John Calvin 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 I think, etc. It is uncertain whether he speaks of himself exclusively, or includes Apollos and Silvanus at the same time, as he sometimes calls such persons apostles. I prefer, however, to understand it as referring to himself exclusively. If anyone is inclined to extend it further, I will have no particular objection, provided only he does not understand it as Chrysostom does: that the apostles were, as it were, reserved to the last place for the sake of ignominy. For there can be no doubt that by the term last, he means those who were admitted to the rank of apostles after the resurrection of Christ.

Now, he admits that he is like those who are exhibited to the people when they are about to be led out to die. For this is the meaning of the word exhibited—as those who, during a triumph, were paraded for show and were afterwards hurried off to prison to be strangled.

He expresses this more distinctly by adding that they were made a spectacle. “This,” he says, “is my condition: I exhibit to the world a spectacle of my miseries, like those who, having been condemned to fight with wild beasts, or to the gladiatorial games, or to some other form of punishment, are brought out before the people—and that not before a few spectators, but before the whole world.”

Observe here Paul’s admirable steadfastness; for though he saw himself treated by God in this manner, he was nevertheless not broken or dispirited. He does not attribute it to the wantonness of the wicked that he was, as it were, led out with ignominy to the sport of the arena, but ascribes it entirely to the providence of God.

The second clause, to angels and to men, I take to be expository in this sense: “I am made a sport and spectacle, not merely to earth, but also to heaven.” This passage has commonly been explained as referring to devils, because it seemed absurd to refer it to good angels. Paul, however, does not mean that all who witness this calamity are gratified with such a spectacle. He simply means that the Lord has so ordered his lot that he seems as if he had been appointed to provide sport for the whole world.