1 Corinthians 9:2 kjv
If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:2 nkjv
If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:2 niv
Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:2 esv
If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:2 nlt
Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle.
1 Corinthians 9 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 9:2 | If I am not an apostle to others, yet I am to you... | Apostolic authority, validation through ministry |
| Acts 9:15 | Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name... | God's calling and purpose for Paul |
| Gal 1:1 | Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ... | Divine origin of Paul's apostleship |
| Gal 1:11-12 | ...gospel that was preached by me is not according to man, for I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but through revelation of Jesus Christ. | Gospel received directly from Christ |
| Rom 1:1 | Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle... | Paul's self-identification and calling |
| 2 Cor 12:12 | The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. | Evidence of apostleship through supernatural signs |
| John 15:16 | You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. | Christ appointing apostles to bear fruit |
| 1 John 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God... | Discerning true messengers |
| Phil 2:15 | ...that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation... | Conduct of believers in a fallen world |
| Acts 18:9-10 | The Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but continue to speak and do not be silent, for I am with you...” | God's assurance to Paul in ministry |
| 1 Thes 2:4 | ...we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but God who tests our hearts. | Approved by God, pleasing God in ministry |
| 2 Cor 13:3 | Since you ask for proof that Christ is speaking through me, which is not weak in your dealing with you, but is powerful among you. | Proof of Christ speaking through Paul |
| Eph 3:7 | ...of which I became a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me by the working of his power. | Ministry as a gift of God's grace |
| 1 Cor 1:8 | He will also sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Perseverance in faith to the end |
| 1 Cor 4:14-15 | I am not writing these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers... | Paul's fatherly relationship with believers |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... | Power from the Holy Spirit for witness |
| Rom 15:15 | But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God... | Boldness in writing due to God's grace |
| 1 Cor 3:6 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. | God as the ultimate cause of growth |
| Acts 20:28 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. | Shepherding the church, the Spirit's role |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Do your best to present yourself to God as a workman who needs not be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. | Diligence and integrity in handling the Word |
1 Corinthians 9 verses
1 Corinthians 9 2 Meaning
If I have not become an apostle to others, at least I am to you. This verse highlights the reality and undeniable nature of Paul’s apostleship, even to the Corinthians themselves. He asserts that regardless of external validation or his past status, his ministry had produced genuine spiritual fruit among them, thus confirming his apostleship in their lives.
1 Corinthians 9 2 Context
First Corinthians chapter 9 is part of a larger discourse where Paul addresses issues related to Christian liberty and its responsible exercise, particularly concerning food offered to idols and the rights of an apostle. Following the previous chapter's discussion on the potential for causing a "weaker brother" to stumble, Paul moves to defend his apostolic rights and privileges, including his right to be supported financially by the churches he serves. He illustrates this by appealing to the rights of laborers, soldiers, and even animals. He then asserts that, by not exercising his right to financial support, he aims to avoid hindering the gospel of Christ. This specific verse serves as a personal affirmation of his apostleship, grounded in the tangible reality of his ministry's impact on the Corinthian believers.
1 Corinthians 9 2 Word Analysis
- Εἰ δὲ (ei de): "But if". Introduces a conditional statement or a concession, implying a contrast or a further point.
- οὐκ (ouk): "not". A strong negation.
- εἰμὶ (eimi): "I am". The first-person singular present indicative of "to be".
- ἀπόστολος (apostolos): "apostle". Literally, "one who is sent forth". In the New Testament, it refers to an authorized messenger, particularly the apostles chosen by Christ. It implies a mission, authority, and responsibility.
- ἄλλοις (allois): "to others". Dative plural masculine of "allos", meaning "other".
- ἀλλά (alla): "but", "yet". A strong adversative conjunction, introducing a contrast.
- γε (ge): "at least", "indeed", "certainly". An enclitic particle that adds emphasis to the word it follows, strengthening the assertion that follows. It can soften a statement or lend a sense of certainty to it. In this context, it emphasizes "I am to you".
- ὑμῶν (hymōn): "of you", "your". Second-person plural possessive pronoun.
- εἰμί (eimi): "I am". Repetition reinforces the assertion.
Group of Words Analysis:
- "If I am not an apostle to others": This is a hypothetical statement. Paul acknowledges that some might question his apostleship or that it might not be universally recognized ("to others"). This could refer to his lack of association with the original twelve, or potential critics within Corinth.
- "yet I am to you": This is the core assertion. The "yet" (alla) signifies a strong counterpoint. The emphasis, amplified by "ge", is on the undeniable reality of his apostleship as evidenced by the spiritual reality of the Corinthian church. They are the living proof of his commission.
- "For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.": (Note: This clause is from verse 3, but it's crucial for understanding the immediate context of verse 2. I will assume this context when offering the commentary below). The "seal" signifies validation and authenticity. The Corinthians themselves, as believers transformed by his ministry, are the indisputable mark of his apostleship in Christ.
1 Corinthians 9 2 Bonus Section
The emphasis on the Corinthians as the "seal" or evidence of his apostleship reflects a concept seen in how seals authenticated documents and ownership in the ancient world. Paul’s ministry, producing transformed lives in Corinth, served as God’s seal of approval on his apostleship. This resonates with the Old Testament idea of God’s people as a testament to His power and covenant (Isaiah 8:18). Paul’s argument is a powerful defense of his ministry’s legitimacy, grounded not in external accolades but in the internal reality of the Gospel’s efficacy within the lives of those he served. He is essentially saying, "Look at the changes wrought in your lives through my preaching – that is the undeniable proof of my apostleship." This underscores the relational and spiritual nature of apostolic authority.
1 Corinthians 9 2 Commentary
Paul asserts his apostleship based on tangible spiritual fruit. He states that even if others don't recognize him as an apostle, the Corinthians are undeniable evidence. This is because his ministry among them resulted in genuine faith and transformation, a testament to his divinely appointed mission. His apostleship wasn't a title he claimed merely for personal benefit; it was validated by the Lord through the spiritual lives of those he ministered to, particularly the Corinthians themselves. He links this to the ultimate divine commissioning and the evidence God provides for His servants' ministries. This shows that true apostleship is not just about recognition but about the transforming power of the Gospel at work through the messenger. The "ge" (at least, indeed) serves to underscore the undeniable fact that, if nothing else, his apostleship to them is an absolute reality.