In the New Testament, it is interesting to see Paul's journey from calling himself "not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles" (2 Corinthians 1 verse 5), to "less than the least of all saints" (Ephesians 3 verse 8), to finally the worst of sinners in the passage you highlighted from 1 Timothy. As his revelation grew, so did his increasing awareness of our need for humility and the grace that comes through Jesus.