1 Corinthians 9:2

1 Corinthians 9:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:2

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4Don’t we have the right to food and drink?

1 Corinthians 9:2 word by word

εἰ ἄλλοις οὐκ εἰμὶ ἀπόστολος, ἀλλά γε ὑμῖν εἰμι· ἡ γὰρ σφραγίς μου τῆς ἀποστολῆς ὑμεῖς ἐστε ἐν κυρίῳ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Ifεἰei · ifG1487
• I beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• an apostleἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• unto othersἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
• yetἀλλάalla · butG235
• doubtlessγέge · indeedG1065
• to youσύsu · youG4771
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• the sealσφραγίςsphragis · sealG4973
• of mineἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• apostleshipἀποστολήapostolē · apostleshipG651
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:2

• John 6:27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
• 2 Corinthians 3:1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
• 2 Corinthians 12:12I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2If I be not an apostle unto others - If there be other Churches which have been founded by other apostles; yet it is not so with you. The seal of mine apostleship are ye - Your conversion to Christianity is God's seal to my apostleship. Had not God sent me, I could not have profited your souls. The or seal, was a figure cut in a stone, and that set in a ring, by which letters of credence and authority were stamped. The ancients, particularly the Greeks…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2If I be not an apostle unto others - “If I have not given evidence to others of my apostolic mission; of my being sent by the Lord Jesus, yet I have to you. Assuredly you, among whom I have labored so long and so successfully, should not doubt that I am sent from the Lord. You have been well acquainted with me; you have witnessed my endowments, you have seen my success, and you have had abundant evidence that I have been sent on this great work. It is…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2These four rhetorical questions expect a positive answer. The first question, following his discussion in 8:1–13, asserts Paul's freedom from Jewish ritual obligations. However, he later emphasizes (see 9:19–23) that he willingly follows Jewish practices to win them to Christ. The other three questions assert Paul's apostolic authority, which some in Corinth questioned. For you are the seal: For skeptics, Paul's apostolic calling was confirmed by his…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. yet doubtless--yet at least I am such to you. seal of mine apostleship--Your conversion by my preaching, accompanied with miracles ("the signs of an apostle," Ro 15:18, 19; 2Co 12:12), and your gifts conferred by me (1Co 1:7), vouch for the reality of my apostleship, just as a seal set to a document attests its genuineness (Joh 3:33; Ro 4:11).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:2

• Minister, Christian
• Paul

In the dictionaries

• In the Lord
• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Seal
• Wait
• Apostle
• Church Government
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9

• 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