1 Corinthians 15:9

1 Corinthians 15:9 in other versions

• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

Context of 1 Corinthians 15:9

7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

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

• ·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 11:5For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
• Ephesians 3:7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
• Acts 8:3As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
• Acts 9:1And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
• Acts 22:4And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
• Acts 26:9I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
• Galatians 1:13For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
• Philippians 3:6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
• 1 Timothy 1:13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly 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
• Awake
• Church
• Corrupt
• Corruptible
• Die
• Differ
• Flesh
• Immortality
• Incorruption

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