Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 9:2
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.
2. for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord ] If any Church had less right than another to question his Apostolic authority, it was the Church of Corinth, which he had founded (ch. 1Co 4:15), and on which so many spiritual gifts had been poured forth (ch. 1Co 1:5 ; 1Co 1:7, ch. 14). The Corinthians at least needed no other proof of the genuineness of his mission. “If any one wishes to know whether I am an Apostle, I will shew him yourselves; among whom are manifest and indubitable signs and proofs of my Apostolate; first the faith of Christ, which you have received at my preaching; then many and various gifts of the Holy Ghost.” Estius. For the word seal see St Joh 3:33; Joh 6:27; Rom 4:11. A seal is used as the attestation of the genuineness of any document. Thus the existence of the Corinthian Church was the attestation of the genuineness of St Paul’s Apostolic authority.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
If I be not an apostle unto others – If I have not given evidence to others of my apostolic mission; of my being sent by the Lord Jesus, yet I have to you. Assuredly you, among whom I have labored so long and so successfully, should not doubt that I am sent from the Lord. You have been well acquainted with me; you have witnessed my endowments, you have seen my success, and you have had abundant evidence that I have been sent on this great work. It is therefore strange in you to doubt my apostolic commission; and it is unkind in you so to construe my declining to accept your contributions and aid for my support, as if I were conscious that I was not entitled to that.
For the seal of mine apostleship. – Your conversion is the demonstration that I am an apostle. Paul uses strong language. He does not mean to say that their conversion furnished some evidence that he was an apostle; but that it was absolute proof, and unbreakable demonstration, that he was an apostle. A seal is that which is affixed to a deed, or other instrument, to make it firm, secure, and indisputable. It is the proof or demonstration of the validity of the conveyance, or of the writing; see the notes at Joh 3:33; Joh 6:27. The sense here is, therefore, that the conversion of the Corinthians was a certain demonstration that he was an apostle, and should be so regarded by them, and treated by them. It was such a proof:
- Because Paul claimed to be an apostle while among them, and God blessed and owned this claim;
- Their conversion could not have been accomplished by man. It was the work of God. It was the evidence then which God gave to Paul and to them, that he was with him, and had sent him.
(3)They knew him, had seen him, heard him, were acquainted with his doctrines and manner of life, and could bear testimony to what he was, and what he taught.
We may remark, that the conversion of sinners is the best evidence to a minister that he is sent of God. The divine blessing on his labors should cheer his heart, and lead him to believe that God has sent and that he approves him. And every minister should so live and labor, should so deny himself, that he may be able to appeal to the people among whom he labors that he is a minister of the Lord Jesus.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 2. If I be not an apostle unto others] If there be other Churches which have been founded by other apostles; yet it is not so with you.
The seal of mine apostleship are ye] Your conversion to Christianity is God’s seal to my apostleship. Had not God sent me, I could not have profited your souls.
The or seal, was a figure cut in a stone, and that set in a ring, by which letters of credence and authority were stamped. The ancients, particularly the Greeks, excelled in this kind of engraving. The cabinets of the curious give ample proof of this; and the moderns contend in vain to rival the perfection of those ancient masters.
In the Lord.] The apostle shows that it was by the grace and influence of God alone that he was an apostle, and that they were converted to Christianity.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He had, 1Co 9:1, told them they were his work in the Lord, from whence he concludes here, that he was an apostle, that is, one sent of Christ to them for the good of their souls, whatever he was to others. You, saith he, as to yourselves at least, are
the seal of my apostolical office; it hath a confirmation in you by the effect, as the writing is confirmed by the seal. For how can you think, that the blessing of the Lord should go along with my preaching, to turn you from pagan idolatry, and your lewd courses of life, to the true Christian religion, and to a holy life and conversation, if God had not send me. There is no such argument to prove a minister sent of Christ, as the success of his ministry in the conversion of souls unto God. It is true, we cannot conclude, that a minister is no true minister if he be able to produce no such seals of his calling; for the spiritual seed may for a time lie under the clods, and changes may be wrought in hearts, which are not published to the world; and even Isaiah may be sent to make the hearts of people fat. But where those seals can be produced, it is a most certain sign that the minister is a true minister, that is, one sent of God; for he could be no instrument to do such works if God were not with him; and if God had not sent him, he would not be with him so blessing his ministry. Yet it is possible the man may have his personal errors; for though some men doubt, whether an instance can be given of one openly and scandalously wicked, whom God ever honoured to be his instrument to convert souls, yet it would be rashly affirmed by any to say, that Judas (though a son of perdition, but not scandalous till the last) was an instrument to convert none.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. yet doubtlessyet atleast I am such to you.
seal of mine apostleshipYourconversion by my preaching, accompanied with miracles (“thesigns of an apostle,” Rom 15:18;Rom 15:19; 2Co 12:12),and your gifts conferred by me (1Co1:7), vouch for the reality of my apostleship, just as a seal setto a document attests its genuineness (Joh 3:33;Rom 4:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
If I be not an apostle unto others,…. This is said by way of supposition, not concession; for he was an apostle to many others; he was an apostle of the Gentiles in general; as the apostleship of the circumcision belonged to Peter, that of the uncircumcision fell to his share: but however, as if he should say, be that as it will,
yet doubtless I am to you; all the signs of apostleship were wrought among them; not only the grace of God was implanted in them under his ministry, but the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were received by them through it; and many signs, wonders, and mighty deeds, were done in the midst of them by him: see 2Co 12:12 which were sufficient to put the matter quite out of doubt with them:
for the seal of mine apostleship, are ye in the Lord; alluding to the sealing of deeds and writings, which render them authentic; or to the sealing of letters, confirming the truth of what is therein expressed; and the sense is, that their being converted persons, and so openly in the Lord, in union with him; or being made new creatures by the power of his grace, through his preaching, was an authentic proof of his apostleship, and served him instead of a letter testimonial and recommendatory; see 2Co 3:1. Some copies read, “the seal of my epistle”, and so the Ethiopic version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Yet at least I am to you ( ). An argumentum ad hominem and a pointed appeal for their support. Note use of in the apodosis (cf. 8:6).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Seal [] . See on Rom 4:11; Joh 3:33; Rev 22:10.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “If I be not an apostle unto others.” (ei allois ouk eimi apostolos) “if I am not (considered) an apostle to others.” Paul conceded that his apostleship or authentic ministry was not recognized by some.
2) “Yet, doubtless I am to you.” (alla de humin eimi) “Yet surely or indeed I am to you.” Despite the imperfections in the Corinth church, it appears to have been the largest congregation he had established and he pointed to them in defense of his ministry.
3) “For the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.” (gar sphragis mou tes apostolos humeis este en kuria) The conversion, the change in the lives of the Corinthians, and the worship they followed attested the fruit of Paul’s profession and ministry. By their lives the labors of Paul were validated, Mat 7:16-20.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
2. If I am not an Apostle to others The sum of this tends to the establishing of his authority among the Corinthians, so as to place it beyond all dispute. “If there are those,” says he, “who have doubts as to my Apostleship, to you, at least, it ought to be beyond all doubt, for, as I planted your Church by my ministry, you are either not believers, or you must necessarily recognize me as an Apostle. And that he may not seem to rest in mere words, he states that the reality itself was to be seen, (479) because God had sealed his Apostleship by the faith of the Corinthians. Should any one, however, object, that this suits the false Apostles too, who gather disciples to themselves, I answer, that pure doctrine is above all things required, in order that any one may have a confirmation of his ministry in the sight of God from its effect. There is nothing, therefore, here to furnish impostors with matter of congratulation, if they have deceived any of the populace, nay, even nations and kingdoms, by their falsehoods. Although in some cases persons are the occasion of spreading the kingdom of Christ, who, nevertheless, do not preach the gospel sincerely, as is said in Phi 1:16, it is not without good reason that Paul infers from the fruit of his labor, that he is divinely commissioned: for the structure of the Corinthian Church was such, that the blessing of God could easily be seen shining forth in it, which ought to have served as a confirmation of Paul’s office.
(479) “ La verite et l’effet le demonstre;” — “Truth and reality demonstrate it.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) If I be not an apostle unto others.The allusion here is probably to some who may have arrived at Corinth subsequent to St. Pauls departure, and who, not recognising his Apostleship in relation to themselves, stirred up some of the Corinthians to repudiate it also. So the Apostle says, Even if I am not an Apostle to these others, I am, at all events, to you; for you are yourselves the very proof and witnessthe seal affixed to my appointment to the Apostolate. The repetition of the words in the Lord in both these verses expresses the strong conviction, which is characteristic of the Apostle, that the source of all power and of all success is Christ Himself.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. I am to you A direct argumentum ad homines. Whoever else could gracefully question his apostleship the Corinthians could not. If they were true Christians, he was a true apostle.
Seal A seal on a document is a voucher for its genuineness and validity. The Corinthians converted by Paul, and their Church by him founded, were as a confirmatory seal upon his apostolic diploma.
In the Lord Note on Rom 9:1. Christ is the very embodiment of spiritual Christianity, and whoever is deeply centred in that is centred in Christ.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Co 9:2. For the seal of mine apostleship are ye “Your conversion to Christianity, is as it were a seal set to make good the truth of my apostleship.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Co 9:2-3 . Not a parenthesis, but a statement interposed in his own defence, occasioned by . . [1397] , and flowing from a heart deeply moved.
] i.e. in relation to others , who, not belonging to your community, do not own my apostleship as valid for them. [1398] “We have no Apostle Paul,” say they! Comp as to the relation of the dative, 1Co 8:6 .
] See Winer, p. 446 [E. T. 601].
] still at least . See Hermann, a [1400] Viger. p. 826. The intensifies the of the apodosis (see on 1Co 4:15 , 1Co 8:6 ): see Klotz, a [1401] Devar. p. 24 f. It cannot be said with any critical certainty that ever occurs in the classics undivided (without one or more words put between the two particles). See Klotz, l.c [1402] p. 15, and Heind. a [1403] Plat. Phaed. p. 86 E; Stallbaum, a [1404] Rep. p. 331 B.
Taking the reading . . . (see the critical remarks), the meaning is: my seal of apostleship , with the emphasis on . As to the word itself, see Rom 4:11 . Theodoret well remarks: .
] as in 1Co 9:1 ; it belongs to the whole preceding clause: . . . . . For out of Christ the Corinthians were no seal of Paul’s apostleship. See on 1Co 9:1 . They were this seal to him, inasmuch as they had become Christians through his agency (in general, not through his miracles in particular, as Flatt holds with older expositors).
. . . [1405] ] statement of what the foregoing comes to , added without any connective particle, and so all the more emphatic; not merely a repetition of the last clause in other words (Hofmann), which would be an admissible interpretation only if were absent, or if occurred again.
.] to those who institute an inquiry regarding me (comp Act 19:33 ; 2Co 12:19 ), who question my apostleship. Both . and . are purposely-chosen forensic expressions. Comp as to the latter, Luk 23:14 ; Act 4:9 ; Act 12:19 ; Act 24:8 ; Act 28:18 .
] this , namely, this fact, that you are the seal of mine . It does not refer to what follows (Chrysostom, Ambrosiaster, Grotius, Calovius), for 1Co 9:4 continues the series of questions begun in 1Co 9:1 , and what follows does not contain any further defence of his apostleship (which, moreover, would be quite unsuitable here).
Observe, lastly, the emphasis of and , expressive of a well-grounded sense of his own position.
[1397] . . . .
[1398] It was unquestionably by stranger Petrine Christians that the anti-Pauline influence had been exerted upon the Corinthian church. So much is clear, but nothing more. Rbiger thinks that they were the instigators of the Petrine party in Corinth. Schenkel makes them of the Christ-party. Hofmann explains the expression from the difference between the and that . But that is going too far; for all circumcised Christians were not anti-Pauline, and the express contrast here is with the , among whom must be included the Jewish-Christians who were in Corinth.
[1400] d refers to the note of the commentator or editor named on the particular passage.
[1401] d refers to the note of the commentator or editor named on the particular passage.
[1402] .c. loco citato or laudato .
[1403] d refers to the note of the commentator or editor named on the particular passage.
[1404] d refers to the note of the commentator or editor named on the particular passage.
[1405] . . . .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
2 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.
Ver. 2. The seal of mine apostleship ] See the like, Jer 23:21 ; Mat 21:27 , where our Saviour proveth John Baptist’s ministry to be from heaven, by the success.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2 .] At least my apostleship cannot be denied by you of all men, who are its seal and proof.
. ] , because it belongs closely to the hypothesis: ‘if I am no-Apostle ,’ see ch. 1Co 7:9 .
, to others , i.e. in the estimation of others .
, yet at least , is stronger than alone. The particle shews that the sentiment which it introduces has more weight than the other to which the is a reply. See Hartung, Partikellehre, i. 385. Meyer (after Klotz) remarks that “in the classics is never found without one or more words intervening:” those words being emphatic: e.g. Aristoph. Nub. 399, . ;
] as being the proof of his apostolic calling and energy, by their conversion ; better than, by the signs and wonders which he wrought among them, as Chrys. (al.) from 2Co 12:11-13 , and perhaps misled by the similarity of and . Their conversion was the great proof: so Theodoret, .
. ] belongs to the whole sentence, see above, on 1Co 9:1 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
1Co 9:2-3 . If not at Corinth amongst those who cried “I am of Cephas,” elsewhere Paul’s apostleship was denied by the Judaistic party, against whom he had afterwards to write 2 Corinthians 10. ff. In this trial he counts on the Cor [1278] standing by him: “If to others I am no apostle, at any rate ( , at certe, Bz [1279] ) I am to you ”. He does not say “of others,” as though distinguishing two fields of jurisdiction in the sense of Gal 2:8 , rather “ in the eyes of others”; cf. the dat [1280] of 1Co 8:6 For , cf. Plato, Gorg. , 470 D., ( ), . throws its emphasis on ; so P. continues: “The seal of my apostleship you are , in the Lord”; cf. Rom 4:11 , 2Co 1:22 . This seal came from the hand of the Lord, affixed by the Master to His servant’s work ( cf. 2Co 3:1 ff.). Despite its, imperfections, the Cor [1281] Church was a shining evidence of Paul’s commission; it was probably the largest Church as yet raised in his independent ministry. For , see note on 1Co 4:15 , and 1Co 7:22 . “ This ” referring to 1Co 9:1-2 “is my answer to those that put me on my defence”: I point them to you! (see parls.) is a self-exculpation . For , cf. notes on 1Co 2:14 f., 1Co 4:4 . It is Paul’s , not the of 1Co 9:4 ff., that is called in question; hence the vein of self-defence pervading the Epp. of this period. Granted the apostleship (and this the readers cannot deny), the right followed as a matter of course: this needed no “apology”.
[1278] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
[1279] Beza’s Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).
[1280] dative case.
[1281] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
unto = to.
others. App-124.
doubtless = at least. seal. Greek. sphragis.
apostleship. Greek. apostole. See Act 1:25.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2.] At least my apostleship cannot be denied by you of all men, who are its seal and proof.
. ] , because it belongs closely to the hypothesis: if I am no-Apostle, see ch. 1Co 7:9.
, to others, i.e. in the estimation of others.
, yet at least, is stronger than alone. The particle shews that the sentiment which it introduces has more weight than the other to which the is a reply. See Hartung, Partikellehre, i. 385. Meyer (after Klotz) remarks that in the classics is never found without one or more words intervening: those words being emphatic: e.g. Aristoph. Nub. 399, . ;
] as being the proof of his apostolic calling and energy, by their conversion; better than,-by the signs and wonders which he wrought among them, as Chrys. (al.) from 2Co 12:11-13, and perhaps misled by the similarity of and . Their conversion was the great proof: so Theodoret, .
.] belongs to the whole sentence, see above, on 1Co 9:1.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Co 9:2. , to you) to whom I came; who have received the Gospel; you cannot deny it: , as far as you are concerned. Similar datives are found at 1Co 9:21.- , for the seal) From the Church of believers an argument may be derived for the truth of the Gospel, and of the Christian religion.-, of apostleship) A person even, who was not an apostle, might bring men by means of the Gospel to the faith, as Philip, Epaphras, and others; but Paul calls the Corinthians the seal not of calling of whatsoever kind, but of his apostolic calling: because he had the signs of an apostle, 2Co 12:12; Rom 15:18-19; nor did the Corinthians merely receive faith, but also a singular abundance of gifts, 1Co 1:7.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 9:2
1Co 9:2
If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; -If others should reject him as an apostle, how could they, since they were the fruit of his labor as an apostle? They were the seal of his apostleship. He dwelt there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (Act 18:11), and he built a larger church there than he had built at any other place. His claims to be an apostle had been accompanied by miracles, and they had believed on the evidence given through these of Gods presence with him. Now to deny that he was an apostle would be to say that God had enabled one to work miracles and wonders who made false claims, or to admit that the miracles and wonders on which their faith rested had not been performed. They above all others could not question his apostleship.
for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.- [A seal is that which is affixed to a deed, or other instrument to make it sure and indisputable. The Corinthian church itself is represented as such a seal of his apostleship. After their conversion he had bestowed on many of them gifts of the Holy Spirit in such abundance that they were inferior to no church whatever. (1Co 1:5-7; 2Co 12:13).]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
for: Joh 6:27, 2Co 3:1-3, 2Co 12:12
Reciprocal: Rom 1:5 – apostleship Rom 1:13 – even 1Co 1:1 – an 1Co 3:10 – I have 1Co 4:15 – for 1Co 9:1 – I not an 1Co 9:12 – are not 2Co 3:2 – are 2Co 10:14 – we stretch not Gal 2:8 – the same 1Th 2:6 – as the Phm 1:19 – how thou
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 9:2. Aside from any work Paul might have done elsewhere, the Corinthians had the evidence in their own experience that Paul was an apostle. Seal is from SPHRAGIS, which Thayer defines at this place, “that by which anything is confirmed, proved, authenticated, as by a seal.” When a legal paper has an official seal stamped on it, that proves the existence of the seal, just as the letters the reader is now looking at prove the existence of the type somewhere. The bestowal of spiritual gifts could be done only by an apostle (Act 8:18). The church at Corinth possessed those gifts after Paul had worked with them, which proved that he was an apostl
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Co 9:2. If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Let who will dispute my apostleship, ye at least should be the last to do it.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
As if he had said, “Whatever others do, you of all men should not question my apostleship, for you were converted by it. You confirm and ratify my ministry, that it is of God, and that God is in it of a truth: the conversion of sinners, and the building up of saints, is God’s seal to our ministry.”
Learn hence, That there is no such argument to prove a minister sent of Christ, as the success of his ministry in the conversion of souls unto God. This is God’s seal to his office, that he is a minister called of God, and sent by God. Happy those ministers who can say unto their people, Ye are our work, and the seal of our apostleship are ye in the Lord.
Yet must it not be concluded from hence, that a person is not a true minister of Christ, because he cannot produce this seal: the good of our ministry is not always known to ourselves, much less published to the world; more good is done many times by the ministry of the word than the minister knows of; the seed sometimes lies long under the clods before it fructifies; what is sown in one minister’s time, comes up in another’s; so one soweth, and another reapeth, but both he that reapeth and he that soweth shall rejoice together. But where this seal can be produced, it is a certain sign that such a minister is sent from God, and that God is with him, and owns him; yet it must be added, that though the success of our ministry to others is a seal of our office, and assures us that we are true ministers, yet it is the efficacy of the word we preach, upon our own hearts and lives, that is the witness of our sanctification, and the seal of our salvation.
Lord, how sad will it be for any of us to have been instruments for the helping of others to heaven by the soundness of our doctrine, and go to hell ourselves for the badness of our example, and the wickedness of our lives?
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Vv. 2, 3. 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; this is my answer to them that do examine me.
The datives unto others and to you are not only datives of appreciation (in the judgment of), but also datives of relation, as Rckert observes. Though Paul had not been related as an apostle to any other Church, yet as truly as the Church of Corinth was a Church founded by him, he possessed in his relation to it this title of apostle. It was the seal officially put by the Lord Himself on his apostolic mission, and it would have been somewhat strange if those who were themselves the living proof of his apostleship should put Paul in the position of proving it to them.
The asyndeton between 1Co 9:2-3 announces a reaffirmation under strong feeling of the idea of 1Co 9:2. The emotion is explained by the last words: them that examine. Paul’s apostleship is the subject of an examination at Corinth! At Corinth a discussion is raised regarding the nature of the appearance whereby Christ conferred on him the apostleship! There is a tendency, perhaps, to represent him, even as in Galatia, as a disciple of the apostles who has revolted against his masters! It is allowable to suppose that these words do not apply to the members of the Church themselves, those of whom Paul has just said that they are his living defence, but to the foreign emissaries who have arrived at Corinth. Comp. Galatians 1, where Paul replies to similar accusations.
The pronoun brings into bold relief this idea of defence: As to this defence, it is yourselves, you, the work of the Lord by me. After having thus established the reality of his apostleship, at least in relation to this Church, he draws the inference from it: his right is to be maintained by the Church of Corinth and the others which he has founded.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. [An argumentum ad hominem. Whatever Paul might be in the estimation of Judaizers and enemies, he must still be held as an apostle by those who owed their spiritual life to him, for if he were no apostle, they were no Christians, and vice versa. As the seal vouched for the genuineness and validity of the document to which it was attached, so these Corinthian converts by their existence vouched for Paul’s apostleship.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 2
Are ye; the church at Corinth having been founded through his ministry.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the {b} seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
(b) As a seal by which it sufficiently appears that God is the author of my apostleship.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Others might have doubts about Paul’s apostleship, but the Corinthians certainly should not in view of his ministry among them. They themselves were the proof that he was an apostle.