Tree of Life Version
1 Corinthians 4:9
9For it seems to me that God has put us, the emissaries, on display last of all—like men sentenced to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.
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 makes you different? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? 8Already you are full! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish you were kings, so we also might be kings with you! For it seems to me that God has put us, the emissaries, on display last of all—like men sentenced to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10We are fools for Messiah’s sake, but you are wise in Messiah! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we are both hungry and thirsty, dressed in rags and mistreated and 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 why are we in danger every hour?
- 2 Corinthians 1:8For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our trouble that happened in Asia. We were under great pressure—so far beyond our strength that we despaired even of living.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8We are hard pressed in every way, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not in despair;
- 2 Corinthians 6:9as unknown and yet well-known; as dying, yet behold, we live; as disciplined yet not put to death;
- Philippians 1:29For to you was granted for Messiah’s sake not only to trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake—
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know we are destined for this.
- Psalms 44:22would God not have discovered it? For He knows the secrets of the heart.
- Romans 8:36As it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9For God did not destine us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
- Revelation 6:9When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those slaughtered for the sake of the word of God and for the witness they had.
- Hebrews 10:33Sometimes you were publicly exposed to abuses and afflictions, and other times you became partners with those who were treated this way.
- Hebrews 11:36Others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging—yes, and even chains and prison.
- Acts 19:29The city was filled with confusion. They rushed into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were travel companions of Paul.
- Hebrews 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out for service to those about to inherit salvation?
- Revelation 7:11And all the angels were standing around the throne, along with 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 kedoshim and with the blood of the witnesses of Yeshua. When I saw her, I was totally astounded.
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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