American Standard Version
1 Corinthians 9:21
21to 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.
1 Corinthians 9:21 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.
- English Standard Version (ESV)To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.
- New King James Version (NKJV)to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
Context of 1 Corinthians 9:21
19For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more. 20And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 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. 22To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 23And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 91 Corinthians 9:21 word by word
τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος θεοῦ ἀλλ᾽ ἔννομος Χριστοῦ, ἵνα κερδάνω τοὺς ἀνόμους.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:21
- Acts 15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
- Acts 16:4And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.
- Acts 21:25But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.
- Romans 2:12For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;
- Galatians 2:3But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
- Galatians 3:2This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- 1 Corinthians 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.
- Psalms 119:32I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. ה HE.
- Matthew 5:17Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.
- Romans 7:22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
- Romans 8:4that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- Romans 13:8Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.
- Galatians 5:13For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more.
- Hebrews 8:10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21To them that are without law - The Gentiles, who had no written law, though they had the law written in their hearts; see on Romans 2:15; (note). Being not without law to God - Instead of ͅ, To God, and ͅ, To Christ, the most important MSS. and versions have , Of God, and , 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21To them that are without law - To the Gentiles, who have not the law of Moses; see the note at Romans 2:12, note at Romans 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 Galatians…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Christ and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke taken off by Christ, yet he submitted…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-23Paul puts himself in the humble position of a servant in the household. He shows how much he was willing to change his lifestyle and behavior to match the people he preached to, in order to bring them to Christ.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. To them ... without law--that is, without revealed law: the heathen (compare Ro 2:12 with 1Co 9:15). as without law--not urging on them the ceremonies and "works of the law," but "the hearing of faith" (Ga 3:2). Also discoursing in their own manner, as at Athens, with arguments from their own poets (Ac 17:28). being not without law to God--"While thus conforming to others in matters indifferent, taking care not to be without law in relation to God…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries