1 Corinthians 15:9

Amplified Bible

For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
All the other apostles are greater than I am. I say this because I persecuted the church of God. That is why I am not even good enough to be called an apostle.

Revised Standard Version
For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For I am the lest of all the Apostles which am not worthy to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the congregacion of God.

Hebrew Names Version
For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

International Standard Version
For I am the least of the apostles and not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God's church.Acts 8:3; 9:1; Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 3:8; Philippians 3:6; 1 Timothy 1:13;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

New Century Version
All the other apostles are greater than I am. I am not even good enough to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Update Bible Version
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

English Standard Version
For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

World English Bible
For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Weymouth's New Testament
For I am the least of the Apostles, and am not fit to be called an Apostle--because I persecuted the Church of God.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For Y am the leste of apostlis, that am not worthi to be clepid apostle, for Y pursuede the chirche of God.

English Revised Version
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Berean Standard Bible
For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Contemporary English Version
I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God's church that I don't even deserve to be called an apostle.

American Standard Version
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Bible in Basic English
For I am the least of the Apostles, having no right to be named an Apostle, because of my cruel attacks on the church of God.

Complete Jewish Bible
For I am the least of all the emissaries, unfit to be called an emissary, because I persecuted the Messianic Community of God.

Darby Translation
For *I* am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called apostle, because I have persecuted the assembly of God.

Etheridge Translation
I am the least of the apostles, and am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of Aloha:

Murdock Translation
I am the least of the legates; and am not worthy to be called a legate; because I persecuted the church of God.

King James Version (1611)
For I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an Apostle because I persecuted ye Church of God.

New Living Translation
For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God's church.

New Life Bible
For I am the least important of all the missionaries. I should not be called a missionary because I made it so hard for God's church.

New Revised Standard
For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I am the least of the Apostles, which am not meete to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.

George Lamsa Translation
For I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, I, am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I am the least of the Apostles, which am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Churche of God.

Good News Translation
For I am the least of all the apostles—I do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted God's church.

Christian Standard Bible®
For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

King James Version
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Lexham English Bible
For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Literal Translation
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not sufficient to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.

Young's Literal Translation
for I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I did persecute the assembly of God,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For I am ye leest of the Apostles, which am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the congregacion of God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I am the meanest of the apostles, not worthy the name of an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

New English Translation
For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

New King James Version
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But I am a gunsel compared to those other cowboys that he chose. Why? Because I used to hunt cowboys down and kill 'em. Even though I now ride for Jesus, I ain't worthy to be called one of his cowboys.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Legacy Standard Bible
For I am the least of the apostles, and not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Contextual Overview

¹Now brothers and sisters, let me remind you [once again] of the good news [of salvation] which I preached to you, which you welcomed and accepted and on which you stand [by faith]. ²By this faith you are saved [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose], if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain [just superficially and without complete commitment]. ³For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], ⁴and that He was buried, and that He was [bodily] raised on the third day according to [that which] the Scriptures [foretold], ⁵and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the Twelve. ⁶After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, the majority of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep [in death]. ⁷Then He was seen by James, then by all the apostles, ⁸and last of all, as to one untimely (prematurely, traumatically) born, He appeared to me also. ⁹For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God.¹⁰But by the [remarkable] grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not without effect. In fact, I worked harder than all of the apostles, though it was not I, but the grace of God [His unmerited favor and blessing which was] with me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the least: 2 Corinthians 11:5, 2 Corinthians 12:11, Ephesians 3:7, Ephesians 3:8

because: Acts 8:3, Acts 9:1-19, Acts 22:4, Acts 22:5, Acts 26:9-11, Galatians 1:13, Galatians 1:23, Philippians 3:6, 1 Timothy 1:13, 1 Timothy 1:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 9:7 - Remember Judges 6:15 - the least 1 Chronicles 29:14 - who am I Job 42:6 - I Matthew 11:11 - he that Matthew 15:27 - Truth Luke 7:43 - I Luke 15:19 - no Luke 17:10 - General Luke 18:11 - God Acts 8:19 - General Acts 20:19 - with all Acts 20:28 - the church Acts 26:10 - I also 1 Corinthians 1:1 - an 1 Corinthians 9:1 - I not an 1 Corinthians 11:22 - or Philippians 2:3 - but 1 Timothy 1:15 - of whom 2 Peter 1:1 - an apostle

Cross-References

Genesis 22:13
Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering (ascending sacrifice) instead of his son.

Leviticus 1:3
'If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting so that he may be accepted before the LORD.

Leviticus 1:10
'But if his offering is from the flock, of the sheep or of the goats, as a burnt offering, he shall offer a male without blemish.

Leviticus 1:14
'But if his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, then he shall bring turtledoves or young pigeons as his offering.

Leviticus 3:1
'If a man's offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, if he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.

Leviticus 3:6
'If his peace offering to the LORD is an animal from the flock, male or female, he shall offer the animal without blemish.

Leviticus 9:2
and he said to Aaron, "Take a bull calf as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, [each] without blemish, and offer both before the LORD.

Leviticus 9:4
and a bull and a ram as peace offerings to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with [olive] oil, for today the LORD will appear to you.'"

Leviticus 12:8
'If she cannot afford a lamb then she shall take two turtledoves or young pigeons, one as a burnt offering, the other as a sin offering; the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"

Leviticus 14:22
and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he can afford, one shall be a sin offering, the other a burnt offering.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I am the least of the apostles,.... Referring not to the littleness of his stature, but to the figure before used, and as expressing not the opinion of others concerning him, but the true and real sense he had of himself, for which he himself gives the strongest reason that can be given; and by "apostles" he means not only the twelve, but all other ministers of the Gospel that were sent forth by Christ to preach it: nor need this be wondered at, when he says, that he was less than the least of all saints, Ephesians 3:8 though when his person and doctrines were traduced by false teachers, and attempts were made to disgrace his ministry, and render it useless, in vindication of himself, and without vanity, he does not stick to assert, that he was not a whit behind the very chiefest of the apostles, 2 Corinthians 11:5 and yet here adds,

that am not meet to be called an apostle; not only to be one, but to bear the name of one. No man was meet or fit for such an office of himself; none of the apostles were any more than himself; but his meaning is, that though he was chosen, and called, and qualified by the gifts and grace of God for this office, yet he was unworthy to be called by the name of an apostle of Christ, for the reason following,

because I persecuted the church of God: he not only consented to the death of Stephen, the first martyr, and held the clothes of them that stoned him; but he made havoc of the church, haling men and women to prison, and continued to breathe out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord; and had letters of commission from the high priest in his pocket, to seize any of this way at Damascus, and bring them bound to Jerusalem, when Christ met him in the way, and was seen by him: according to his own account, he shut up many of the saints in prison, gave his voice against them when they were put to death, punished them oft in every synagogue, compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceeding mad against them, persecuted them to strange cities; see Acts 7:1. This he mentions both for his own abasement and humiliation, and to magnify the grace of God, to which he ascribes all he was, had, and did, as in the next verse.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For - A reason for the appellation which he had given to himself in 1 Corinthians 15:8.

I am the least of the apostles - Not on account of any defect in his commission, or any lack of qualification to bear witness in what he saw, but on account of the great crime of his life, the fact that he had been a persecutor. Paul could never forget that; as a man who has been profane and a scoffer, when he becomes converted, can never forget the deep guilt of his former life. The effect will be to produce humility, and a deep sense of unworthiness, ever onward.

Am not meet to be called an apostle - Am not fit to be regarded as a follower of the Lord Jesus, and as appointed to defend his cause, and to bear his name among the Gentiles. Paul had a deep sense of his unworthiness; and the memory of his former life tended ever to keep him humble. Such should be, and such will be, the effect of the remembrance of a life of sin on those who become converted to the gospel, and especially if they are entrusted with the high office of the ministry, and occupy a station of importance in the church of God.

Because I persecuted the church of God - See Acts 9:0. It is evident, however, that deeply as Paul might feel his unworthiness, and his unfitness to be called an apostle, yet that this did not render him an incompetent witness of what he had seen. He was unworthy; but he had no doubt that he had seen the Lord Jesus; and amidst all the expressions of his deep sense of his unfitness for his office, he never once intimates the slightest doubt that he had seen the Saviour. He felt himself fully qualified to testify to that; and with unwavering firmness he did testify to it to the end of life. A man may be deeply sensible that he is unworthy of an elevated station or office, and yet not the less qualified to be a witness. Humility does not disqualify a man to give testimony, but rather furnishes an additional qualification. There is no man to whom we listen more attentively, or whose words we more readily believe, than the modest and humble man, the man who has had abundant opportunities to observe that of which he testifies, and yet who is deeply humble. Such a man was the apostle Paul; and he evidently felt that, much as he felt his unworthiness, and ready as he was to confess it, yet his testimony on the subject of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus ought to have, and would have, great weight in the church at Corinth; compare the note on Acts 9:19.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 15:9. I am the least of the apostles — This was literally true in reference to his being chosen last, and chosen not in the number of the twelve, but as an extra apostle. How much pains do some men take to make the apostle contradict himself, by attempting to show that he was the very greatest of the apostles, though he calls himself the least! Taken as a man and a minister of Christ, he was greater than any of the twelve; taken as an apostle he was less than any of the twelve, because not originally in that body.

Am not meet to be called an apostle — None of the twelve had ever persecuted Christ, nor withstood his doctrine: Saul of Tarsus had been, before his conversion, a grievous persecutor; and therefore he says, ουκειμιικανος, I am not proper to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God, i.e. of Christ, which none of the apostles ever did.