Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 4:9

"For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men." — 1 Corinthians 4:9 (ASV)

For . . .—This introduces the reason why he may well express the devout wish which he has just uttered for the coming of the kingdom of his Lord. The imagery of this passage would be easily understood by the Corinthians, familiar as they were with the arena.

The writer, in a few striking phrases, pictures himself and his apostolic brothers forming the “last and most worthless” band brought out to struggle and die in the great arena, where the whole world, including men and angels, sit as spectators of the fight. There is, perhaps, a slight contrast intended here between the Corinthians sitting by criticizing, and the Apostles actually engaging in the struggle against evil—a contrast which is brought out more strikingly in the brief and emphatic sentence found in 1 Corinthians 4:10.