1 corinthians 15:9 - For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
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What does "1 corinthians 15:9" mean?
In 1 Corinthians 15:9, Paul expresses profound humility and acknowledges his past actions as a persecutor of the early Christian church. Let's break down the meaning:
"For I am the least of the apostles...": Paul doesn't just say he's an apostle, but that he's the least of them. This isn't a statement of objective fact, but a reflection of his own deep-seated sense of unworthiness. He sees himself as the most insignificant compared to the other apostles.
"...who is not worthy to be called an apostle...": This intensifies his humility. He feels that he doesn't deserve the title "apostle." The word "apostle" implies a messenger sent with authority, and Paul believes his past actions make him unfit for such a role.
"...because I persecuted the assembly of God.": This is the crucial explanation for his feelings of unworthiness. "The assembly of God" is a common term for the early Christian church. Paul is directly referencing his actions before his conversion, when he actively hunted down and persecuted Christians.
In essence, Paul is saying:
"I am the least significant of all the apostles, and frankly, I don't even deserve to be called an apostle because of the horrible things I did before I became a Christian. I used to persecute the church of God."
Key takeaways from this verse:
Humility: This verse is a powerful example of Paul's humility. Despite his immense influence and accomplishments as an apostle, he never forgot his past and always remembered his unworthiness before God.
Grace and Forgiveness: The verse implicitly highlights the grace and forgiveness that Paul received. Despite his past, God called him to be an apostle. This demonstrates the transformative power of God's grace.
Awareness of Sin: Paul never minimizes his past sins. He is acutely aware of the wrong he did and doesn't try to excuse it.
Motivation for Service: His awareness of his past likely fueled his passion and dedication to spreading the Gospel. Knowing what he had done, he felt compelled to dedicate his life to serving God.
In the broader context of 1 Corinthians 15, this verse is part of Paul's defense of the resurrection of Christ. By emphasizing his own unworthiness and the grace he received, Paul strengthens his credibility as a witness to the risen Christ. If even someone like him, a former persecutor, could be transformed and become an apostle, then the resurrection must be true.
1 corinthians 15:9 - For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
What does "1 corinthians 15:9" mean?
In 1 Corinthians 15:9, Paul expresses profound humility and acknowledges his past actions as a persecutor of the early Christian church. Let's break down the meaning:
"For I am the least of the apostles...": Paul doesn't just say he's an apostle, but that he's the least of them. This isn't a statement of objective fact, but a reflection of his own deep-seated sense of unworthiness. He sees himself as the most insignificant compared to the other apostles.
"...who is not worthy to be called an apostle...": This intensifies his humility. He feels that he doesn't deserve the title "apostle." The word "apostle" implies a messenger sent with authority, and Paul believes his past actions make him unfit for such a role.
"...because I persecuted the assembly of God.": This is the crucial explanation for his feelings of unworthiness. "The assembly of God" is a common term for the early Christian church. Paul is directly referencing his actions before his conversion, when he actively hunted down and persecuted Christians.
In essence, Paul is saying:
"I am the least significant of all the apostles, and frankly, I don't even deserve to be called an apostle because of the horrible things I did before I became a Christian. I used to persecute the church of God."
Key takeaways from this verse:
Humility: This verse is a powerful example of Paul's humility. Despite his immense influence and accomplishments as an apostle, he never forgot his past and always remembered his unworthiness before God.
Grace and Forgiveness: The verse implicitly highlights the grace and forgiveness that Paul received. Despite his past, God called him to be an apostle. This demonstrates the transformative power of God's grace.
Awareness of Sin: Paul never minimizes his past sins. He is acutely aware of the wrong he did and doesn't try to excuse it.
Motivation for Service: His awareness of his past likely fueled his passion and dedication to spreading the Gospel. Knowing what he had done, he felt compelled to dedicate his life to serving God.
In the broader context of 1 Corinthians 15, this verse is part of Paul's defense of the resurrection of Christ. By emphasizing his own unworthiness and the grace he received, Paul strengthens his credibility as a witness to the risen Christ. If even someone like him, a former persecutor, could be transformed and become an apostle, then the resurrection must be true.