¹⁹ “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; ²⁰and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; ²¹to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; ²²to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. ²³Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

Paul now moves from the subject of giving up his right to financial support to giving up cultural rights.

In this paragraph, Paul states his desire to reach the lost six times. He reaches the lost by adapting his methods to suit the group he is trying to reach. This is the principle of expediency.

9:19

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

Paul was free in two areas: (1) as a Roman citizen, he was a free man, and (2) as a Christian, he had freedom in Christ (Ga 5:1), so he was free from Jewish laws, for example. He waived his freedom to reach people with the gospel. Since Paul did not receive remuneration for his ministry, he was free from criticism from those who did not know Christ. Although he was free in Christ, he made himself a slave to all in method.

9:20

and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

The principle of accommodation is good if it is restricted to a method, but if applied to truth, it is evil. In his approach to Jewish people, Paul accommodated himself to Jewish customs and dietary laws. He had no obligation to keep the Mosaic Law (Ro. 6:14), but he chose to keep it for the Jews’ sake.

9:21

to those who are without law, as without law

As with the Jews, Paul adapted his methods to the Gentiles. They did not have a written revelation, so he ate what they ate. He did not follow kosher rules when he was with them. “Without law” does not mean Gentiles have no law, but they do not follow the Mosaic Law.

(not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

In any case, Paul was always under God’s authority. He was under a new law—the Law toward Christ, the principle of grace.

9:22

to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak.

The “weak” are those with overly scrupulous consciences. Paul took upon himself the identity of an immature Christian, if it would help them. 

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

Paul adapted himself to other people’s scruples by selfless accommodation to their biases. He put aside anything that might hinder an effective gospel witness. He exercised the expediency of communication without deceit or compromise; he remained true to the gospel message without distorting it.

9:23

Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

The gospel was the overarching principle that guided his conduct toward those without Christ. Paul wanted to be a “partaker” of the gospel with the Corinthians. “Partaker” conveys the idea of co-partner. He wanted to share the gospel blessing with the Corinthians when they did not know Christ.

PRINCIPLE:

If we love the lost, we will be flexible in ministry to establish rapport with those without Christ.

APPLICATION:

The principle of expediency acknowledges that all individuals are unique and distinct. There is not just one way to win people to Christ because they are all different. We use the right kind of bait for the correct type of fish. We reach the lost on their ground, not ours. We approach people at their point of interest and engage with them on their accessible side. This establishes rapport with them, allowing them to hear the gospel without hindrance.

The principle of accommodating ourselves to the lost so we might win them is a principle of love for the lost. Evangelism is sometimes painful, but waiving our rights puts us in a place of blessing. We find blessing in giving more than in receiving. Living in light of eternity is always more fulfilling than living for oneself.

We should note a word of caution about accommodating ourselves to people to win them to Christ. The idea is not “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Some use their freedom as an excuse to indulge themselves in life. That is a compromise of self-indulgence. We do not lower our standards, but we waive our privileges. Additionally, there is a temptation to compromise the gospel message by accommodating it in a way that renders it no longer biblically sound.