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

19Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. 20To 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. To those who are without the law, like one without the law — though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ — to win those without the law. 22To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. 23Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• To them that are without lawἄνομοςanomos · lawlessG459
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notμήmē · notG3361
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• under the lawἔννομοςennomos · under lawG1772
• to ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• I might gainκερδαίνωkerdainō · to gainG2770

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:21

• Acts 15:28For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision — and ours — not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements:
• Acts 16:4As they traveled through the towns, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem for the people to observe.
• Acts 21:25With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
• Romans 2:12For all who sin without the law will also perish without the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
• Galatians 2:3But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
• Galatians 3:2I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?
• 1 Corinthians 7:19Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God’s commands is what matters.
• Psalms 119:32I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.
• Matthew 5:17“Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
• Romans 7:22For in my inner self I delight in God’s law,
• Romans 8:4in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
• Romans 13:8Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
• Galatians 5:13For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
• Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:1Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God — as you are doing — do this even more.
• Hebrews 8:10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. 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