The Paradox of Paul
The Bulletin, 6/18/25
One of the most powerful accounts in all of Scripture is the journey that made Saul the persecutor into Paul the apostle to the Gentiles. He first stood by in hearty agreement as Steven was stoned to death for proclaiming Jesus Christ, only to later suffer the same punishment and more for becoming a preacher of Christ himself.
At first glance, the way he framed his righteousness in his conversion almost seems paradoxical.
In 1 Timothy 1:12-16, the apostle recapped his violent past and praised Jesus for the grace that gave Him another chance. Here he famously described himself as the “foremost” of “chief” of sinners (1:15).
However, in 1 Corinthians 11:1 he told his readers to “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” How could the same man consider himself the chief of sinners and also an example to be followed?
I believe a misunderstanding of these two sides trips up many Christians.
The proud want to hold themselves up as examples to be followed, not accepting the grace and mercy that was required to bring them out of the depths of sin.
Others feel so stuck in “Chief of sinners” mode that they believe they’ll forever be inadequate to serve as a leader or an example to others.
Paul got it right, though. Humility over our past state and our desperate dependence on God should stick with us in everything we do. However, humility doesn’t need to be humiliation. God’s grace doesn’t just save us—it changes us, too.
Every Christian should be able to echo Paul in marveling at God’s grace toward our sinful state. And, every Christian should strive to follow Christ in such a way that we can call others to imitate us as we do so.
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