Help interpretation

[Ericj5592]

1. “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. 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. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law—not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ—that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” – 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Can someone explain to me in laymens term what this passage of the Bible mean

 

[De_Maria]

Can someone explain to me in laymens term what this passage of the Bible mean

I’ll give it a try. The background is that St. Paul is an Apostle whose ministry is to make converts to the Church. Therefore, he goes around the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, he says:

1. “For though I am free from all men,

[/QUOTE]
I am a free man.

I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more.

But I’ve made myself a servant to all in order to win more hearts over to Christ.

To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews;

(St. Paul is actually of Jewish stock. So, he’s using hyperbole to make a point).

When speaking with Jews, who eat no pork and hold certain customs, I behaved like a Jew, in order to persuade more 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.

(Here, St. Paul uses a Jewish idiomatic technique known as Semitic repetition. In order to emphasize a point, they repeat it but with different words. So…)

To the Jews, who are the ones under the law of Moses, I became as one under the law of Moses, although I am no longer under the law of Moses, but under the Law of Grace. I did this, to win more Jews over to Christianity.

To those outside the law I became as one outside the law—not being without law toward God but under the law of Christ—that I might win those outside the law.

To those who are no Jewish and therefore under no law, I became as one under no law (although I am under the Law of Grace (Christ)). In order to win those who are not Jewish.

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.

To those weak in faith and weak in conscience, I became like them in order to show them how God’s might works through the weak. See 2 Cor 12:9

I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

I have lived like all men in order to bring more men over to God that they might be saved.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

And I do so, in order that men’s souls may be saved and I therefore, may share in their salvation. See also James 5:20

– 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

I hope that helps.

 

[TheLittleLady]

• [9:19–23] In a rhetorically balanced series of statements Paul expands and generalizes the picture of his behavior and explores the paradox of apostolic freedom. It is not essentially freedom from restraint but freedom for service—a possibility of constructive activity.

1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB

 

[fhansen]

Paul wasn’t being a hypocrite, or compromising himself, but rather he was meeting people at their level. He was intelligent and educated and could lower himself, in a sense, in order to identify with those he wished to bring the gospel to.