Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 15:9

ὁ ἐλάχιστος corresponds to ἔσχατον πάντων (1 Corinthians 15:8); “the least” properly comes “last”: cf. Ephesians 3:8, which enhances this expression; also 1 Timothy 1:15. ὃς οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς καλεῖσθαι κ. τ. λ., “who am not fit to bear the name of apostle”. ἱκανὸς (lit [2292] reaching up to, hinreichend), as distinguished from ἄξιον (worthy : 1 Corinthians 16:4), denotes adequacy, competence for office or work (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:5); the words are interchangeable “where the capacity to act consists in a certain moral condition of mind and heart” (Ed [2293] : cf. Matthew 3:2, and John 1:27). διότι (propterea quod, Bz [2294]) ἐδίωξα κ. τ. λ., “because I persecuted the Church of God” a remorse which never left the Ap. (cf. Galatians 1:13; 1 Timothy 1:13 ff., Acts 26:9 ff.); the prominence of this fact in Luke's narrative is a sign of Paul's hand. The Church of Jerus., whatever opposition to himself might proceed from it, was always to Paul “the church of God” (Galatians 1:13; Galatians 1:22): on this phrase, see note to 1 Corinthians 1:2. For καλέομαι, in this sense, cf. Romans 9:25 f., Hebrews 2:2. This ver. explains how P. is “the abortion” among the App.; in respect of his dwarfishness, and the unripeness of his birth into Apostleship.

[2292] literal, literally.

[2293] T. C. Edwards' Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians. 2

[2294] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 15:9

Old Testament

New Testament