New English Translation
1 Corinthians 9:21
21To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the 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 since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. 22To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. 23I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.
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
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 seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules:
- Acts 16:4As they went through the towns, they passed on the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey.
- Acts 21:25But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided that they should avoid meat that has been sacrificed to idols and blood and what has been strangled and sexual immorality.”
- Romans 2:12For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
- Galatians 2:3Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek.
- Galatians 3:2The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?
- 1 Corinthians 7:19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
- Psalms 119:32I run along the path of your commands, for you enable me to do so. ה (He)
- Matthew 5:17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them.
- Romans 7:22For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.
- Romans 8:4so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
- Romans 13:8Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
- Galatians 5:13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.
- Ephesians 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more.
- Hebrews 8:10“For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will 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
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
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