1 Corinthians 15:9

1 Corinthians 15:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
• 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.

Context of 1 Corinthians 15:9

7Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 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. 10But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 11So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·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 11:5But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things.
• 2 Corinthians 12:11You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.
• Ephesians 3:7By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
• Acts 8:3But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.
• Acts 9:1Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.
• Acts 22:4And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison.
• Acts 26:9“I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene.
• Galatians 1:13You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it.
• Philippians 3:6I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
• 1 Timothy 1:13even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and 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
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Awake
• Church
• Corrupt
• Corruptible
• Die
• Differ
• Flesh
• Immortality

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