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"God has displayed us, the apostles, last..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 4:9

THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST

The word “apostle” simply means, “a sent one”. In itself, the word does not mean very much! However, in its historical and theological context, the word “apostle” has a rich meaning! In the context of the Scriptures, the word “apostle” has the following nuances.

1. They are distinguished as the special emissaries of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. They are endued with two things in particular!

a) Spiritual authority

b) Divine power

i) They had power to heal.

ii) They had power to cast out demons.

iii) They even had power to raise the dead!

ANOTHER IMAGERY EMPLOYED

Tongue in cheek, Paul wrote the following text with reference to apostles.

“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.”
1 Corinthians 4:9

1. “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last”

a) Paul had in mind a special scenario- the famous Roman arena.

b) The final act, were the apostles.

2. “As men condemned to death”

a) They were like the gladiators.

b) They knew that they were condemned to die in the arena.

3. “We have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men”

a) The apostles were like a spectacle to the onlookers of the world:

i) The angels

ii) The men

b) Gladiators

i) The famous phrase the gladiators uttered was, “We who are about to die, salute you.”

ii) They often faced great odds; sometimes they fought wild animals.

4. Sadly, the Corinthians did not think very much of the Apostles of Christ!

Paul used this imagery of “men condemned to death” with startling effectiveness!