1 Corinthians 9:21

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. TO THEM ... WITHOUT LAW - i:e., without revealed law: the pagan (cf. ; ). AS WITHOUT LAW - not urging on them the ceremonies and "works of the law," but "the hearing of faith" (); discoursing in their own manner, as at Athens, with arguments from Greek poets (). NOT WITHOUT LAW TO GOD - `while conforming to others in matters indifferent, being not without law toward God, but responsible to the law (literally, IN LAW) toward Christ.' The Christian'...

21._Though not without law to God. _He wished by this parenthesis to soften the harshness of the expression, for it might. have seemed harsh at first view to have it said, that he _had come to be without law. _Hence in order that this might not be taken in a wrong sense, he had added, by way of correction, that he had always kept in view one law — that of subjection to Christ. By this too he hints that odium was excited against him groundlessly and unreasonably, as if he called men to an unbridled licentiousness, while he taught exemption from the bondage of the Mosaic law. Now he calls it expressly _the law of Christ_, in order to wipe away the groundless reproach, with which the false apostles branded the gospel, for he means, that in the doctrine of Christ nothing is omitted, that might serve to give us a perfect rule of upright. living....

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 21. _TO THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW_] The _Gentiles_, who had no written law, though they had the _law written in their hearts_; Romans 2:15, Romans 2:15. _BEING NOT WITHOUT LAW TO GOD_] Instead of θεω, TO _God_, and χριστω, TO _Christ_, the most important MSS. and versions have θεου, OF _God_, and χριστου, 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 as the _rites_ and _ceremonies_ of the Jewish religion were concerned, he might conform himself to _them_, not observing such rites and ceremonies, as it is well known that

TO 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 Acts 15; and the argument of Paul in Galatians 2:11. I neglected the ceremonial precepts of the Mosaic law, when I was with those who had n

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

TO THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT LAW, AS WITHOUT LAW,.... Meaning the Gentiles, who, though they were not without the law of nature, nor without many good civil laws, by which the more cultivated and civilized nations among them were governed, yet they were without the written law of Moses; a description of the Gentiles, usual with the Jews; see Romans 2:12. And to these the apostle accommodated himself, as if he was without the law; by conversing with them without any difference; by eating any sort of food with them; by not circumcising Titus, when the Jews would have had it done; and by resisting Peter, when he, by his example, would have influenced the Gentiles to have lived as did the Jews: BEING NOT WITHOUT LAW TO GOD; or "the law of God", the moral law; for though he was delivered from the curse and condemnation of it, and as a covenant of works, and the ministry of it by Mose

WITHOUT The expression is peculiar and might be literally rendered, "not lawless toward God, but inlawed to Christ." See "Law (of Christ)," (Galatians 6:2); (2 John 1:5). It is another way of saying, "not under the law, but under the rule of grace." (Romans 6:14)....

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...