Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Hath set forth us the apostles last (hmav touv apostolouv esxatouv apedeicen). The first aorist active indicative of apodeiknumi, old verb to show, to expose to view or exhibit (Herodotus), in technical sense (cf. II Thessalonians 2:4) for gladiatorial show as in eqhriomaxhsa (I Corinthians 15:32). In this grand pageant Paul and other apostles come last (esxatouv, predicate accusative after apedeicen) as a grand finale.
As men doomed to die (wv epiqanatiouv). Late word, here alone in N.T. The LXX (Bel and the Dragon 31) has it for those thrown daily to the lions. Dionysius of Halicarnassus (A.R. vii. 35) uses it of those thrown from the Tarpeian Rock. The gladiators would say morituri salutamus. All this in violent contrast to the kingly Messianic pretensions of the Corinthians.
A spectacle (qeatron). Cf. Hebrews 11:33-40. The word, like our theatre, means the place of the show (Acts 19:29, Acts 19:31). Then, it means the spectacle shown there (qeama or qea), and, as here, the man exhibited as the show like the verb qeatrizomenoi, made a spectacle (Hebrews 10:33). Sometimes it refers to the spectators (qeatai) like our "house" for the audience. Here the spectators include "the world, both to angels and men" (tw kosmw kai aggeloiv kai anqrwpoiv), dative case of personal interest.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Corinthians 4:9:
Acts 14:4
Acts 19:29
Acts 25:7
1 Corinthians 11:10
1 Corinthians 15:32
1 Timothy 5:21
Hebrews 10:33
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