1 Corinthians 9:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

NIV: To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

NASB: To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the Law, I became as one under the Law, though not being under the Law myself, so that I might gain those who are under the Law;

CSB: To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win those under the law.

NLT: When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.

KJV: And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

NKJV: and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

Paul had written in the previous verse that he had made himself a slave to all people in the hopes of winning more of them. By "winning," he meant winning them to faith in Christ. Now he begins to describe in what sense he voluntarily puts himself under the authority of others.

As a preacher of Christ, Paul would become as a Jew to the Jews, and as one under the law of Moses to those under Jewish religious law. Paul was Jewish and had lived much of his life as a "Hebrew of Hebrews" under the law (Philippians 3:5). After being converted to faith in Christ, he had been freed from obligation to the law (Romans 10:4) and had preached that the same was true for all who received God's gift of grace in Christ. In doing so, he had become the target of persecution and attempted murder by the Jewish religious leaders.

That leads one to wonder what Paul meant that he became as a Jew and one under the law in order to win others to Christ. It does not mean Paul pretended it was necessary to follow the law to be saved. Nor does it mean he "acted more Jewish" when with Jewish people.

Rather, Paul continued to participate in the worship of God in Jewish synagogues while preaching Christ there (Acts 17:2–3). He continued to voluntarily submit to some Jewish customs and traditions, including the fulfillment of a Nazarite vow (Acts 21:23–26), and even receiving punishment from the Jewish leaders for preaching Christ (2 Corinthians 11:24). He did this without ever altering the gospel message that faith in Christ is the only way to be right with God.

Paul could have opted out of any participation with the Jewish religious system. He was free from all of it. Instead, he chose to remain involved, without ever compromising the message of Jesus, in hopes of winning some Jewish law followers to faith in Christ. In order to put as few barriers as possible between others and Christ, Paul was willing to sacrifice his own "rights" and freedoms.

First Corinthians 9:19–23 describes how Paul has made himself a slave to everyone. He limits his own rights and freedoms in order to connect with others. He becomes ''all things to all people'' so that some will be won to faith in Christ. He becomes as a Jewish person under the law to win law-following Jewish people. He becomes like a person not under the law to win others, such as Gentiles. He even becomes weak for the sake of the weak. He does all of this for sake of the gospel, encouraging others to do the same.

Paul encourages Christians to willingly give up their ''rights'' for the good of those who are weak in their faith. Paul shows that he, too, has given up his rights, including the right as an apostle to receive financial support from those he serves. Instead, he boasts that he serves the Corinthians without any compensation, even at great cost to himself. Paul describes himself as an athlete competing for the prize of a crown in eternity. His point is for believers to pursue godliness, and the good of others, with that kind of commitment.

First Corinthians 8 ended with Paul's declaration that he would give up his right to eat any meat rather than cause a brother in Christ to stumble. He shows in this chapter that he is already giving up his right as an apostle to be financially supported by those he serves. He doesn't want anything to get in the way of anyone believing the gospel. He limits his freedoms further by becoming all things to all people to win some for Christ. He disciplines himself like an athlete in training, to get a prize and to avoid being disqualified. The next passages will expand on this idea of distinguishing what is ''allowed'' from what is ''best.''

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.