How should we understand Paul's words that the Messiah came into the world to save sinners? And why does Paul consider himself the foremost of sinners? The simplest answer would be that...
How should we understand Paul's words that the Messiah came into the world to save sinners? And why does Paul consider himself the foremost of sinners? The simplest answer would be that people in general are sinful, and if they are to be saved, then by definition sinful people must be saved, simply because there are no others. But this may be only part of the answer.
Another part of it may be hinted at in Paul's words about himself as the foremost of sinners. What, in essence, does salvation mean? Clearly, liberation from the power of evil and sin. And how can one be definitively freed from it? Only by entering the Kingdom. But sin is precisely what keeps a person from entering it. Clearly, a fallen person has to begin sharing in the life of the Kingdom while at the same time resisting his own sin. And perhaps the closer a person comes to the fullness of the Kingdom's life to which he is called, the more visible that sin becomes.
Not only Paul but other Christian righteous people also considered themselves the greatest sinners, and this was not self-torment or showmanship. The matter here is probably something else. Once, at a scientific gathering, people were discussing the possibility of interstellar travel at near-light speeds. Among other problems, one rather unexpected one emerged: it turned out that interstellar matter could hinder such flights. Its density is negligible; from the standpoint of the speeds familiar to us, interstellar space can generally be considered empty, with a few atoms per cubic kilometer being insignificantly little. But at near-light speeds they "thicken" and become an insurmountable wall for potential travelers. So it is with sin: countless small sins, like dust, are constantly present in our lives, and as long as we do not approach the Kingdom, we do not notice them because they do not hinder us. But as soon as we take a step in that direction, what was previously unnoticed becomes visible. The intensity of spiritual life increases, and what we once did not even notice begins to hinder us seriously. And when spiritual life becomes what it should be in the Kingdom, those same sins, formerly almost invisible, become a heavy burden pulling us away from the goal. Only the Savior's help makes it possible to overcome that burden.
1
1:12 I thank Christ, who hath enabled me, in that he accounted me faithful, having put me into the ministry - The meaning is, I thank him for putting me into the ministry, and enabling me to be faithful therein.
1:13 A blasphemer - Of Christ. A persecutor - Of his church.A reviler - Of his doctrine and people. But I obtained mercy - He does not say, because I was unconditionally elected; but because I did it in ignorance. Not that his ignorance took away his sin; but it left him capable of mercy; which he would hardly have been, had he acted thus contrary to his own conviction.
1:14 And the grace - Whereby I obtained mercy. Was exceeding abundant with faith - Opposite to my preceding unbelief. And love - Opposite to my blasphemy, persecution, and oppression.
1:15 This is a faithful saying - A most solemn preface. And worthy of all acceptation - Well deserving to be accepted, received, embraced, with all the faculties of our whole soul.That Christ - Promised. Jesus - Exhibited. Came into the world to save sinners - All sinners, without exception.
1:16 For this cause God showed me mercy, that all his longsuffering might be shown, and that none might hereafter despair.
1:17 The King of eternity - A phrase frequent with the Hebrews. How unspeakably sweet is the thought of eternity to believers!
1:18 This charge I commit to thee - That thou mayest deliver it to the church. According to the prophecies concerning thee - Uttered when thou wast received as an evangelist, Ti1 4:14; probably by many persons, Ti1 6:12;that, being encouraged by them, thou mightest war the good warfare.
1:19 Holding fast faith - Which is as a most precious liquor. And a good conscience - Which is as a clean glass.Which - Namely, a good conscience. Some having thrust away - It goes away unwillingly it always says, "Do not hurt me."And they who retain this do not make shipwreck of their faith.Indeed, none can make shipwreck of faith who never had it.These, therefore, were once true believers: yet they fell not only foully, but finally; for ships once wrecked cannot be afterwards saved.
1:20 Whom - Though absent. I have delivered to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme - That by what they suffer they may be in some measure restrained, if they will not repent.