Berean Standard Bible
1 Corinthians 4:9
9For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
1 Corinthians 4:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
- New International Version (NIV)For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
Context of 1 Corinthians 4:9
7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you! For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. 11To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 41 Corinthians 4:9 word by word
δοκῶ γάρ ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀποστόλους ἐσχάτους ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους, ὅτι θέατρον ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ καὶ ἀγγέλοις καὶ ἀνθρώποις.Read the interlinear
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- it seems to meδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
- thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- has displayedἀποδείκνυμιapodeiknumi · to displayG584
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
- at the endἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
- likeὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- appointed for deathἐπιθανάτιοςepithanatios · condemned to deathG1935
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- We have becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- a spectacleθέατρονtheatron · theatreG2302
- whole worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- to angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- to menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:9
- 1 Corinthians 15:30And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
- 2 Corinthians 1:8We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
- 2 Corinthians 6:9unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
- Philippians 1:29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him,
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.
- Psalms 44:22Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
- Romans 8:36As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 6:9And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.
- Hebrews 10:33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.
- Hebrews 11:36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
- Acts 19:29Soon the whole city was in disarray. They rushed together into the theatre, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia.
- Hebrews 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Revelation 7:11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. And they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
- Revelation 17:6I could see that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and witnesses for Jesus. And I was utterly amazed at the sight of her.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9God hath set forth us the apostles last - This whole passage is well explained by Dr. Whitby. "Here the apostle seems to allude to the Roman spectacles, , , that of the Bestiarii and the gladiators, where in the morning men were brought upon the theatres to fight with wild beasts, and to them was allowed armor to defend themselves and smite the beasts that assailed them; but in the meridian or noon-day spectacles the gladiators were brought forth naked…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9For I think - It seems to me. Grotius thinks that this is to be taken ironically, as if he had said, “It seems then that God has designed that we, the apostles, should be subject to contempt and suffering; and be made poor and persecuted, while you are admitted to high honors and privileges.” But probably this is to be taken as a serious declaration of Paul, designed to show their actual condition and trials, while others were permitted to live in…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 7-13 We have no reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do, that is good, is owing to the free and rich grace of God. A sinner snatched from destruction by sovereign grace alone, must be very absurd and inconsistent, if proud of the free gifts of God. St. Paul sets forth his own circumstances, ver. 9 Allusion is made to the cruel spectacles in the Roman games; where men were forced to cut one another to pieces, to divert the people; and where…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9God has displayed us apostles: Like prisoners condemned to die by facing wild animals in the amphitheater, the apostles were a spectacle. Paul gladly accepted suffering because God used it to bless others (see 2 Corinthians 1:4–7; 4:7–12; Philippians 2:17; Colossians 1:24).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. For--assigning the reason for desiring that the "reign" of himself and his fellow apostles with the Corinthians were come; namely, the present afflictions of the former. I think--The Corinthians (1Co 3:18) "seemed" to (literally, as here, "thought") themselves "wise in this world." Paul, in contrast, "thinks" that God has sent forth him and his fellow ministers "last," that is, the lowest in this world. The apostles fared worse than even the prophets…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4
- 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
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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