WAS PAUL A SINNER, OR WAS HE PERFECT?

I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.(KJV) Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (KJV) Philippians 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (KJV)

Paul was a sinner, as he admits in 1 Timothy.  In the two Philippians passages, which you'll note are almost consecutive, Paul is speaking of two different things. In verse 12, (where he says he is not perfect) he uses the word 'teleioo' which refers to a permanent state of perfection. In verse 15, (where he says he is perfect) the word is 'teleios' which refers to maturity.  Not a contradiction.