1 Corinthians 9:19 - Meaning and Application

The apostle uses what he has already said to bring up more examples of his self-denial and his willingness to give up his freedom for others’ good.

Paul first says that he was free from everyone, yet he made himself a servant to all so he could win more people. He was born free and was a Roman citizen. He belonged to no human master and did not depend on anyone for his support. Even so, he chose to live and work like a servant. He did this so that more people might be brought to faith in Christ. He made himself a servant so that they might become free.

Paul then explains some of the ways he did this. To the Jews, and to those under the law, he became like a Jew and lived as one under the law, so that he might win them. He believed the ceremonial law, the set of ritual laws in the Old Testament, was no longer binding because Christ had fulfilled it. Even so, in many matters he followed Jewish custom. He did this to remove their objections, open the way for them to listen to the gospel, and lead them to Christ.

To those without the law, meaning the Gentiles, whether they were already Christians or not, he lived as one not under the Jewish law. In harmless matters, he could adapt to their customs and ways for their good. He could reason with philosophers in their own style. With converted Gentiles, he did not act as if he were bound by Jewish rules, because he had already taught that they were free from them. Still, he never lived as if God’s law no longer mattered. He was always bound by the law of Christ. He would not break Christ’s commands just to please anyone, but where he could do so lawfully, he adjusted himself to others in order to win some.

Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, so he might have felt free to ignore Jewish practices entirely. Yet, to do the Jews good and bring them to Christ, he set aside his own freedom in harmless things. In the same way, even though he had authority among the Gentiles, he adapted himself, as far as he could do so without sin, to their prejudices and habits of thought. Doing good was the work of his life, and he did not cling to privileges or small points of honor when souls were at stake.

To the weak, Paul became weak so that he might win the weak. He was patient with them and tried to understand them. He did not look down on them or pass judgment on them. Instead, he gave up using his freedom when it might harm them, and he made sure not to place any stumbling block in their way. If someone was likely to fall into sin, or even turn away from the gospel and back to idolatry because of how Paul used his liberty, he restrained himself. He denied himself for their sake, hoping to win their trust and their souls. In short, he became all things to all people, so that by every lawful means he might save some. He would not sin against God to save a neighbor’s soul, but he gladly gave up his own rights. He could never surrender God’s rights, but he often gave up his own for the good of others.

Paul says he acted this way for the sake of the gospel, and so that he might share in its blessings with them. He did it for the honor of Christ, to whom the gospel belongs, and for the salvation of souls, which is the gospel’s purpose. He wanted both he and they to enjoy the privileges of the gospel together. For these reasons he humbled himself, gave up his liberty, and adapted himself to the people he dealt with, as far as he could do so lawfully. A heart filled with zeal for God and a true desire to save people will not insist on personal rights when that would block the work. Those clearly misuse gospel power who use it to tear people down instead of building them up. They show that they do not share the spirit of the gospel.