1 Corinthians 9:22

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. GAIN THE WEAK - i:e., establish, instead of being a stumblingblock to them (; ). Alford thinks the "weak" are not Christians at all, for these have been already 'won.' But when "weak" Christians are by the love of stronger brethren kept from falling, they are rightly said to be 'gained.' ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN - literally, 'the all things to the all men;' all that is required to all the various classes. Origen reads as the English version; but 'Aleph (') A B C Delta G omit 'the' before "all things." BY ALL MEANS ... SOME. The gain of even "some" is worth the expenditure of "all means." He conformed to the feeling...

22._To the weak I became as weak _Now again he employs a general statement, in which he shows to what sort of persons he accomodated himself, and with what design. He judaized in the presence of the Jews, but not before them all, for there were many headstrong persons, who, under the influence of Pharisaical pride or malice, would have wished that Christian liberty were altogether taken away. To those persons he would never have been so accommodating, for Christ would not have us care for persons of that sort. Let them alone, (says he,) they are blind, and leaders of the blind. (Matthew 15:14.) Hence we must accommodate ourselves to the weak, not to the obstinate. (501) Now his _design _was, that he might bring them to Christ — not that he might promote his own advantage, or retain their good will. To these things a third...

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 22. _TO THE WEAK BECAME I AS WEAK_] Those who were conscientiously _scrupulous_, even in respect to lawful things. _I AM MADE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN_] I assumed every shape and form consistent with innocency and perfect integrity; giving up my own will, my own way, my own ease, my own pleasure, and my own profit, that I might save the souls of all. Let those who plead for the system of _accommodation_ on the example of St. Paul, attend to the _end_ he had in view, and the _manner_ in which he pursued that _end_. It was not to _get money, influence_, or _honour_, but to _save_ SOULS! It was not to get _ease_ but to increase his _labours_. It was not to _save his life_, but rather that it should be a _sacrifice_ for the good of _immortal souls_! A parallel saying to this of St. Paul has been quoted from Achilles Tatius, lib. v., cap. xix., where Clitop

TO THE WEAK; - See the note at Romans 15:1. To those weak in faith; scrupulous in regard to certain observances; whose consciences were tender and unenlightened, and who would be offended even by things which might be in themselves lawful. He did not lacerate their feelings, and run counter to their prejudices, for the mere sake of doing it. BECAME I AS WEAK - I did not shock them. I complied with their customs. I conformed to them in my dress, habits, manner of life, and even in the services of religion. I abstained from food which they deemed it their duty to abstain from; and where, if I had partaken of it, I should have offended them. Paul did not do this to gratify himself, or them, but to do them good. And Paul’s example should teach us not to make it the main business of life to gratify ourselves, and it should tea

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 THE WEAK BECAME I AS WEAK,.... That is, to weak Christians, who were weak in faith, and had not such clear knowledge of Gospel liberty, and therefore scrupled the eating of some sorts of meat, and particularly meats offered to idols; and the apostle so far consulted the peace and edification of these weak brethren, and so far complied with them, and became as one of them, that, rather than offend them, he determined to eat no meat while the world stood: THAT I MIGHT GAIN THE WEAK; promote their edification and welfare, who otherwise might be stumbled, be in danger of falling from, and laid under a temptation to desert the faith of the Gospel: I AM MADE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN; which is to be understood, as in all the other instances of his being so, not in cases and things criminal and sinful, contrary to the moral law, and the dictates of his own conscience, subversive of the Gospel...

The apostle Paul is here giving a description of the way in which he made everything help toward the fulfillment of his desire to be a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. He longed to be the means of winning souls; he desired that, at the last, his Master might be able to say to him, «Well done, thou good and faithful servant;» And therefore, everything with which he had to do was made to bend in that direction. 1 Corinthians 9:22. _I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?_ No matter if twenty or a hundred had entered for the race, «but one receiveth the prize.» Alas! out of these who appear to be running in the Christian ministry, how many will be prizetakers at the la

SAVE (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 1:16). _...

1 CORINTHIANS 9:22 pa,ntwj tina,j {A} Instead of pa,ntwj tina,j, strongly supported by a wide spectrum of witnesses, the Western text (D F G lat) reads pa,ntaj, the result of scribal conformation to the preceding clauses....