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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"For I think that God hath set forth us the Apostles last of all, as men doomed to death." There is great depth of meaning and severity implied again in his saying, "us:" and not even with this was he satisfied, but added also his dignity, hitting them vehemently: "us the Apostles;" who are enduring such innumerable ills; who are sowing the word of Godliness; who are leading you unto this severe rule of life. These "He hath set forth last, as doomed to death," that is, as condemned. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Words characteristic of a man who is grieving, or rather, of one who wishes to put others to shame. As I see, he says, from your conduct, God has appointed us alone, the apostles, to be last of all and "sentenced to death," that is, condemned, ready for death. Indeed, from the fact that you have already begun to reign, I can conclude that we have been appointed to be last and as if condemned — we the apostles, that is, those who have endured so many sufferings for Christ.
Clement of Alexandria
Does not the apostle then plainly add the following, to show the contempt for faith in the case of the multitude? "For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men. Up to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are beaten, and are feeble, and labour, working with our hands. …
Western Saints
Ambrose of Milan
And so he who was a good athlete said: "We are made a spectacle to this world and to Angels." Worthy indeed was he to be gazed upon by Angels, when he was striving to attain the prize of Christ, when he was striving to lead on earth the life of Angels, and overcome the wickedness of spirits in heaven, for he wrestled with spiritual wickedness. Rightly did the world gaze upon him, that it might imitate him.
Thomas Aquinas
Then when he says, For I think that God, he taunts them for looking down on Christ's apostles. First, he describes the contempt ironically; secondly, the cause of the contempt (v. 9b). He says, therefore: I have just said that you have become kings without us, for I think, i.e., you seem to think, that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, whereas it says below (12:28): "God has appointed in the church first apostles. …
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