Ambrosiaster : Paul is least because he was the last in time, not because he was inferior in any way to the others. — COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES Augustine of Hippo : The Enemy is more completely vanquished in the case of a man over whom he holds fuller sway. — Confessions 8.4 Jerome : These words apply to those who complain: Why wasn't I created such that I would be free from sin forever? Why was I fashioned such a vessel that I could not endure hard like metal instead of being fragile and easily broken whenever touched?… Let us blush and say what those say who have already obtained their rewards. Let us, who are sinners on earth and encased in this fragile and mortal body, say what we know the saints are saying in heaven. — Against the Pelagians 2.25 Jerome : If the apostle makes such a confession, how much more should the sinner? Scripture says: "The just man accuses himself when he begins to speak." If the just man is prompt to accuse himself, how much more should the sinner be? — HOMILY 47 ON Psalms 135 (136) John Chrysostom : He who endured imprisonment, wounds and beatings, who netted the world with epistles, who was called by a heavenly voice, humbled himself, saying, "I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle." — ON REPENTANCE 5.27 John Chrysostom : "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God." And he said not, of the twelve alone, but also of all the other apostles. And all these things he spake, both as one speaking modestly and because he was really so disposed as I said, making arrangements also beforehand for what was intended to be spoken and rendering it more acceptable. For had he come forward and said, "Ye ought to believe me that Christ rose from the dead; for I saw Him and of all I am the most worthy of credit, inasmuch as I have labored more," the expression might have offended the hearers: but now by first dwelling on the humiliating topics and those which involve accusation, he both took off what might be grating in such a narrative, and prepared the way for their belief in his testimony. On this account therefore neither doth he simply, as I said, declare himself to be the last and unworthy of the appellation of an apostle, but also states the reason, saying, "because I persecuted the Church." And yet all those things were forgiven, but nevertheless he himself never forgot them, desiring to signify the greatness of God's favor: wherefore also he goes on to say, "But by the grace of God I am what I am." — Homily on 1 Corinthians 38