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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:20 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Co 9:20 |
Strong Concordance |
And [2532] unto the Jews [2453] I became [1096] as [5613] a Jew [2453], that [2443] I might gain [2770] the Jews [2453]; to them that are under [5259] the law [3551], as [5613] under [5259] the law [3551], that [2443] I might gain [2770] them that are under [5259] the law [3551]; |
| |
King James |
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
I became as a Jew--in things not defined by the law, but by Jewish usage. Not Judaizing in essentials, but in matters where there was no compromise of principle (compare Act 16:3; Act 21:20-26); an undesigned coincidence between the history and the Epistle, and so a sure proof of genuineness.
to them that are under the law, as under the law--in things defined by the law; such as ceremonies not then repugnant to Christianity. Perhaps the reason for distinguishing this class from the former is that Paul himself belonged nationally to "the Jews," but did not in creed belong to the class of "them that are under the law." This view is confirmed by the reading inserted here by the oldest manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, "not being (that is, parenthetically, 'not that I am') myself under the law." |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And unto the Jews - In this verse, and the two following, Paul states more at length the conduct which he had exhibited, and to which he refers in Co1 9:19. He had shown this conduct to all classes of people. He had preached much to his own countrymen, and had evinnced these principles there.
I became as a Jew - I complied with their rites, customs, prejudices, as far as I could with a good conscience. I did not needlessly offend them. I did not attack and oppose their views, when there was no danger that my conduct should be mistaken. For a full illustration of Paul's conduct in this respect, and the principles which influenced him, see the notes on Act 16:3; Act 18:18; Act 21:21-27; Act 23:1-6.
To those that are under the law - This I understand as another form of saying that he conformed to the rites, customs, and even prejudices of the Jews. The phrase "under the law" means undoubtedly the law of Moses; and probably he here refers particularly to those Jews who lived in the land of Judea, as being more "immediately and entirely" under the law of Moses, than those who lived among the Gentiles.
As under the law - That is, I conformed to their rites and customs as far as I could do it. I did not violate them unnecessarily. I did not disregard them for the purpose of offending them; nor refuse to observe them when it could be done with a good conscience. There can be no doubt that Paul, when he was in Judea, submitted himself to the laws, and lived in conformity with them.
That I might gain - That I might obtain their confidence and affection. That I might not outrage their feelings, excite their prejudices, and provoke them to anger; and that I might thus have access to their minds, and be the means of converting them to the Christian faith. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Them that are under the law
The distinction between this class and Jews is differently explained. Some, Jews, viewed nationally; under the law, viewed religiously. Others, Jews by origin, and Gentile proselytes. Others understand by those under the law, rigid Jews, Pharisees. The first explanation seems preferable. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| To the Jews I became as a Jew - Conforming myself in all things to their manner of thinking and living, so far as; I could with innocence. To them that are under the law - Who apprehend themselves to be still bound by the Mosaic law. As under the law - Observing it myself, while I am among them. Not that he declared this to be necessary, or refused to converse with those who did not observe it. This was the very thing which he condemned in St. Peter, Gal 2:14. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Unto the Jews I became as a Jew - In Act 16:3, we find that for the sake of the unconverted Jews he circumcised Timothy. See the note on Act 16:3.
To them that are under the law - To those who considered themselves still under obligation to observe its rites and ceremonies, though they had in the main embraced the Gospel, he became as if under the same obligations; and therefore purified himself in the temple, as we find related, Act 21:26 (note).
After the first clause, to them that are under the law as under the law, the following words, μη ων αυτος ὑπο νομον, not being myself under the law, are added by ABCDEFG, several others; the later Syriac, Sahidic, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala; Cyril, Chrysostom, Damascenus, and others; and on this evidence Griesbach has received them into the text. |
20 And [1161] when they heard [191] it, they glorified [1392] the Lord [2962], and [5037] said [2036] unto him [846], Thou seest [2334], brother [80], how many [4214] thousands [3461] of Jews [2453] there are [1526] which [3588] believe [4100]; and [2532] they are [5225] all [3956] zealous [2207] of the law [3551]:
21 And [1161] they are informed [2727] of [4012] thee [4675], that [3754] thou teachest [1321] all [3956] the Jews [2453] which are among [2596] the Gentiles [1484] to [575] forsake [646] Moses [3475], saying [3004] that they [846] ought [4059] not [3361] to circumcise [4059] their children [5043], neither [3366] to walk [4043] after the customs [1485].
22 What [5101] is it [2076] therefore [3767]? the multitude [4128] must [1163] needs [3843] come together [4905]: for [1063] they will hear [191] that [3754] thou art come [2064].
23 Do [4160] therefore [3767] this [5124] that [3739] we say [3004] to thee [4671]: We [2254] have [1526] four [5064] men [435] which have [2171] a vow [2192] on [1909] them [1438];
24 Them [5128] take [3880], and purify thyself [48] with [4862] them [846], and [2532] be at charges [1159] with [1909] them [846], that [2443] they may shave [3587] their heads [2776]: and [2532] all [3956] may know [1097] that those things [3754], whereof [3739] they were informed [2727] concerning [4012] thee [4675], are [2076] nothing [3762]; but [235] that thou thyself [846] also [2532] walkest orderly [4748], and keepest [5442] the law [3551].
25 As [1161] touching [4012] the Gentiles [1484] which believe [4100], we [2249] have written [1989] and concluded [2919] that they [846] observe [5083] no [3367] such thing [5108], save only [1508] that they keep [5442] themselves [846] from [5037] things offered to idols [1494], and [2532] from blood [129], and [2532] from strangled [4156], and [2532] from fornication [4202].
26 Then [5119] Paul [3972] took [3880] the men [435], and the next [2192] day [2250] purifying himself [48] with [4862] them [846] entered [1524] into [1519] the temple [2411], to signify [1229] the accomplishment [1604] of the days [2250] of purification [49], until [2193] that [3739] an offering [4376] should be offered [4374] for [5228] every [1538] one [1520] of them [846].
3 Him [5126] would [2309] Paul [3972] have to go forth [1831] with [4862] him [846]; and [2532] took [2983] and circumcised [4059] him [846] because [1223] of the Jews [2453] which [3588] were [5607] in [1722] those [1565] quarters [5117]: for [1063] they knew [1492] all [537] that [3754] his [846] father [3962] was [5225] a Greek [1672].
1 And [1161] Paul [3972], earnestly beholding [816] the council [4892], said [2036], Men [435] and brethren [80], I [1473] have lived [4176] in all [3956] good [18] conscience [4893] before God [2316] until [891] this [5026] day [2250].
2 And [1161] the high priest [749] Ananias [367] commanded [2004] them that stood by [3936] him [846] to smite [5180] him [846] on the mouth [4750].
3 Then [5119] said [2036] Paul [3972] unto [4314] him [846], God [2316] shall [3195] smite [5180] thee [4571], thou whited [2867] wall [5109]: for [2532] sittest [2521] thou [4771] to judge [2919] me [3165] after [2596] the law [3551], and [2532] commandest [2753] me [3165] to be smitten [5180] contrary to the law [3891]?
4 And [1161] they that stood by [3936] said [2036], Revilest thou [3058] God's [2316] high priest [749]?
5 Then [5037] said [5346] Paul [3972], I wist [1492] not [3756], brethren [80], that [3754] he was [2076] the high priest [749]: for [1063] it is written [1125], Thou shalt [2046] not [3756] speak [2046] evil [2560] of the ruler [758] of thy [4675] people [2992].
6 But [1161] when Paul [3972] perceived [1097] that [3754] the one [1520] part [3313] were [2076] Sadducees [4523], and [1161] the other [2087] Pharisees [5330], he cried out [2896] in [1722] the council [4892], Men [435] and brethren [80], I [1473] am [1510] a Pharisee [5330], the son [5207] of a Pharisee [5330]: of [4012] the hope [1680] and [2532] resurrection [386] of the dead [3498] I [1473] am called in question [2919].
21 And [1161] they are informed [2727] of [4012] thee [4675], that [3754] thou teachest [1321] all [3956] the Jews [2453] which are among [2596] the Gentiles [1484] to [575] forsake [646] Moses [3475], saying [3004] that they [846] ought [4059] not [3361] to circumcise [4059] their children [5043], neither [3366] to walk [4043] after the customs [1485].
22 What [5101] is it [2076] therefore [3767]? the multitude [4128] must [1163] needs [3843] come together [4905]: for [1063] they will hear [191] that [3754] thou art come [2064].
23 Do [4160] therefore [3767] this [5124] that [3739] we say [3004] to thee [4671]: We [2254] have [1526] four [5064] men [435] which have [2171] a vow [2192] on [1909] them [1438];
24 Them [5128] take [3880], and purify thyself [48] with [4862] them [846], and [2532] be at charges [1159] with [1909] them [846], that [2443] they may shave [3587] their heads [2776]: and [2532] all [3956] may know [1097] that those things [3754], whereof [3739] they were informed [2727] concerning [4012] thee [4675], are [2076] nothing [3762]; but [235] that thou thyself [846] also [2532] walkest orderly [4748], and keepest [5442] the law [3551].
25 As [1161] touching [4012] the Gentiles [1484] which believe [4100], we [2249] have written [1989] and concluded [2919] that they [846] observe [5083] no [3367] such thing [5108], save only [1508] that they keep [5442] themselves [846] from [5037] things offered to idols [1494], and [2532] from blood [129], and [2532] from strangled [4156], and [2532] from fornication [4202].
26 Then [5119] Paul [3972] took [3880] the men [435], and the next [2192] day [2250] purifying himself [48] with [4862] them [846] entered [1524] into [1519] the temple [2411], to signify [1229] the accomplishment [1604] of the days [2250] of purification [49], until [2193] that [3739] an offering [4376] should be offered [4374] for [5228] every [1538] one [1520] of them [846].
27 And [1161] when [5613] the seven [2033] days [2250] were almost [3195] ended [4931], the Jews [2453] which were of [575] Asia [773], when they saw [2300] him [846] in [1722] the temple [2411], stirred up [4797] all [3956] the people [3793], and [2532] laid [1911] hands [5495] on [1909] him [846],
18 And [1161] Paul [3972] after this tarried [4357] there yet [2089] a good [2425] while [2250], and then took his leave [657] of the brethren [80], and sailed thence [1602] into [1519] Syria [4947], and [2532] with [4862] him [846] Priscilla [4252] and [2532] Aquila [207]; having shorn [2751] his head [2776] in [1722] Cenchrea [2747]: for [1063] he had [2192] a vow [2171].
3 Him [5126] would [2309] Paul [3972] have to go forth [1831] with [4862] him [846]; and [2532] took [2983] and circumcised [4059] him [846] because [1223] of the Jews [2453] which [3588] were [5607] in [1722] those [1565] quarters [5117]: for [1063] they knew [1492] all [537] that [3754] his [846] father [3962] was [5225] a Greek [1672].
19 For [1063] though I be [5607] free [1658] from [1537] all [3956] men, yet have I made [1402] myself [1683] servant [1402] unto all [3956], that [2443] I might gain [2770] the more [4119].
14 But [235] when [3753] I saw [1492] that [3754] they walked [3716] not [3756] uprightly [3716] according to [4314] the truth [225] of the gospel [2098], I said [2036] unto Peter [4074] before [1715] them all [3956], If [1487] thou [4771], being [5225] a Jew [2453], livest [2198] after the manner of Gentiles [1483], and [2532] not [3756] as do the Jews [2452], why [5101] compellest thou [315] the Gentiles [1484] to live as do the Jews [2450]?
26 Then [5119] Paul [3972] took [3880] the men [435], and the next [2192] day [2250] purifying himself [48] with [4862] them [846] entered [1524] into [1519] the temple [2411], to signify [1229] the accomplishment [1604] of the days [2250] of purification [49], until [2193] that [3739] an offering [4376] should be offered [4374] for [5228] every [1538] one [1520] of them [846].
3 Him [5126] would [2309] Paul [3972] have to go forth [1831] with [4862] him [846]; and [2532] took [2983] and circumcised [4059] him [846] because [1223] of the Jews [2453] which [3588] were [5607] in [1722] those [1565] quarters [5117]: for [1063] they knew [1492] all [537] that [3754] his [846] father [3962] was [5225] a Greek [1672].
3 Him [5126] would [2309] Paul [3972] have to go forth [1831] with [4862] him [846]; and [2532] took [2983] and circumcised [4059] him [846] because [1223] of the Jews [2453] which [3588] were [5607] in [1722] those [1565] quarters [5117]: for [1063] they knew [1492] all [537] that [3754] his [846] father [3962] was [5225] a Greek [1672].