1 Coríntios 4

1 Coríntios 4

Barber says is epithanatios "has to do with people who were put on trial, found guilty and were then condemned to death. They were the lowest dregs of society. The illustration there is when a Roman general would go out into battle, he would bring back his captives. He would bring back the generals whom he had captured, chained to his chariot. Then they would have the prisoners behind him. These men would be condemned to death, to be put into an arena where they were slaughtered and the people would all come and rejoice and enjoy what was going on. That was the lowest of the low, to be condemned unto death. Arnold - Paul began to subtly embarrass the Corinthians about their conceit by giving an account of the Apostles’ experiences which were filled with humble acts. By showing these humble acts, Paul implied the Corinthians had fallen into a state of complacency, indifference and apathy because of their conceit. The Apostles were men condemned to death, a spectacle, on exhibition. The imagery behind this would have been a common sight to anyone living in the Roman Empire. It is the picture of a conquering Roman Caesar or general. As he returns from a victorious battle, he arrives at the palace in triumphant procession. Citizens line the roadway and archway leading to the palace. There are garlands, the tossing of flowers and money, and shouts of praise and acclamation as the returning general comes home. Behind the general in this parade are the proud soldiers who participated in the battle and last in the procession are the prisoners who were made captive in the conflict and who were condemned to certain death before Caesar and the public. As these prisoners moved along, bound in chains and dressed in rags, the people jeered, mocked and harassed them by spitting on them, punching them and throwing garbage or whatever on them. It was a humiliating experience because some of the prisoners may have been generals, officers or dignitaries in the defeated army. These captives would be put to death in a Roman arena either as a gladiator or thrown to the lions. (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions) Has exhibited (displayed)(584)(apodeiknumi from apo + deiknumi = to point out, cause to see) means to cause something to be known as genuine, to cause it to become displayed in a manner accessible to or observable by the public. Only 4 uses in NT - Acts 2:22; Acts 25:7; 1 Co. 4:9; 2 Th 2:4 because we have become a spectacle to the world (kosmos), both to angels (aggelos/angelos) and to men - The apostles were like acts on stage (or victims in a gladiatorial arena as others interpret this picture) for all to see whether the spectators were human or superhuman. The angels do watch what is transpiring on earth as they have in a sense a "vested interest" the writer of Hebrew rhetorically asking "Are they (ANGELS) not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?." (Heb 1:14+) "Paul uses this picture to illustrate the humility and indignity to which the apostles are subjected. God is the one who set up this spectacle and uses the weakness of His servants in order to demonstrate His power and strength (New Linguistic Key) Cornerstone Bible Commentary on spectacle - This word refers literally to a theater, as it does in its only other appearances in the NT (Acts 19:29–31). It can also refer to the spectators or, as here, to the actual show. The word choice indicates that Paul was playing off the gruesome type of display shown in the gladiatorial arena of victims mauled to death by animals or slaughtered at the end of a victory parade. Spectacle (2302)(theatron from theaomai = to behold) means theater, a place where drama and other public spectacles were exhibited and where crowds would come together to hear debates. It refers to the act of presenting something to sight or view and understood as a presentation for the stage. The synonymous verb theoro is from the noun theoros which means a spectator who looks at thing with interest and purpose, carefully observing the details. Theoro means to give rapt contemplation of a vision and denotes calm, intent, continuous contemplation of an object which remains before the spectator. Both theáomai and theoreo imply deliberate contemplation, but the former is gazing with a view to satisfy the eye, while the latter is beholding more critically, with an inward spiritual or mental interest in the thing beheld, and with a view to acquire knowledge about it. Theoreo would be used of a general officially reviewing or inspecting an army; theáomai of a lay spectator looking at the parade. Used 3x in NT - Acts 19:29; Acts 19:31; 1 Co. 4:9 with no uses in the Septuagint. Louw-Nida on theatron - 1. amphitheater, here, a large theatre seating likely a little less than 25,000 when packed seating, with standing room packed, with a versatile stage area (Ac 19:29, 31); 2. spectacle, as if put on stage, front and center, in a universal amphitheater (1Co 4:9) Zodhiates on theatron - Theater, a place where drama and other public spectacles were exhibited and where the people convened to hear debates or hold public consultations (Acts 19:29, 31). Figuratively, a spectacle, public show (1 Cor. 4:9) Arnold - Paul looked at himself and all the Apostles as men condemned to die with all comforts and rights denied them. The word "spectacle" is from the word from which we get our English word “theater.” The Apostles were on exhibition as if on a vast stage before the unsaved world and viewed as stupid men, suffering for a fairy-tale cause. Because the Apostles were condemned men, they had a different view of life. A condemned man doesn’t really care who wins the Super Bowl or whether the President is a Republican or Democrat. Nor does he care about material things. A man sentenced to death is interested in relationships, making sure everything is right with his fellow man. He is concerned about eternity and how he will face death. He wants to make every moment count with his loved ones. Paul and all the Apostles lived in the reality of life, not dealing with trivial things, but putting their time on spiritual things which count for eternity. The Apostles were the least, the last and the most afflicted of men. The Corinthians were displaying an attitude of being the first, the most and living out their Christian lives with ease. (Conceit: The Root Of Divisions)