Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.
Parallel translations
- WEB For, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to 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.
- BSB 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.
- 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.
- NASB For I think, God has exhibited us, the apostles, last of all as men condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to mankind.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul pictures the apostles as condemned men paraded last in a procession, a spectacle to the whole world. It matters because true gospel ministry often looks like weakness and shame, not triumph.
Overview
Contrasting himself with the boastful Corinthians, Paul likens the apostles to prisoners led out last to die in the arena, watched by angels and men. This deliberately inverts the world's measure of greatness. Following the pattern of the crucified Christ, the apostles' lowliness, not earthly glory, displays the genuine shape of faithful service.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Heb 10:33partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
- Rom 8:36Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
- 2 Cor 4:8–12We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
- Phil 1:29–30Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf,
- Heb 1:14Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
- Rev 6:9–11When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.
- 2 Cor 1:8–10For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.
- 1 Cor 15:30–32Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?
- Rev 7:11–14All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God,
- 2 Cor 6:9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;
- Acts 19:31Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.
- Rev 17:6–7I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.
- Heb 11:36Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
- Acts 19:29The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.
- 1 Th 5:9–10For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Ps 44:22Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
- 1 Th 3:3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 4:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.