1 CORINTHIANS 9:20 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“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;”
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. — Paul's adaptability: metaschēmatizō (I change shape, conform). To Jews, he lives Jewishly; to those observing Torah, he accommodates. The parenthetical disclaimer—though not personally under law—establishes his freedom: he submits voluntarily for the sake of evangelism. Cultural accommodation is not hypocrisy but strategic love.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 9:20
“And I became,” says he, “to the Jews as a Jew, that I might gain Jews.” And how did this take place? When he circumcised that he might abolish circumcision. Wherefore he said not, “a Jew,” but, “as a Jew,” which was a wise arrangement. What do you say? The herald of the world and he who touched the very heavens and shone so bright in grace, does he all at once descend so low? Yea. For this is to ascend. For you are not to look to the fact only of his descending, but also to…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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