1 Corinthians 9:20

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; I BECAME AS A JEW - in things not defined by the law, but by Jewish usage. Not Judaizing in essentials, but in matters where there was no compromise of principle (cf. ; Acts 21:20) - an undesigned coincidence between the history and the letter: a proof of genuineness. TO THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW, AS UNDER THE LAW - in things defined by the law; ceremonies not then repugnant to Christianity. The reason for distinguishing this class from the former is-Paul himself belonged nationally to "the Jews," but did not in creed belong to "them that are under the law." This is confirmed by the reading insert...

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 to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel, and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men, where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the study and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did not stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extreme...

Verse 20. _UNTO THE JEWS I BECAME AS A JEW_] In Acts 16:3, we find that for the sake of the unconverted Jews he circumcised Timothy. See the note there. _TO THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW_] To those who considered themselves still under obligation to observe its rites and ceremonies, though they had in the main embraced the Gospel, he became as if under the same obligations; and therefore purified himself in the temple, as we find related, Acts 21:26, where also see the notes. After the first clause, _to them that are under the law as under_ _the law_, the following words, μη ων αυτος ὑπο νομον, _not being_ _myself under the law_, are added by ABCDEFG, several others; the later _Syriac, Sahidic, Armenian, Vulgate_, and all the _Itala;_

AND UNTO THE JEWS - In this verse, and the two following, Paul states more at length the conduct which he had exhibited, and to which he refers in 1 Corinthians 9:19. He had shown this conduct to all classes of people. He had preached much to his own countrymen, and had evinnced these principles there. I BECAME AS A JEW - I complied with their rites, customs, prejudices, as far as I could with a good conscience. I did not needlessly offend them. I did not attack and oppose their views, when there was no danger that my conduct should be mistaken. For a full illustration of Paul’s conduct in this respect, and the principles which influenced him, see the notes on Acts 16:3;...

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1 The rights and the self denial of an apostle. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1 An apostle's right to maintenance. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:1 AM I NOT AN APOSTLE I AM I NOT FREE? The order of the best manuscripts is, _Am I not free? am I not an apostle? _St. Paul designed in this chapter to show that he was not only _giving a precept, _but _setting an example, _He told the "strong" Corinthians, who had "knowledge," that they should be ready to abnegate their rights for the good of others, he now wishes to show them that, in a matter which affected his whol

AND UNTO THE JEWS I BECAME AS A JEW,.... That is, in religion; or with respect to some religious observances peculiar to the Jews, for he himself was really a Jew by nature; who became as one unto them in this sense, when he for their sakes circumcised Timothy at Derbe, or Lystra, purified himself at Jerusalem, shaved his head at Cenchrea, observed their sabbath, and abstained from some sorts of food forbidden in the law; and his end in so doing was, not to confirm them in such usages, but that he might hereby have the greater influence over them, and by little and little bring them off of these things, or, as he says, THAT I MIGHT GAIN THE JEWS; bring them over to Christ, and off of a dependence on their own righteousness, for justification before God: TO THEM THAT ARE UNDER THE LAW, AS UNDER THE LAW; the Vulgate Latin version adds, "when I was not under the law", and so the Alexandri...

1 CORINTHIANS 9:20 mh. w'n auvto.j u`po. no,mon {A} The Textus Receptus, following Dgrc K Y 88 256 326 460 1175 1518 2138 syrp eth, omits the parenthetical clause mh. w'n auvto.j u`po. no,mon. The words, which are decisively supported by (î46) a A B C D* F G P it vg syrh copsa goth arm, probably fell out by accident 4 in transcription, the eye of the copyist passing from u`po. no,mon to u`po. no,mon. ------------------------- 4 According to Tischendorf, however, the corrector o...

6. PAUL'S GRACIOUS EXAMPLE. CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The Apostle's rights. (1 Corinthians 9:1)._ 2. He waives his rights for the Gospel's sake. (1 Corinthians 9:15). 3. The race-course and the crown. (1 Corinthians 9:24). The great principle laid down in the previous chapter to forego one's Christian liberty, the Apostle Paul enforced by his own example. He was an Apostle and had seen the Lord Jesus, from whom he had received his apostleship (Galatians 1:1). From the second verse we learn that some had not recognized him as an Apostle; these must have been false teachers. But

1 CORINTHIANS 9. This chapter is not a digression, and is not primarily concerned with a vindication of Paul's apostolic status and rights. He enforces his plea that the enlightened should not ride roughshod over scruples they despised, by his own refusal to insist on his apostolic rights. He too was free, was an apostle, had received his commission from the risen Lord, his apostleship to the Corinthians was indubitably attested by his work among them. He (? and his colleagues) may accept maintenance, travel with a Christian wife like other apostles and the Lord's brethren. Must he and Barnabas alone be compelled to work for their living? That would be against human precedent, against the Law also, for by its prohibition of muzzling the ox as he treads out the corn on the threshing-floor, God meant that the preachers of the Gospel should be supported in return for their work. If the Cori...

THE UNCLAIMED PRIVILEGES (1 Corinthians 9:1-14)...