1 Corinthians 9:21

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

19Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To 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. To 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. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:21 word by word

τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος θεοῦ ἀλλ᾽ ἔννομος Χριστοῦ, ἵνα κερδάνω τοὺς ἀνόμους.Read the interlinear

• To thoseὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• without the lawἄνομοςanomos · lawlessG459
• ·ὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• amεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notμήmē · notG3361
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• under the lawἔννομοςennomos · under lawG1772
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• toἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• winκερδαίνωkerdainō · to gainG2770

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:21

• Acts 15:28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:
• Acts 16:4As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
• Acts 21:25As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”
• 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.
• Galatians 2:3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
• 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?
• 1 Corinthians 7:19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
• Psalms 119:32I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.
• Matthew 5:17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
• Romans 7:22For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.
• Romans 8:4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• Romans 13:8Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
• Galatians 5:13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
• Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
• Hebrews 8:10For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My 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

• Diplomacy
• Evil
• Expediency
• Minister, Christian
• Tact
• Unselfishness
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• God
• Christ, Messiah
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the

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