“If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.”
Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. — Paul hedges slightly: perhaps others deny his apostolic status, but the Corinthian church itself is his sphragis (seal, certification) of apostolate. The seal marks ownership and authentication; the Corinthians' conversion attests his calling. This appeal to the Corinthians' own existence as believers grounds authority in their lived experience.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 9:2
“If to others I am not an Apostle, yet at least I am to you.” Do you see how far he is from enlarging here without necessity? And yet he had the whole world to speak of, and barbarous nations, and sea and land. However, he mentions none of these things, but carries his point by concession, and even granting more than he need. As if he had said, “Why need I dwell on things over and above, since these even alone are enough for my present purpose? I speak not, you will observe,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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