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He says he is the chief of sinners, but since he doesn't say anywhere else that he is still a sinner (he does say that he hasn't achieved perfection yet), I think he means he simply was the worst and God could even save him. Makes me think of Romans 7: I do what I don't want and then people say: Look Paul did what he didn't want to do too! without reading that he got out of that when he asked Jesus to deliver him and he walked in the Spirit.
He's not a blasphemer anymore, he says formerly:
12*And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting*me*into the ministry,13*although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did*it*ignorantly in unbelief.*14*And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.*15*This*is*a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.*16*However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
He's not a blasphemer anymore, he says formerly:
12*And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting*me*into the ministry,13*although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did*it*ignorantly in unbelief.*14*And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.*15*This*is*a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.*16*However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
After he met Jesus and understood how wrong he had been ... after he accepted Him as Lord and savior, he says he was chief of sinners for what he had done.
His dissertation about the struggle of the believer, however, was addressed to the reborn in Christ. It's a struggle we all face as born again Christians.