.
May the Lord bless us with these thoughts and to meditate on his great love for his people.
What did Paul mean by the chief of sinners?
We provide below an exhaustive list of the uses of the words chief and the related cheiftest. As one might expect, these terms relate to rank. Paul is the highest or leader of sinners. To be the highest sinner was to be the least among the apostles, not being worthy of being counted among them. We find no other apostle or believer in the scriptures calling himself this. This leads us away from the idea that Pauls was being falsely modest, or using hyperbole. For those who may doubt what we say, we include an exhaustive list where the word chief in its different grammatical forms appears in the Bible:
chief
Gen. 21:22, 32; 26:26; 40:2, 9, 16, 20–23; 41:9–10; Lev. 21:4; Num. 3:24, 30, 32, 35; 4:34, 46; 25:14–15; 31:26; 32:28; 36:1; Deut. 1:15; 33:15; Josh. 22:14; Judg. 20:2; 1 Sam. 14:38; 15:21; 2 Sam. 5:8; 8:18; 20:26; 23:8, 13, 18; 1 Kings. 5:16; 8:1; 9:23; 14:27; 2 Kings. 25:18; 1 Chr. 5:2, 7, 12, 15; 7:3, 40; 8:28; 9:9, 17, 26, 33–34; 11:6, 10–11, 20; 12:3, 18; 15:5–10, 12, 16, 22; 16:5; 18:17; 23:8–9, 11, 16–18, 24; 24:4, 6, 31; 26:10, 12, 21, 26, 31; 27:1; 27:3, 5; 29:6, 22; 2 Chr. 1:2; 5:2; 8:9–10; 11:22; 12:10; 17:14; 19:8, 11; 23:2; 24:6; 26:12, 20; 31:10; 35:9; 36:14; Ezra. 1:5; 2:68; 3:12; 4:2–3; 5:10; 7:5, 28; 8:1; 8:16–17, 24, 29; 9:2; 10:5, 16; Neh. 7:70–71; 8:13; 10:14; 11:3, 13, 16; 12:7, 12, 22–24, 46; Job. 12:24; 29:25; 40:19; Psa. 4:0; 5:0; 6:0; 8:0; 9:0; 11:0; 12:0; 13:0; 14:0; 18:0; 19:0; 20:0; 21:0; 22:0; 31:0; 36:0; 39:0; 40:0; 41:0; 42:0; 44:0; 45:0; 46:0; 47:0; 49:0; 51:0; 52:0; 53:0; 54:0; 55:0; 56:0; 57:0; 58:0; 59:0; 60:0; 61:0; 62:0; 64:0; 65:0; 66:0; 67:0; 68:0; 69:0; 70:0; 75:0; 76:0; 77:0; 78:51; 80:0; 81:0; 84:0; 85:0; 88:0; 105:36; 109:0; 137:6; 139:0; 140:0; Prov. 1:21; 16:28; Song. 4:14; Is. 14:9; 41:9; Jer. 13:21; 20:1; 31:7; 49:35; 52:24; Lam. 1:5; Ezek. 27:22; 38:2–3; 39:1; Dan. 2:48; 10:13; 11:41; Amos. 6:1, 6; Hab. 3:19; Matt. 2:4; 16:21; 20:18, 27; 21:15, 23, 45; 23:6; 26:3, 14, 47, 59; 27:1, 3, 6, 12, 20, 41, 62; 28:11; Mark. 6:21; 8:31; 10:33; 11:18, 27; 12:39; 14:1, 10, 43, 53, 55; 15:1, 3, 10–11, 31; Luke. 9:22; 11:15; 14:1, 7; 19:2, 47; 20:1, 19, 46; 22:2, 4, 26, 52, 66; 23:4, 10, 13, 23; 24:20; John. 7:32, 45; 11:47, 57; 12:10, 42; 18:3, 35; 19:6, 15, 21; Acts. 4:23; 5:24; 9:14, 21; 13:50; 14:12; 15:22; 16:12; 17:4; 18:8, 17; 19:14, 31; 21:31–33, 37; 22:24, 26–30; 23:10, 14–15, 17–19, 22; 24:7, 22; 25:2, 15, 23; 26:10, 12; 28:7, 17; Eph. 2:20; 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Pet. 2:6; 5:4; Rev. 6:15
chiefest
1Sam. 2:29 fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of
1Sam. 9:22 made them sit in the chiefest place among them
1Sam. 21:7 the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to
2Chr. 32:33 buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of
Song 5:10 ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
Mark 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall
2Cor. 11:5 was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
2Cor. 12:11 nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles,
1Tim. 6:21 which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.
Paul expresses sentiments similar to I Tim 1:15 in other passages (I Tim 1:13; I Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8). We shall take each one at a time. Paul connected his being the chief of sinners with his persecution of the church, which by extension is to persecute Christ himself (Acts 9:4). We cannot say that all sinners persecute Christ, because otherwise this sin would not distinguish Paul from other people, as he distinguishes himself. Again, we no other apostle or disciple having or claiming Paul's background in persecution. Indeed, Paul says that he is the least of the apostles because he persecuted the church of God. This was the reason he gave. As far as we can tell from scripture, no other apostle spoke in these terms or persecuted Christians before his conversion. In another passage Paul states that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor and injurious.
PAUL THE BLASPHEMER
We shall examine these terms to get the full impact of what Paul was saying. First, he called himself a blasphemer. A blasphemer is one who speaks things against God or who speaks in a disrespectful way about or towards him. To the Jews of the time, this was the understanding of the word. We can see examples of its use in the New Testament. In Acts 6:11-13, it relates to actions of speech. Certain Jews who had debated Stephen earlier, with no success, paid men to lie with accusations that Stephen had spoken blasphemous words against Moses, God, the temple and the law. Paul had done this, when he spoke words of insult against Jesus. We have no actual direct biblical evidence of this, but he says it, so we can assume it happened. What happened to Stephen happened to Naboth in the Old Testament (I Kings 21:8-13). Again, it involved accusations of things said against God and the King. In the gospels (Mark 3:26-30), the Pharisees accused the work of the Spirit in the casting out demons by Jesus as the work of Satan. This then was blasphemous as they spoke words of disrespect towards the Spirit of God. Satan, the dragon himself is a blasphemer (Rev. 13:4-6). How? He "...opened his mouth in blasphemy against God..." We could go on, but we will move on to the next Paul said he was.
PAUL THE PERSECUTOR OF JESUS
Yes, we have no doubt that Paul recalled the words of Jesus when he thought about himself as a persecutor of Matthew 23:34-35. "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar." Paul had killed christians through crucifixion, others he had scourged in the synagogues. It did not matter if some were mothers with their children. He persecuted them unto death (Acts 22:4). He pursued them from city to city. He sacrificed righteous blood which the time of righteous Abel unto the present. He had been the enemy of Christ! What do you think he felt after he became a christian? Do you not think those memories came back flashing into this mind? Do you think this would have been much comfort to the families of those he killed to say he was ignorant of what he was doing?This man, although he did it in ignorance and unbelief was a sinner! Paul realized that while he was doing these cruel acts to God's children, Christ had already died for him on the cross (Rom. 5:8)! Oh what mercy and love! So here is a mystery, one of the elect, was found persecuting and killing others of the elect! This is beyond our understanding to see. Indeed, when one examines the word persecute in all its forms in the Bible, nowhere does it say that God or Jesus was persecuted except when it comes to Paul and the Jews. We list all the places where persecute is used in both the Old and New Testaments:
Persecute (1)
Lam. 3:66 Persecute and destroy them in anger from under
persecute (24)
Job 19:22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not
Job 19:28 should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the
Psa. 7:1 save me from all them that persecute me, and
Psa. 7:5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it
Psa. 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor
Psa. 31:15 and from them that persecute me.
Psa. 35:3 stop the way against them that persecute me:
Psa. 35:6 let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
Psa. 69:26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten
Psa. 71:11 persecute and take him; for there is none to
Psa. 83:15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make
Psa. 119:84 execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Psa. 119:86 they persecute me wrongfully; help
Jer. 17:18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but
Jer. 29:18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with
Matt. 5:11 revile you, and persecute you, and shall say
Matt. 5:44 which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matt. 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye
Matt. 23:34 persecute them from city to city:
Luke 11:49 some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Luke 21:12 hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you
John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and
John 15:20 they will also persecute you; if they have
Rom. 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and
Persecuted (1)
2Cor. 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not
persecuted (19)
Deut. 30:7 on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.
Psa. 109:16 but persecuted the poor and needy man
Psa. 119:161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause
Psa. 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath
Is. 14:6 is persecuted, and none hindereth.
Lam. 3:43 hast covered with anger, and persecuted us:
Matt. 5:10 are they which are persecuted for righteousness’
Matt. 5:12 so persecuted they the prophets which were
John 15:20 If they have persecuted me, they will also
Acts 7:52 the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?
Acts 22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death
Acts 26:11 I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
1Cor. 4:12 we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1Cor. 15:9 because I persecuted the church of God.
Gal. 1:13 beyond measure I persecuted the church of God
Gal. 1:23 That he which persecuted us in times past now
Gal. 4:29 after the flesh persecuted him that was born
1Th. 2:15 prophets, and have persecuted us; and they
Rev. 12:13 he persecuted the woman which brought forth
persecutest (6)
Acts 9:4 unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:5 Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
Acts 22:7 Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 22:8 I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
Acts 26:14 Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 26:15 And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
persecuting (1)
Phil. 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church
PAUL THE INJURIOUS
This is a word that confuses many. What does injurious mean? To our modern ears it sounds like someone who has injured someone, usually physically. There is some aspect to this meaning in the New Testament (To see the meaning of this term, we need to look at the two places where it is mentioned (Rom. 1:30; I Tim. 1:15) in the New Testament. In Romans 1:30 we can see synonyms for this word injurious, which is here translated spiteful or in older English despiteful - arrogant, a boaster, a hater of God, all of these things Paul admits by the use of this word. Paul as a man, may have been a difficult man to get along with. He had conflicts with Barnabas concerning Mark (Acts 15:36-39), as well as Peter concerning his hypocrisy when he sat left eating with the Gentiles when Jews walked in withstanding "...him to his face..." (Gal. 2:11-14). Whatever the case, it is certain that the Paul did not behave civilly, with pity or show compassion towards the Christians he persecuted.
WHY? - PAUL THE PATTERN
So we come to the question as to why Paul would use these events in his life to describe himself as the chief of sinners? It seems, that he was to be a "pattern" for those who would believe after him (I Tim. 1:16). Patterns are important to our Lord. Here we show an exhaustive list of all the related words in the New Testament, pattern, form, manner, etc., to illustrate this point:
Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Acts 7:43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.
Acts 23:25 And he wrote a letter after this manner:
Rom. 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom. 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Rom. 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
1Cor. 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Phil. 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phil. 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
1Th. 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
2Th. 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
1Tim. 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.
1Tim. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
2Tim. 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
2Tim. 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Heb. 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
1Pet. 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Timothy was to be an example or pattern of good works to those around him (Titus 2:7), but, Paul's life, especially before his conversion, was to display God's all, perfect or extreme longsuffering (I Tim 1:16). This is why he obtained mercy. Paul's pattern was God's pattern of deliverance and salvation - taking the things that seem worthless and which in the judgment of man, would be the least likely to be picked by God and showing forth his glory and power through them. Paul like Israel was the least of the apostles, like Israel was the least of all the nations (Deut 7:7). Like Israel who made "mention of the God of Israel" (Isa. 48:1), so Paul also was "exceedingly zealous of the traditions" of his Jewish fathers (Gal 1:14). Like Israel who when they spoke of God spoke "not in truth, nor in righteousness", so Paul's righteousness before his conversion, would have been his own righteousness which was of the law, but not the righteousness which is of God by faith (Phil. 3:9). Paul as a Jew and like his fellow Jews, were the only two who are said to have persecuted Christ and his followers (John 5:16). This relationship with the Jews was not a coincidence mentioned in the Bible, in fact, nowhere does it say that the Gentiles persecuted Jesus. Yes, Pilate did crucify Jesus, but he did it unwillingly so as to not lose face before the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus dead. Paul was a type of Israel's salvation. Those Israel who were of the true Israel, would follow Paul as a pattern.
Paul was not the first to be saved of the apostles, indeed he was the last. So when the passage says that "...that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering..." (I Tim. 1:16), he was not talking about time, but about being the foremost, the most illustrative of God's amazing mercy, love and patience! Just like our Lord picks the "foolish things of this world" to confound the wise (I Cor 1:27). The more foolish the thing God picks, the more obvious it is that it is by his grace and power that it is brought to pass.
But also, Paul is pattern to every believer in displaying God's perfect and complete love and mercy. Brethren, do you think you are vile? You were not more vile than Paul. Do you think you are the chief of sinners? You are not Paul is. Have you brethren, ever physically killed or cheered on the killing of Christians, as Paul did in the murder of Stephen, when he gladly held the coats of those who were stoning him? The message seems clear. If saved Paul he can save us. Paul, I think gladly bore this burden of infamy that he might gain Christ. May we through all our sufferings and dark experiential moments do the same.
May the Lord bless us with these thoughts and to meditate on his great love for his people.
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