Christian Standard Bible
1 Corinthians 4:9
9For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.
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 didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it? 8You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us — and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- I thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- hath set forthἀποδείκνυμιapodeiknumi · to displayG584
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- the apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
- lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
- as it wereὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- appointed to deathἐπιθανάτιοςepithanatios · condemned to deathG1935
- we are madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- a spectacleθέατρονtheatron · theatreG2302
- unto the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- to angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
- to menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:9
- 1 Corinthians 15:30Why are we in danger every hour?
- 2 Corinthians 1:8We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia. We were completely overwhelmed — beyond our strength — so that we even despaired of life itself.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
- 2 Corinthians 6:9as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see — we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed;
- Philippians 1:29For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
- Psalms 44:22Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
- Romans 8:36As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Revelation 6:9When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.
- Hebrews 10:33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.
- Hebrews 11:36Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.
- Acts 19:29So the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed all together into the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.
- Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?
- Revelation 7:11All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God,
- Revelation 17:6Then I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
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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