Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:21 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Co 9:21 |
Strong Concordance |
To them that are without law [459], as [5613] without law [459], (being [5607] not [3361] without law [459] to God [2316], but [235] under the law [1772] to Christ [5547],) that [2443] I might gain [2770] them that are without law [459]. |
| |
King James |
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without 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] |
To them . . . without law--that is, without revealed law: the heathen (compare Rom 2:12 with Co1 9:15).
as without law--not urging on them the ceremonies and "works of the law," but "the hearing of faith" (Gal 3:2). Also discoursing in their own manner, as at Athens, with arguments from their own poets (Act 17:28).
being not without law to God--"While thus conforming to others in matters indifferent, taking care not to be without law in relation to God, but responsible to law (literally, "IN LAW") in relation to Christ." This is the Christian's true position in relation to the world, to himself, and to God. Everything develops itself according to its proper law. So the Christian, though no longer subject to the literal law as constraining him from without, is subject to an inward principle or law, the spirit of faith in Christ acting from within as the germ of a new life. He does not in the Greek (as in English Version) say "under the law (as he does in Co1 9:20) to Christ"; but uses the milder term, "in . . . law," responsible to law. Christ was responsible to the law for us, so that we are no longer responsible to it (Gal 3:13, Gal 3:24), but to Him, as the members to the Head (Co1 7:22; Rom 8:1-4; Pe1 2:16). Christians serve Christ in newness of spirit, no longer in oldness of the letter (that is, the old external law as such), Rom 7:4-6. To Christ, as man's Head, the Father has properly delegated His authority (Joh 5:22, Joh 5:27); whence here he substitutes "Christ" for "God" in the second clause, "not without law to God, but under the law to Christ." The law of Christ is the law of love (Gal 6:2; compare Gal 5:13). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
To them that are without law - To the Gentiles, who have not the law of Moses; see the note at Rom 2:12, note at Rom 2:14.
As without law - Not practicing the special rites and ceremonies enjoined in the law of Moses. Not insisting on them, or urging them, but showing that the obligation to those rites had been done away; and that they were not binding, though when among the Jews I might still continue to observe them; see the notes at Acts 15; and the argument of Paul in Gal 2:11-18. I neglected the ceremonial precepts of the Mosaic law, when I was with those who had not heard of the law of Moses, or those who did not observe them, because I knew that the binding obligation of these ceremonial precepts had ceased. I did not, therefore, press them upon the Gentiles, nor did I superstitiously and publicly practice them. In all this, Paul has reference only to those things which he regarded as in themselves indifferent, and not a matter of conscience; and his purpose was not; needlessly to excite the prejudice or the opposition of the world. Nothing is ever gained by provoking opposition for the mere sake of opposition. Nothing tends more to hinder the gospel than that. In all things of conscience and truth a man should be firm, and should lose his life rather than abandon either; in all things of indifference, of mere custom, of prejudice, he should yield, and accomodate himself to the modes of thinking among people, and adapt himself to their views, feelings, and habits of life, that he may win them to Christ.
Being not without law to God - Not regarding myself as being "absolutely" without law, or as being freed from obligation to obey God. Even in all this, I endeavored so to live as that it might be seen that I felt myself bound by law to God. I was not a despiser, and contemner, and neglector of "law as such," but only regarded myself as not bound by the special ceremonial law of Moses. This is an instance of Paul's conscientiousness. He would not leave room to have it supposed for a moment that he disregarded all law. He was bound to God by law; and in the conduct to which he was referring he felt that he was obeying him. He was bound by higher law than those ceremonial observances which were now to be done away. This passage would destroy all the refuges of the Antinomians. Whatever privileges the gospel has introduced, it has not set us free from the restraints and obligations of law. That is binding still; and no man is at liberty to disregard the moral law of God. Christ came to magnify, strengthen, and to honor the law, not to destroy it.
But under the law to Christ - Bound by the law enjoined by Christ; under the law of affectionate gratitude and duty to him. I obeyed his commands; followed his instructions; sought his honor; yielded to his will. In this he would violate none of the rules of the moral law. And he here intimates, that his grand object was to yield obedience to the law of the Saviour, and that this was the governing purpose of his life. And this would guide a man right. In doing this, he would never violate any of the precepts of the moral law, for Christ obeyed them, and enjoined their observance. He would never feel that he was without law to God, for Christ obeyed God, and enjoined it on all. He would never feel that religion came to set him free from law, or to authorize licentiousness; for its grand purpose and aim is to make people holy, and to bind them everywhere to the observance of the pure law of the Redeemer. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
without
The expression is peculiar and might be literally rendered, "not lawless toward God, but inlawed to Christ."
See "Law (of Christ)," (Gal 6:2); (Jo2 1:5).
It is another way of saying, "not under the law, but under the rule of grace." (Rom 6:14). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Without law (ἄνομος)
As one of the Gentiles. By intercourse with them, relinquishment of Jewish observances, and adapting his teaching to their modes of thought. See Acts 17.
Under law (ἔννομος)
The expression differs from that in Co1 9:20, ὑπὸ νόμον under law, though with only a shade of difference in meaning. Ἔννομος means subject to the law, but in the sense of keeping within (ἐν) the law. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| To them that are without the law - The heathens. As without the law - Neglecting its ceremonies. Being not without the law to God - But as much as ever under its moral precepts. Under the law to Christ - And in this sense all Christians will be under the law for ever. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
To them that are without law - The Gentiles, who had no written law, though they had the law written in their hearts; see on Rom 2:15 (note).
Being not without law to God - Instead of Θεῳ, To God, and Χριστῳ, To Christ, the most important MSS. and versions have Θεου, Of God, and Χριστου, Of Christ; being not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ.
Them that are without law - Dr. Lightfoot thinks the Sadducees may be meant, and that in certain cases, as far as the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish religion were concerned, he might conform himself to them, not observing such rites and ceremonies, as it is well known that they disregarded them; for the doctor cannot see how the apostle could conform himself in any thing to them that were without law, i.e. the heathen. But,
1. It is not likely that the apostle could conform himself to the Sadducees; for what success could he expect among a people who denied the resurrection, and consequently a future world, a day of judgment, and all rewards and punishments?
2. He might among the heathen appear as if he were not a Jew, and discourse with them on the great principles of that eternal law, the outlines of which had been written in their hearts, in order to show them the necessity of embracing that Gospel which was the power of God unto salvation to every one that believed. |
13 For [1063], brethren [80], ye [5210] have been called [2564] unto [1909] liberty [1657]; only [3440] use not [3361] liberty [1657] for [1519] an occasion [874] to the flesh [4561], but [235] by [1223] love [26] serve [1398] one another [240].
2 Bear ye [941] one another's [240] burdens [922], and [2532] so [3779] fulfil [378] the law [3551] of Christ [5547].
27 And [2532] hath given [1325] him [846] authority [1849] to execute [4160] judgment [2920] also [2532], because [3754] he is [2076] the Son [5207] of man [444].
22 For [1063] [3761] the Father [3962] judgeth [2919] no man [3762], but [235] hath committed [1325] all [3956] judgment [2920] unto the Son [5207]:
4 Wherefore [5620], my [3450] brethren [80], ye [5210] also [2532] are become dead [2289] to the law [3551] by [1223] the body [4983] of Christ [5547]; that [1519] ye [5209] should be married [1096] to another [2087], even to him who is raised [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498], that [2443] we should bring forth fruit [2592] unto God [2316].
5 For [1063] when [3753] we were [2258] in [1722] the flesh [4561], the motions [3804] of sins [266], which [3588] were by [1223] the law [3551], did work [1754] in [1722] our [2257] members [3196] to bring [1519] forth fruit [2592] unto death [2288].
6 But [1161] now [3570] we are delivered [2673] from [575] the law [3551], that being dead [599] [599] wherein [1722] [3739] we were held [2722]; that [5620] we [2248] should serve [1398] in [1722] newness [2538] of spirit [4151], and [2532] not [3756] in the oldness [3821] of the letter [1121].
16 As [5613] free [1658], and [2532] not [3361] using [2192] your liberty [1657] for [5613] a cloke [1942] of maliciousness [2549], but [235] as [5613] the servants [1401] of God [2316].
1 There is therefore [686] now [3568] no [3762] condemnation [2631] to them which are in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].
2 For [1063] the law [3551] of the Spirit [4151] of life [2222] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] hath made [1659] me [3165] free [1659] from [575] the law [3551] of sin [266] and [2532] death [2288].
3 For [1063] what the law [3551] could not do [102], in [1722] that [3739] it was weak [770] through [1223] the flesh [4561], God [2316] sending [3992] his own [1438] Son [5207] in [1722] the likeness [3667] of sinful [266] flesh [4561], and [2532] for [4012] sin [266], condemned [2632] sin [266] in [1722] the flesh [4561]:
4 That [2443] the righteousness [1345] of the law [3551] might be fulfilled [4137] in [1722] us [2254], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].
22 For [1063] he that is called [2564] in [1722] the Lord [2962], being a servant [1401], is [2076] the Lord's [2962] freeman [558]: likewise [3668] also [2532] he that is called [2564], being free [1658], is [2076] Christ's [5547] servant [1401].
24 Wherefore [5620] the law [3551] was [1096] our [2257] schoolmaster [3807] to bring us unto [1519] Christ [5547], that [2443] we might be justified [1344] by [1537] faith [4102].
13 Christ [5547] hath redeemed [1805] us [2248] from [1537] the curse [2671] of the law [3551], being made [1096] a curse [2671] for [5228] us [2257]: for [1063] it is written [1125], Cursed [1944] is every one [3956] that hangeth [2910] on [1909] a tree [3586]:
20 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];
28 For [1063] in [1722] him [846] we live [2198], and [2532] move [2795], and [2532] have our being [2070]; as [5613] certain [5100] also [2532] of your [5209] own [2596] poets [4163] have said [2046], For [1063] we are [2070] also [2532] his [5120] offspring [1085].
2 This [5124] only [3440] would [2309] I learn [3129] of [575] you [5216], Received ye [2983] the Spirit [4151] by [1537] the works [2041] of the law [3551], or [2228] by [1537] the hearing [189] of faith [4102]?
15 But [1161] I [1473] have used [5530] none [3762] of these things [5130]: [1161] neither [3756] have I written [1125] these things [5023], that [2443] it should be [1096] so [3779] done [1096] unto [1722] me [1698]: for [1063] it were better [3123] for me [3427] to die [599] [2570], than [2228] that [2443] any man [5100] should make [2758] my [3450] glorying [2745] void [2758].
12 For [1063] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] without law [460] shall [622] also [2532] perish [622] without law [460]: and [2532] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] in [1722] the law [3551] shall be judged [2919] by [1223] the law [3551];
11 But [1161] when [3753] Peter [4074] was come [2064] to [1519] Antioch [490], I withstood [436] him [846] to [2596] the face [4383], because [3754] he was [2258] to be blamed [2607].
12 For [1063] before [4253] that certain [5100] came [2064] from [575] James [2385], he did eat [4906] with [3326] the Gentiles [1484]: but [1161] when [3753] they were come [2064], he withdrew [5288] and [2532] separated [873] himself [1438], fearing [5399] them which were of [1537] the circumcision [4061].
13 And [2532] the other [3062] Jews [2453] dissembled [4942] likewise [2532] with him [846]; insomuch [5620] that Barnabas [921] also [2532] was carried away [4879] with their [846] dissimulation [5272].
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]?
15 We [2249] who are Jews [2453] by nature [5449], and [2532] not [3756] sinners [268] of [1537] the Gentiles [1484],
16 Knowing [1492] that [3754] a man [444] is [1344] not [3756] justified [1344] by [1537] the works [2041] of the law [3551], but [3362] by [1223] the faith [4102] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], even [2532] we [2249] have believed [4100] in [1519] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], that [2443] we might be justified [1344] by [1537] the faith [4102] of Christ [5547], and [2532] not [3756] by [1537] the works [2041] of the law [3551]: for [1360] by [1537] the works [2041] of the law [3551] shall [1344] no [3756] [3956] flesh [4561] be justified [1344].
17 But [1161] if [1487], while we seek [2212] to be justified [1344] by [1722] Christ [5547], we [2147] ourselves [846] also [2532] are found [2147] sinners [268], is therefore [687] Christ [5547] the minister [1249] of sin [266]? God forbid [3361] [1096].
18 For [1063] if [1487] I build [3618] again [3825] the things [5023] which [3739] I destroyed [2647], I make [4921] myself [1683] a transgressor [3848].
14 For [1063] when [3752] the Gentiles [1484], which [3588] have [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], do [4160] by nature [5449] the things [3588] contained in the law [3551], these [3778], having [2192] not [3361] the law [3551], are [1526] a law [3551] unto themselves [1438]:
12 For [1063] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] without law [460] shall [622] also [2532] perish [622] without law [460]: and [2532] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] in [1722] the law [3551] shall be judged [2919] by [1223] the law [3551];
14 For [1063] sin [266] shall [2961] not [3756] have dominion over [2961] you [5216]: for [1063] ye are [2075] not [3756] under [5259] the law [3551], but [235] under [5259] grace [5485].
5 And [2532] now [3568] I beseech [2065] thee [4571], lady [2959], not [3756] as though [5613] I wrote [1125] [1125] a new [2537] commandment [1785] unto thee [4671], but [235] that which [3739] we had [2192] from [575] the beginning [746], that [2443] we love [25] one another [240].
2 Bear ye [941] one another's [240] burdens [922], and [2532] so [3779] fulfil [378] the law [3551] of Christ [5547].
20 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];
15 Which [3748] shew [1731] the work [2041] of the law [3551] written [1123] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588], their [846] conscience [4893] also bearing witness [4828], and [2532] their thoughts [3053] the mean while accusing [2723] or [2228] else [2532] excusing [626] one another [3342] [240];)