1 Corinthians 15:9

1 Corinthians 15:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• New International Version (NIV)For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Context of 1 Corinthians 15:9

7Then He was seen by James, then by all the apostles, 8and last of all, as to one untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God. 10But by the [remarkable] grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not without effect. In fact, I worked harder than all of the apostles, though it was not I, but the grace of God [His unmerited favor and blessing which was] with me. 11So whether it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed and trusted in and relied on with confidence.

1 Corinthians 15:9 word by word

ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ ἐλάχιστος τῶν ἀποστόλων ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι ἀπόστολος, διότι ἐδίωξα τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the leastἐλάχιστοςelachistos · leastG1646
• of the apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• notοὐou · noG3756
• meetἱκανόςhikanos · sufficientG2425
• to be calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• becauseδιότιdioti · becauseG1360
• I persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• the churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 15:9

• 2 Corinthians 11:5Yet I consider myself in no way inferior to the [so-called] super-apostles.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11Now I have become foolish; you have forced me [by questioning my apostleship]. Actually I should have been commended by you [instead of being treated disdainfully], for I was not inferior to those super-apostles, even if I am nobody.
• Ephesians 3:7Of this [gospel] I was made a minister by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.
• Acts 8:3But Saul began ravaging the church [and assaulting believers]; entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison.
• Acts 9:1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord [and relentless in his search for believers], went to the high priest,
• Acts 22:4I persecuted and pursued the followers of this Way to the death, binding them with chains and putting [followers of Jesus] both men and women into prisons,
• Acts 26:9“So then, I [once] thought to myself that it was my duty to do many things in opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• Galatians 1:13You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it.
• Philippians 3:6as to my zeal [for Jewish tradition], a persecutor of the church; and as to righteousness [supposed right living] which [my fellow Jews believe] is in the Law, I proved myself blameless.
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I was formerly a blasphemer [of our Lord] and a persecutor [of His church] and a shameful and outrageous and violent aggressor [toward believers]. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9I am the least of the apostles - This was literally true in reference to his being chosen last, and chosen not in the number of the twelve, but as an extra apostle. How much pains do some men take to make the apostle contradict himself, by attempting to show that he was the very greatest of the apostles, though he calls himself the least! Taken as a man and a minister of Christ, he was greater than any of the twelve; taken as an apostle he was less than…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9For - A reason for the appellation which he had given to himself in 1 Corinthians 15:8. I am the least of the apostles - Not on account of any defect in his commission, or any lack of qualification to bear witness in what he saw, but on account of the great crime of his life, the fact that he had been a persecutor. Paul could never forget that; as a man who has been profane and a scoffer, when he becomes converted, can never forget the deep guilt of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-9as to one of untimely birth: This phrase can refer to a miscarriage or stillbirth. Here it might describe the unusual way Paul converted, the negative view some opponents had of his role as an apostle, or his own feelings of unworthiness to be an apostle. The main focus is on God's extraordinary grace to Paul, who once persecuted Christ’s followers (see Galatians 1:13; Philippians 3:6; compare Acts 8:3; 9:1–2). He appeared to me also: Paul met the risen…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. least--The name, "Paulus," in Latin, means "least." I persecuted the church--Though God has forgiven him, Paul can hardly forgive himself at the remembrance of his past sin.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 15:9

• Church
• Humility
• Paul
• Repentance
• Sin
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Awake
• Church
• Corrupt
• Corruptible
• Die
• Differ
• Flesh
• Immortality

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings