Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 4:9

9. [ὅτι] added after δοκῶ γάρ, to complete the construction, with E Vulg. (authorized ed.) and Peshito. Omit אABCDFG Vetus Lat. and some ancient MSS. of Vulg.

9. γάρ gives the reason for ὄφελον.

ἐπιθανατίους, condemned to death. A.V. approved to death. So the original version of 1611. Our modern Bibles read appointed with Tyndale and Cranmer. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 15:31; Psalms 44:22; Romans 8:36; 2 Corinthians 4:11. It is possible that we have here, as in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, an expression of that expectation of Christ’s speedy coming which we know was general among the Christians of the Apostolic age. We know (Mark 13:32) that the Apostle’s inspiration did not extend to this subject. However this may be, the Apostles are represented as coming last in a procession of gladiators, devoted to death (Tertullian renders the word bestiarios, ‘appointed to fight with beasts,’ see ch. 1 Corinthians 15:32), and the whole universe, angels and men, are supposed to be spectators of the conflict. Cf. Hebrews 10:33; Hebrews 12:1. The image is taken from the Isthmian games which were held near Corinth. See notes on ch. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

θέατρον. Originally, as in English, the place where the spectacle is performed. Here only, in the sense of the spectacle itself.

ἐγενήθημεν. As A.V. and R.V., ‘we are made.’

καὶ�. The absence of the article before this and the following noun has been variously explained. Some regard it as merely a case of the omission of the article before nouns coupled together by conjunctions. But other authorities, as Meyer and Winer, regard the ἀγγέλοις and ἀνθρώποις as specializing τῷ κόσμῳ. ‘The world, namely angels as well as men.’

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 4:9

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