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Paul the Servant to All
Paul explains how he uses his freedom in a surprising way. Instead of insisting on his own rights, he willingly places himself in service to others in order to gain, win, and save some for the sake of the Good News.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are a short teaching section in Paul’s letter. He speaks about being free from all, bringing himself under bondage to all, becoming as different kinds of people, and doing this for the sake of the Good News as a joint partaker of it.
1 Corinthians 9:19–23Main takeaway
Being free from all, Paul chose to serve all so that he might gain, win, and save some for the sake of the Good News.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Free, yet willingly a servantPaul begins with a strong contrast. He says he was free from all, yet he brought himself under bondage to all.
Explanation
Paul begins with a strong contrast. He says he was free from all, yet he brought himself under bondage to all. This is a chosen action, not something forced on him. He states his reason clearly: he does this so that he might gain more people.
02As a Jew and as under the lawPaul says he became as a Jew in order to gain Jews. He also became as under the law to gain those under the law.
Explanation
Paul says he became as a Jew in order to gain Jews. He also became as under the law to gain those under the law. The repeated purpose is the key point here. In both cases, Paul explains his conduct by saying that he wants to gain them.
03With those without law, yet under ChristPaul next speaks about those who are without law. He became as without law so that he might win them.
Explanation
Paul next speaks about those who are without law. He became as without law so that he might win them. Yet he adds an important boundary: he was not without law toward God, but under law toward Christ. His way of approaching people still remained within that stated commitment.
04Weak with the weak, for the Good NewsPaul also says he became as weak to gain the weak. Then he sums up his whole approach by saying he became all things to all men, that by all means he might save some.
Explanation
Paul also says he became as weak to gain the weak. Then he sums up his whole approach by saying he became all things to all men, that by all means he might save some. He does this for the sake of the Good News, that he may be a joint partaker of it.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Paul say he put himself under bondage to all if he was free from all?
Look for the purpose statement in the verse and notice that he chose this service so that he might gain more.
02What boundary does Paul give when speaking about becoming as one without law?
Read the bracketed explanation carefully and note how Paul still describes his relationship to God and to Christ.
03What repeated goal ties together Paul’s actions toward Jews, those under the law, those without law, and the weak?
Trace the repeated words gain, win, save, and the final statement about acting for the sake of the Good News.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 9:19–23
19For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
20To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain 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 gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.