It is not a question of "when was he", at all! One has to stand the language on its ear, as well as deny the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who inspired Paul to write this, to say otherwise.Steven2006 said:Catch on to what, this?
The question is not whether Paul is the chief of sinners or not, he clearly says he is, the question is when was he.
The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this in the present tense, "...I am chief." I'll accept that. However, the Holy Spirit did not inspire Paul to write that he was currently practicing and committing more and worse sins than anyone. I'll accept that. The two things are not necessarily mutually exclusive, here.
To use an analogy, although I realize all analogies break down, eventually.
I am a type II diabetic.
However, my AIC (a method of determining how my blood glucose level has been over a three month period) was, at my last test, at the level of 5.0. I have taken absolutely no medications for my diabetes for almost 9 mos, and little before that for the previous 3 mos. The doctor wants my level to be under 7 at all times, and preferably under 6.5, with the medication. (I do not, and have never taken any insulin, except when I was in the hospital receiving nutrition via feeding tubes and/or IVs two times after major surgeries.) My AIC has not ever been higher than 5.6, since that test has been peformed. And a 5 to 5.5 is considered fairly normal, and is comparable to about any average non-diabetic.
So my diabetes is considered pretty well under control, and I don't concern myself with it, excesively. But I am still a diabetic, and will remain so for the rest of my life, unless I were to receive a new pancreas, as mine is damaged, and can never become "not damaged".
Get it, now? I am a diabetic. Paul "am chief." That is not my opinion; that is Paul's, and that of the Holy Spirit. Why Paul?? I do not know. Not one specific clue, here. But I'll ask Paul and the Holy Spirit at the 'bema' and then I will know.
Ed