The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ... is indeed worthy of being considered a proverb.  The expression stands as an epitome of the whole Christian religion:  (1) The deity of Christ is in it, for of no man could it be said that 'the came into the world."  (2) The redeeming, saving purpose of the visitation of the Dayspring from on high is in it. (3) The universal sinfulness of mankind is in it, for his condition was such that only God could save him, and that at awful cost to himself in the sending of the Beloved.