Note 9 at Eph. 3:8: Paul's statement that he was "less than the least of all saints" was not a statement of false humility. He meant this. How could this be? This was the apostle Paul? In relation to other saints and apostles, Paul was certainly not least in his accomplishments and devotion. Even Paul admitted that (2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11).

From our human perspective, we unwisely compare ourselves with others who are also less than what God wants them to be, and we smugly think we are okay. But anyone who has viewed himself in the light of God's perfect standard (see note 6 at Rom. 3:23, p. 759) knows that at our best we are infinitely below God's standard of holiness. It is only the grace and mercy of God that the Lord loves any of us. A true revelation of this will cause any of us to say with Paul that we are "less than the least of all saints."

Paul didn't see himself as "less than the least of all saints" because he had persecuted and murdered Christians. Others have done that too. Paul was less, not because of what he did but because of the revelation he had. Anyone who sees himself superior to others has never truly seen himself next to Jesus. A true revelation of ourselves next to Christ will forever change the way we see others in relation to us.