1 Corinthians 9:21

21 to those without law, as without law, (not as without law to God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain [those] without law.

1 Corinthians 9:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 9:21

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 Romans 2:14 ) . 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 Moses, yet not from the matter of it, and obedience to it, as a rule of walk and conversation: and therefore his compliance with the Gentiles was not in anything that was contrary to the moral law; nor did he act as one that had nothing to do with that law, "but" as one that was

under the law to Christ,
or "under the law of Christ"; that is, the law of love, which obliged him to take every lawful and proper method for the good of such souls:

that I might gain them that were without law;
to believe in Christ for life and salvation, and to serve the law of God as in the hands of Christ, the only Lawgiver and King in his church; in testimony of their gratitude to him, for the blessings of grace received by him, without having any dependence on their obedience to it, for acceptance with God.

1 Corinthians 9:21 In-Context

19 For being free from all, I have made myself bondman to all, that I might gain the most [possible].

20 And I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain the Jews: to those under law, as under law, not being myself under law, in order that I might gain those under law:

21 to those without law, as without law, (not as without law to God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain [those] without law.

22 I became to the weak, [as] weak, in order that I might gain the weak. To all I have become all things, in order that at all events I might save some.

23 And I do all things for the sake of the glad tidings, that I may be fellow-partaker with them.

Footnotes

• [a]. Anomos, 'without law'. This is important as showing the true force of the Greek word anomia employed elsewhere, as in 1John 3.4, 'sin is lawlessness,' not 'transgression of law.'
• [b]. Or, 'under law to Christ' (not under the law), i.e. rightfully, duly, subject to Him. I have said 'legitimately' to preserve the connection with law. See Acts 19.39, 'regular,' i.e. lawful and right.