When Paul says in I Timothy 1:15, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst," we can be confident that this is not just rhetoric.
Yes, Paul was a rhetorician in the sense that he was careful about how he stated his points and he expertly used rhetorical devices like analogies to explain his thoughts. But you don't have to read too much of his writing to come to the conclusion that he was also a straight shooter.
He really understood himself to be the worst.
He continues, "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."
In other words, Paul believes that Jesus specifically picked the worst of sinners to forgive in order to show everyone else "If God can forgive this guy, he is patient enough to forgive anyone"!
Paul's framework when it came to the topic of sin was "I am the worst, but Jesus rescues sinners. Hallelujah!"
I have to wonder if this framework is what gave Paul the ability to persevere in hope for the early churches he planted. His letters make it clear that these gatherings were often crippled with terrible theology, in-fighting, and immoral behaviors of all sorts.
If Paul hadn't understood himself to be "the worst sinner", might he have lost patience, thrown up his hands in exasperation and screamed, "You people are irredeemable"?
I'm thinking the early church required a leader who saw in the mirror "the worst of sinners".
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