1 Corinthians 15:8

The Text: and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also.

The Meaning Given To It: As most are aware, Paul was the last man selected to be an apostle; he was last in point of time and the "child untimely born" ("one born out of due time," KJV) phrase in this verse is sometimes referenced to make this point. While perhaps a minor matter, we want to suggest another way of interpreting this statement.

The Context is discussing the gospel and its ability to save, vss. 1-2. After stating this fact, Paul goes on to briefly outline the contents of this "good news" in vss. 3-5. He makes four points: (1) Christ died, (2) He was buried, (3) He was raised and (4) He appeared. At this point Paul lists various appearances of Jesus after he arose from the grave, our text being the sixth.

The Meaning: The word "untimely" needs to be defined to accurately see Paul's point. The word is "ektroma" which "denotes an abortion, an untimely birth; from ektitrosko, to miscarry," Vine, p. 102. What Paul is drawing attention to is not the time of his call but to his condition at that time. Compared to others Paul considered himself nothing more than an aborted fetus. At the time of his summons Paul was "a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious" and, according to his own testimony, "beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and made havoc of it," 1 Tim. 1:13; Gal. 1:13. Thus, because he considered himself "chief" of sinners, 1 Tim. 1:15, due to his activities up until the time he became an apostle, he felt as one "untimely born" when viewed in reference to others.

David Smitherman