1 Corinthians 15:9

For. am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because. persecuted the church of God.

'least of the apostles' -(Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15). Paul is not saying that he had less authority than the other apostles. (2 Corinthians 11:5; Galatians 2:6)

'But he does recognize them (the 12) as. special group as can be seen by his remark in Acts 13:30 where he calls them "his witnesses unto the people."' (McGuiggan p. 190)

'not meet to be called an apostle' -'not deserving the name of apostle' (Ber); 'I who am unworthy of the name of Apostle.' (TCNT)

'a view many of them probably also held (2 Corinthians 10:10). But his reasons for it would be different from theirs...his reason here has to do with his former way of life.' (Fee p. 734)

'because. persecuted the church of God' -a fact that Paul often alludes to. (Acts 22:19; Acts 26:9; Galatians 1:13; 1 Peter 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13)

Points to Note:

1. Paul always kept in mind an accurate picture of the person he had been. On the very road to Damascus, he had been engaged in efforts to persecute Christians.

2. Paul never says, 'well,. wasn't that bad'.

3. 'Paul had done all that he could to destroy Christianity prior to his conversion.' (Willis p. 535)

4. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus (Paul), is one of the great proofs for the resurrection of Christ. How do we explain this man's radical change in direction? How do we logically explain, one giving up so much? (Galatians 1:13; 1 Peter 3:4 ff)

'First, he was. persecutor of the church; how then can one account reasonably for the startling fact that so suddenly he began to preach the gospel and to support and extend the church? Secondly, how explain the fact that the persecutor came to surpass all others in apostolic fervor and success? There is only one explanation.' (Erdman p. 156) HE SAW THE RESURRECTED CHRIST!

'As someone has said, if there was ever. man in the first century who knew all the arguments against the resurrection of Christ which the Sanhedrin could ever draw up, that man was the Apostle Paul, and yet, in spite of all this, he believed Christ had been raised from the dead by the power of God..' (Therefore Stand. Smith pp. 414-415)