1 Corinthians 4:9

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were approved to death So the original version of 1611. Our modern Bibles read appointedwith Tyndale and Cranmer. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 15:31; Psalms 44:22; Rom 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, as 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, as 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.