New International Version
1 Corinthians 4:9
9For 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.
Context of 1 Corinthians 4:9
7For who makes you different from anyone else? 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! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 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. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, 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
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 15:30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
- 2 Corinthians 1:8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
- 2 Corinthians 6:9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and 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 no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.
- 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 did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive 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 slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
- Hebrews 10:33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.
- Hebrews 11:36Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
- Acts 19:29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together.
- Hebrews 1:14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
- Revelation 7:11All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,
- Revelation 17:6I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony 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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