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The apostle Paul considered himself chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15), and set himself forth as an example of the grace of God. He stated: "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:9 & 10)