1 Corinthians 4:9
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.
Study Note
Study Note
'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' — Paul's ironic reversal of the Corinthian boasting in status and wisdom casts the apostles as condemned prisoners at the end of a Roman triumph, exhibited to universal ridicule. The Greek theatron ('spectacle') gives English 'theatre' and implies that apostolic suffering is performative: watched by cosmic witnesses (angels) as well as human observers. The following catalog of apostolic hardships (verses 10–13) deconstructs the Corinthian theology of already-reigning power with the counter-reality of cross-shaped ministry.
Other Translations
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.
for I think that God did set forth us the apostles last--as appointed to death, because a spectacle we became to the world, and messengers, and men;
For it seems to me that God has put us the Apostles last of all, as men whose fate is death: for we are put on view to the world, and to angels, and to men.
Cross References
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in …
And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not …
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for …
And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead …
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were …
Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver …
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
So then death worketh in us, but life in you.