Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained

B26L9 📖 What does Paul really mean when he calls himself the "chief of sinners" in 1 Timothy 1:15? Most people assume it means he was the worst sinner who ever lived — but the original Greek word protos tells a very different story. In this verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, Les Feldick unpacks Paul's role as the "wise master builder" who laid the foundation of the church, the Body of Christ, and reveals why Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus marks a pivotal turning point in God's dealings with humanity. This 28-minute Bible study begins in 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 9, where Paul declares that believers are "laborers together with God" — co-workers with the Creator Himself. Les explores the profound encouragement this offers to every believer, even those who feel carnal or spiritually immature like the Corinthians. The teaching then moves into verse 10, where Paul claims to be a "wise master builder" who laid the foundation. Les uses the analogy of a building contractor who is present from day one to show that Paul was there at the very beginning of the church — not arriving halfway through. This leads to a deep dive into 1 Timothy 1:15-16, where Les challenges the traditional interpretation of "chief of sinners" by tracing the Greek word protos through Luke 22:26, Acts 14:12, Acts 28:7, and Romans 3:1-2 to demonstrate that it means "first in line" or "leader" — not "worst." Paul was the pattern, the first sinner saved by grace to show God's longsuffering to all who would believe "hereafter." 🔑 Key Topics Covered in This Study: What it truly means to be "laborers together with God" — 1 Corinthians 3:9 Why Paul calls himself a "wise master builder" and what the foundation really is The Greek word protos — what "chief of sinners" actually means in 1 Timothy 1:15 Did the church begin at Pentecost? What the early chapters of Acts do and don't say Paul as the pattern: why his conversion on the Damascus road was a turning point The Body of Christ as a strictly Pauline revelation — where is it found in Scripture? Christ crucified, buried, and risen: the only foundation that saves Why the wisdom of God stands against the wisdom of this world — 1 Corinthians 1-3 This verse-by-verse teaching covers 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Luke 22:26, Acts 14:12, Acts 28:7, Romans 3:1-2, and Romans 11:13 — all cross-referenced to illuminate Paul's unique apostleship to the Gentiles and the foundation of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. 📖 Visit our website: www.lesfeldickbiblestudy.com If this study blessed you, please LIKE the video and SHARE it with someone who needs to hear this teaching. Your likes and shares help others find these Bible studies. 0:00 — Introduction: Welcome and Ministry Updates 1:25 — Picking Up in 1 Corinthians 3:9 — The Carnal Church at Corinth 2:19 — Divisions in the Corinthian Church: Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ 3:30 — Paul's Constant Defense of His Apostleship 4:09 — We Are Laborers Together with God — 1 Corinthians 3:9 5:11 — Encouragement for the Carnal Believer: God Uses Every One of Us 6:32 — You Are God's Husbandry, You Are God's Building 7:30 — Paul the Wise Master Builder — 1 Corinthians 3:10 8:04 — Did the Church Begin at Pentecost? A Student's Provocative Question 9:16 — "I Have Laid the Foundation" — The Master Builder's Role Explained 11:22 — Cross-Reference to 1 Timothy 1:15-16 — "Chief of Sinners" 12:04 — Saul of Tarsus: The Persecutor Who Became the Apostle 13:28 — The Greek Word Protos — What "Chief" Really Means 13:40 — Luke 22:26 — "He That Is Chief" in Jesus' Own Words 15:16 — Acts 14:12 — Paul the "Chief Speaker" at Lystra 16:36 — Acts 28:7 — Publius the "Chief Man" of Melita 17:39 — Romans 3:1-2 — "Chiefly" the Jews Had the Word of God 19:06 — Returning to 1 Timothy 1:15 — Paul the Leader, Not the Worst 20:35 — 1 Timothy 1:16 — "That in Me First" — Paul as the Pattern 22:23 — "Hereafter" — From Paul's Conversion Onward, Not Back to Pentecost 22:49 — The Body of Christ: A Strictly Pauline Revelation 24:00 — Returning to 1 Corinthians 3:10 — The Master Builder with Wisdom 25:12 — The Wisdom of God vs. the Wisdom of This World 25:46 — The Foundation: Christ Crucified, Buried, and Risen from the Dead 26:34 — No Other Name: Salvation in Jesus Christ Alone 27:05 — Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles — Romans 11:13 27:31 — Closing: Ministry Information and Next Time