1 Corinthians 4:9
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
For I think God has exhibited us, the apostles, last, as appointed to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
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.

NASB 1995
For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

NASB 1977
For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

Legacy Standard Bible
For, I think that God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

Amplified Bible
For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles at the end of the line, like men sentenced to death [and paraded as prisoners in a procession], because we have become a spectacle to the world [a show in the world’s amphitheater], both to angels and to men.

Christian Standard Bible
For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For I suppose that God has appointed us Apostles at last, as for death, that we would be a stage play for the universe, for Angels and for men.

Contemporary English Version
It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

English Revised Version
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, and to angels, and to men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As I see it, God has placed us apostles last in line, like people condemned to die. We have become a spectacle for people and angels to look at.

Good News Translation
For it seems to me that God has given the very last place to us apostles, like people condemned to die in public as a spectacle for the whole world of angels and of human beings.

International Standard Version
For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display in last place, like men condemned to death. We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels, and for people to stare at.

Literal Standard Version
for I think that God set forth us the apostles last—as appointed to death, because we became a spectacle to the world, and messengers, and men;

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
For as I see it, God has exhibited us apostles as the last of all, like people sentenced to death, since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and human beings alike.

NET Bible
For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.

New Revised Standard Version
For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

Weymouth New Testament
God, it seems to me, has exhibited us Apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; for we have come to be a spectacle to all creation--alike to angels and to men.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
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;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Fools for Christ
8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you! 9For 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. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.…

Cross References
Psalm 71:7
I have become a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge.

Jeremiah 20:18
Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame?

Romans 8:36
As it is written: "For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

1 Corinthians 15:19
If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied more than all men.

1 Corinthians 15:31
I face death every day, brothers, as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Corinthians 11:23
Are they servants of Christ? I am speaking like I am out of my mind, but I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.

Hebrews 10:33
Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.


Treasury of Scripture

For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

I.

1 Corinthians 15:30-32
And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? …

2 Corinthians 1:8-10
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: …

2 Corinthians 4:8-12
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; …

us the apostles last, as.

Psalm 44:22
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Romans 8:36
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

1 Thessalonians 5:9,10
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, …

we are.

Hebrews 10:33
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

Hebrews 11:36
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

spectacle.

Acts 19:29,31
And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre…

to angels, and to men.

Hebrews 1:14
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Revelation 7:11-14
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, …

Revelation 17:6,7
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration…

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Angels Apostles Appointed Condemned Creation Death Die Display Displayed Doomed End Fate Forth Last Messengers Procession Seems Sentenced Spectacle Think Universe Whole World
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Angels Apostles Appointed Condemned Creation Death Die Display Displayed Doomed End Fate Forth Last Messengers Procession Seems Sentenced Spectacle Think Universe Whole World
1 Corinthians 4
1. In what account the apostles ought to be regarded.
7. We have nothing which we have not received.
9. The apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men;
13. the filth and offscouring of the world;
15. yet our fathers in Christ;
16. whom we ought to follow.














(9) For . . .--This introduces the reason why he may well express the devout wish which he has just uttered for the coming of the kingdom of his Lord. The imagery of this passage would be easily understood by the Corinthians, familiar as they were with the arena. The writer, in a few striking phrases, pictures himself and his apostolic brethren forming the "last and most worthless" band brought forth to struggle and die in the great arena, where the whole world, including men and angels, sit, spectators of the fight. There is, perhaps, a slight contrast intended here between the Corinthians sitting by criticising, and the Apostles engaging actually in the struggle against evil--a contrast which is brought out more strikingly in the brief and emphatic sentence forming 1Corinthians 4:10.

Verse 9. - For. This word shows how different was the reality. Hath set forth; displayed as on a stage (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Us the apostles. St. Paul identifies them with himself; but undoubtedly he had "laboured more abundantly than they all." Last. Servants of all; in the lowest circumstances of humiliation (comp. Mark 9:35). The apostles. Not the twelve only, but those who might be called apostles in a wider sense, who shared the same afflictions (Hebrews 10:33). As it were appointed to death. This daily doom is referred to by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:30, 31; 2 Corinthians 4:11; Romans 8:36. Tertullian renders the word "veluti bestiaries," like criminals condemned to the wild beasts ('De Pudicit.,' 14). But the day had not yet come when Christians were to hear so often the terrible cry, "Christianos ad leones!" A spectacle; literally, a theatre. The same metaphor is used in Hebrews 10:33. To angels. The word, when used without an epithet, always means good angels, who are here supposed to look down in sympathy (comp. Hebrews 12:22).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γάρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

it seems to me
δοκῶ (dokō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb, doko dok'-o of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem.

that
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

God
Θεὸς (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

has displayed
ἀπέδειξεν (apedeixen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 584: From apo and deiknuo; to show off, i.e. Exhibit; figuratively, to demonstrate, i.e. Accredit.

us
ἡμᾶς (hēmas)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

apostles
ἀποστόλους (apostolous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

at the end [ of the procession ],
ἐσχάτους (eschatous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2078: Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.

like
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

[ prisoners ] appointed for death.
ἐπιθανατίους (epithanatious)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1935: At the point of death, condemned to death. From epi and thanatos; doomed to death.

We have become
ἐγενήθημεν (egenēthēmen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

a spectacle
θέατρον (theatron)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2302: From theaomai; a place for public show, i.e. General audience-room; by implication, a show itself.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

whole world,
κόσμῳ (kosmō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889: Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).

to angels
ἀγγέλοις (angelois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 32: From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.

as well as
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

to men.
ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois)
Noun - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God has displayed (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 4:8
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