1 Corinthians 9:21
in 1 Corinthians 9To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
KJV
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 9
Commentary
11 notes on this verseBy "lawless" he means either those who did not have the Law of Moses, who converted from among the Gentiles, such as Cornelius (Acts 10), and in visiting whom Paul condescended to their weakness, or also the Greeks, to whom he likewise adapted himself—for example, …
This site's exposition
To those without the law
on 1 Corinthians 9:21-22
Paul stays under the law of Christ, the law of love, even among Gentiles. I have become all things to all people states his settled missionary method, one gospel offered in as many forms as there are hearers.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
He did this by compassion, not by lying. For each one becomes like him whom he wants to help when such great mercy prevails as that each one would wish for himself if he were in the same misery. And so he becomes like the other—not by deceiving him but by putting himself in the other's place.
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaPauline Commentary from the Greek Church · Written before 428.
proposed
Paul states, somewhat surprisingly, that he is under the law of Christ, lest anyone think that he is under the law of Moses.
"To them that are without law, as without law." These were neither Jews, nor Christians, nor Greeks; but "outside of the Law," as was Cornelius, and if there were any others like him. For among these also making his appearance, he used to assume many of their ways. But some say that he hints at his discourse with the Athenians from the inscription on the altar, and that so he saith, "to them that are without law, as without law." Then, lest any should think that the matter was a change of mind, he added, "not being without law to God, but under law to Christ;" i.e., "so far from being without law, I am not simply under the Law, but I have that law which is much more exalted than the older one, viz. that of the Spirit and of grace." Wherefore also he adds, "to Christ." Then again, having made them confident of his judgment, he states also the gain of such condescension, saying, "that I might gain them that are without law." And every where he brings forward the cause of his condescension, and stops not even here...
To be under the law of Christ is to be under the law of God, because everything which is of Christ is of God.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
As without the law - Neglecting its ceremonies. Being not without the law to God - But as much as ever under its moral precepts. Under the law to Christ - And in this sense all Christians will be under the law for ever.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
To them that are without law, as without law,.... Meaning the Gentiles, who, though they were not without the law of nature, nor without many good civil laws, by which the more cultivated and civilized nations among them were governed, yet they were without the written law of Moses; a description of the Gentiles, usual with the Jews; see Rom 2:
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
To them that are without law - To the Gentiles, who have not the law of Moses; see the note at Rom 2:12, note at Rom 2:14. As without law - Not practicing the special rites and ceremonies enjoined in the law of Moses. Not insisting on them, or urging them, but showing that the obligation to those rites had been done away; and that they were not binding, though when among the Jews I might still continue to observe them; see the notes at Acts 15; and the argument of Paul in Gal 2:11-
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
So the Christian, though no longer subject to the literal law as constraining him from without, is subject to an inward principle or law, the spirit of faith in Christ acting from within as the germ of a new life. He does not in the Greek (as in English Version) say "under the law (as he does in 1Co 9:20) to Christ"; but uses the milder term, "in . . . law," responsible to law.
To them that are without law - The Gentiles, who had no written law, though they had the law written in their hearts; see on Rom 2:15 (note). Being not without law to God - Instead of Θεῳ, To God, and Χριστῳ, To Christ, the most important MSS. and versions have Θεου, Of God, and Χριστου, Of Christ; being not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ. Them that are without law - Dr. Lightfoot thinks the Sadducees may be meant, and that in certain cases, as far as the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion were concerned, he might conform himself to them, not observing such rites and ceremonies, as it is well known that they disregarded them; for the doctor cannot see how the apostle could conform himself in any thing to them that were without law, i.e. the heathen. But, 1. It is not likely that the apostle could conform himself to the Sadducees; for what success could he expect among a people who denied the resurrection, and consequently a future world, a day of judgment, and all rewards and punishments? 2. He might among the heathen appear as if he were not a Jew, and discourse with them on the great principles of that eternal law, the outlines of which had been written in their hearts, in order to show them the necessity of embracing that Gospel which was the power of God unto salvation to every one that believed.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῖς | tois | To those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνόμοις | anomois | outside [the] Law | G459 → | 9 times |
| ὡς | hos | like | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἄνομος, | anomos | outside [the] Law — | G459 → | 9 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ὢν | on | being | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ἄνομος | anomos | outside [the] law | G459 → | 9 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἔννομος | ennomos | under [the] law | G1772 → | |
| Χριστοῦ, | christou | of Christ — | G5547 → | 523 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| κερδάνω | kerdano | I may win | G2770 → | 17 times |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνόμους. | anomous | outside [the] Law. | G459 → | 9 times |
τοῖςTo those
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἀνόμοιςoutside [the] Law
anomoisG459 →9 times
ὡςlike
hosG5613 →500 times
ἄνομος,outside [the] Law —
anomosG459 →9 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ὢνbeing
onG1510 →2333 times
ἄνομοςoutside [the] law
anomosG459 →9 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἔννομοςunder [the] law
ennomosG1772 →
Χριστοῦ,of Christ —
christouG5547 →523 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
κερδάνωI may win
kerdanoG2770 →17 times
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀνόμους.outside [the] Law.
anomousG459 →9 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Galatians 3:2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
it leads to
- Romans 10:16–17
But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
- Galatians 3:14
He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
- Acts 15:8
And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
- Ephesians 1:13–14
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Galatians 3:5
Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe?
- Romans 10:16–17
Through
Romans 2:14Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
it leads to
- Romans 1:19–20
For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
- Romans 2:12
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
- Romans 1:19–20
Through
Romans 2:12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
it leads to
- Galatians 3:10
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
- Galatians 3:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Augustine of Hippo, Against Lying 12; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 22; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Theodore of Mopsuestia, Pauline Commentary from the Greek Church and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.