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.
Parallel translations
- WEB To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain 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;
- BSB 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), to win those 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;
- 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;
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
To win Jews and those under the Law, Paul lived as one under the Law, accommodating himself to reach them. He adapts his conduct, without compromising the gospel, to remove barriers to faith.
Overview
Paul describes his missionary flexibility: among Jews he observed Jewish customs (cf. Acts 16:3; 21:23-26) to gain a hearing, though he was not bound to the Law for salvation. This is accommodation in matters indifferent, not compromise of gospel truth. His aim is always evangelistic—"that I might gain" them. Such loving adaptability serves the spread of the gospel and models sensitivity to those one hopes to reach.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Acts 16:3Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
- Gal 5:18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
- Acts 21:20–26They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
- Acts 17:2–3Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
- Rom 6:14–15For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.
- Rom 11:14if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh, and may save some of them.
- Gal 4:21Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law?
- Rom 3:19Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
- Acts 18:18Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
- Gal 4:5that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 9:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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