1 Corinthians 4:9 BSB

1 Corinthians 4:9

For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.

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.

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Commentary

2 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Epistle 63, 71 (397)

And so he who was a good athlete said: "We are made a spectacle to this world and to Angels." Worthy indeed was he to be gazed upon by Angels, when he was striving to attain the prize of Christ, when he was striving to lead on earth the life of Angels, and overcome the wickedness of spirits in heaven, for he wrestled with spiritual wickedness. Rightly did the world gaze upon him, that it might imitate him.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

For 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 enjoyment.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

20 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
δοκῶ	dokō	I think	G1380 →
γάρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
θεὸς	theos	God	G2316 →
ἡμᾶς	hēmas	us	G3165 →
τοὺς	tous	<the>	G3588 →
ἀποστόλους	apostolous	apostles	G652 →
ἐσχάτους	eschatous	last	G2078 →
ἀπέδειξεν	apedeixen	has exhibited	G584 →
ὡς	hōs	as	G5613 →
ἐπιθανατίους,	epithanatious	appointed to death,	G1935 →
ὅτι	hoti	because	G3754 →
θέατρον	theatron	a spectacle	G2302 →
ἐγενήθημεν	egenēthēmen	we have become	G1096 →
τῷ	tō	to the	G3588 →
κόσμῳ	kosmō	world	G2889 →
καὶ	kai	both	G2532 →
ἀγγέλοις	angelois	to angels	G32 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
ἀνθρώποις.	anthrōpois	to men.	G444 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Romans 8:36
As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
leads to
- Psalms 44:22
  Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
- Isaiah 53:7
  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not…
- 1 Corinthians 15:30
  And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
- Acts 8:32
  The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- 2 Corinthians 4:10–11
  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Through
Hebrews 10:33
Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.
leads to
- Philippians 4:14
  Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.
- Psalms 74:22
  Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.
- Philippians 1:7
  It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you…

About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Corinthians 4 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About 1 Corinthians