ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN
Key verse: 22b
NIV
15 But I have not used any of these rights.(A) And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.(B) 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach.(C) Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward;(D) if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.(E) 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge,(F) and so not make full use of my rights(G) as a preacher of the gospel.
Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free(H) and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone,(I) to win as many as possible.(J) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews.(K) To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law),(L) so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(M) (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law),(N) so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.(O) I have become all things to all people(P) so that by all possible means I might save some.(Q) 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Cross references
- 1 Corinthians 9:15 : ver 12, 18; S Ac 18:3
- 1 Corinthians 9:15 : 2Co 11:9, 10
- 1 Corinthians 9:16 : Ro 1:14; Ac 9:15; 26:16-18
- 1 Corinthians 9:17 : 1Co 3:8, 14
- 1 Corinthians 9:17 : 1Co 4:1; Gal 2:7; Col 1:25
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 : 2Co 11:7; 12:13
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 : ver 12, 15
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : ver 1
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : 2Co 4:5; Gal 5:13
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : Mt 18:15; 1Pe 3:1
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 : Ac 16:3; 21:20-26; Ro 11:14
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 : S Ro 2:12
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : Ro 2:12, 14
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : Gal 6:2
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : S Ro 14:1; S 1Co 2:3
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : 1Co 10:33
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : S Ro 11:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
15 But (A)I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone (B)deprive me of my ground for boasting. 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For (C)necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with (D)a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching (E)I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19 For (F)though I am free from all, (G)I have made myself a servant to all, that I might (H)win more of them. 20 (I)To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To (J)those outside the law I became (K)as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but (L)under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 (M)To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. (N)I have become all things to all people, that (O)by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, (P)that I may share with them in its blessings.
Read full chapterCross references
- 1 Corinthians 9:15 : See Acts 18:3
- 1 Corinthians 9:15 : 2 Cor. 11:10
- 1 Corinthians 9:16 : [Acts 4:20; 9:6; Rom. 1:14]
- 1 Corinthians 9:17 : ch. 4:1; Gal. 2:7; [Phil. 1:16]
- 1 Corinthians 9:18 : 2 Cor. 11:7; 12:13
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : ver. 1; [ch. 10:29]
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : [Gal. 5:13]
- 1 Corinthians 9:19 : Matt. 18:15; 1 Pet. 3:1
- 1 Corinthians 9:20 : Acts 16:3; 21:23-26
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : Rom. 2:12, 14
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : [Gal. 2:3; 3:2]
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 : See ch. 7:22
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : 2 Cor. 11:29
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : ch. 10:33
- 1 Corinthians 9:22 : ch. 7:16; Rom. 11:14
- 1 Corinthians 9:23 : [ch. 10:24]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel (15-18)
Paul was compelled to preach the gospel because of God's grace in his own life. He offered the gospel free of charge. He did not expect any reward. He could give up his human rights, but he could not give up sharing the gospel of life with a sinsick world. Sometimes he shared God's word because he wanted to; at other times, he was tired or sick and just didn't feel like teaching the Bible. But he did it anyway--to discharge his duty before God.
2. To save some by all possible means (19-23)
Paul's point in teaching God's word was clear: he wanted people to come to Christ and be saved. For this purpose he denied himself and took the cross of mission. He gave up his own Jewish culture, denied his own feelings, and even went against his Jewish conscience in order to reach those for whom Christ died. He became all things to all men for the sake of the gospel, that he might share in its blessings.
Prayer: Lord, help me to teach your word faithfully so that people may be saved.
One Word: By all possible means save some
