1935. epithanatios
Lexical Summary
epithanatios: Doomed to die, sentenced to death

Original Word: ἐπιθανάτιος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: epithanatios
Pronunciation: eh-pee-thah-NAH-tee-os
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-than-at'-ee-os)
KJV: appointed to death
NASB: men condemned, men condemned to death
Word Origin: [from G1909 (ἐπί - over) and G2288 (θάνατος - death)]

1. doomed to death

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
condemned to death

From epi and thanatos; doomed to death -- appointed to death.

see GREEK epi

see GREEK thanatos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from epi and thanatos
Definition
condemned to death
NASB Translation
men condemned (1), men condemned to death (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1935: ἐπιθανάτιος

ἐπιθανάτιος, ἐπιθανατιον (θάνατος), doomed to death: 1 Corinthians 4:9. (Dionysius Halicarnassus, Antiquities 7, 35.)

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Strong’s 1935 occurs a single time in the New Testament, embedded in the vivid self-description of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:9. The word portrays individuals publicly marked out as doomed to death—a powerful metaphor that Paul harnesses to communicate the cost, humility, and spectacle of apostolic ministry.

Contextual Usage (1 Corinthians 4:9)

“For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles last of all, like men condemned to die; we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.” (Berean Standard Bible)

By choosing this rare term, Paul likens himself and his fellow apostles to prisoners paraded before a jeering crowd, destined for execution. The singular appearance of the word heightens its dramatic effect, underscoring both the severity of their trials and the divine purpose behind them.

Historical Background: Roman Spectacles and Death Sentences

• Public execution of captives was a common feature of Roman games. Those “appointed to death” marched at the end of the procession, evoking maximum pathos and disdain.
• Citizens in Corinth—home to the biennial Isthmian Games—would readily grasp the imagery of doomed combatants or criminals exposed in an arena.
• Paul’s audience thus perceived the apostles not as celebrated religious dignitaries but as the lowest rung of society’s scorn, willingly embracing disgrace for the sake of the gospel.

Theological Significance

1. Identification with Christ
• Jesus Himself was “numbered with the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12; cf. Luke 22:37). Paul’s self-portrait mirrors the servanthood and sacrificial path of his Lord.
2. Divine Display
• God “displays” His messengers in weakness, proving that the surpassing power belongs to Him and not to them (2 Corinthians 4:7).
3. Eschatological Witness
• The spectacle reaches “angels” as well as “men,” reminding readers that faithful suffering has cosmic implications beyond human observation (Ephesians 3:10).
4. Apostolic Authority through Suffering
• True authority, far from self-promotion, is authenticated by enduring hardship for Christ (2 Corinthians 6:3-10; Galatians 6:17).

Applications in Ministry

• Expectation of Opposition

Believers must not be surprised when obedience attracts reproach. The apostles’ experience sets a pattern for realistic discipleship (2 Timothy 3:12).
• Willing Visibility

God may “display” His servants publicly, not for their glory but to showcase divine grace and perseverance.
• Spectacle of Grace

The very platform of suffering can become an arena in which the gospel’s power is seen most clearly (Philippians 1:12-14).
• Humility in Leadership

Christian leaders gauge success by faithfulness under fire, not by worldly acclaim (1 Peter 5:2-4).

Intertextual Connections

Romans 8:36: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” The vocabulary differs, yet the motif of believers reckoned for death resonates with Strong’s 1935.
Hebrews 10:33-34: Early Christians endured public ridicule and confiscation, paralleling the “spectacle” element of Paul’s statement.
Revelation 2:10: “Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” The promise transforms the stigma of death into eternal reward.

Conclusion

Strong’s 1935 encapsulates the paradox of Christian ministry: public shame that heralds eternal triumph. In one unforgettable term Paul compresses the tension between earthly degradation and heavenly honor, urging every generation to count the cost and cherish the privilege of being “displayed” for Christ.

Forms and Transliterations
επιθανατιους επιθανατίους ἐπιθανατίους επίθεμα επιθέματα επιθέματι επιθέματος επιθεμάτων epithanatious epithanatíous
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Englishman's Concordance
1 Corinthians 4:9 Adj-AMP
GRK: ἀπέδειξεν ὡς ἐπιθανατίους ὅτι θέατρον
NAS: last of all, as men condemned to death; because
KJV: as it were appointed to death: for
INT: set forth as appointed to death that a spectacle

Strong's Greek 1935
1 Occurrence


ἐπιθανατίους — 1 Occ.

1934
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