What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:9? For I am the least of the apostles • Paul is not engaging in false modesty; he is speaking plainly about his place among the Twelve. • This humility shows up elsewhere: “Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). • His words echo the attitude Jesus commends: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). • Paul’s self-view keeps the spotlight on Christ, not on himself (1 Corinthians 2:2). and am unworthy to be called an apostle • “Unworthy” underscores that apostleship is sheer grace, not a reward for merit. • Paul reminds the Corinthians elsewhere: “Not that we are competent in ourselves… but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). • Romans 1:5 says, “Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship,” tying authority directly to grace. • The more Paul recognizes his unworthiness, the more he magnifies Christ’s sufficiency (2 Corinthians 12:9). because I persecuted the church of God • Paul never minimizes his past: “But Saul began to destroy the church” (Acts 8:3). • Acts 9:1–2 describes him “still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord.” • Galatians 1:13 affirms, “I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it”. • His former violence makes God’s mercy shine brighter: “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, yet I was shown mercy” (1 Timothy 1:13). • That mercy fuels his ministry: “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:10). summary Paul’s statement is a Spirit-inspired snapshot of radical grace: once a church-destroyer, now a church-builder; once least, now sent. He owns his past, confesses his unworthiness, and exalts the grace that made him an apostle. The verse invites every believer to the same posture—humility before God, gratitude for mercy, and confidence that His grace can redeem any history for His glory. |
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