1 Corinthians 4:9

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 considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you! For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind. 10We are fools on account of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are without honor! 11Up to this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed and roughly treated and homeless;

1 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

• For I thinkδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• has exhibitedἀποδείκνυμιapodeiknumi · to displayG584
• us, the apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• lastἔσχατοςeschatos · last/leastG2078
• as menἐπιθανάτιοςepithanatios · condemned to deathG1935
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• have becomeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• a spectacleθέατρονtheatron · theatreG2302
• to the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
• bothκαίkai · andG2532
• to angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• and to mankindἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:9

• 1 Corinthians 15:30Why are we also in danger every hour?
• 2 Corinthians 1:8For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.
• 2 Corinthians 4:8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
• 2 Corinthians 6:9as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold, we are alive; as punished and yet not put to death,
• Philippians 1:29For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf,
• 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
• Psalms 44:22But for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.
• Romans 8:36Just as it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
• Revelation 6:9When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;
• Hebrews 10:33partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated.
• Hebrews 11:36and others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and imprisonment.
• Acts 19:29The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s Macedonian traveling companions.
• Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
• Revelation 7:11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
• Revelation 17:6And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

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

• Games
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Persecution
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Ephesus
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward

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