SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:21
a los que son sin ley, como si yo fuera sin ley, (no estando yo sin ley de Dios, sino en la ley de Cristo,) por ganar a los que estaban sin ley.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:21
Verse 21. 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. ii. 15. Being not without law to God] Instead of qew, TO God, and cristw, TO Christ, the most important MSS. and versions have qeou, OF God, and cristou, 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. To them that are without law, as without law , etc.] Meaning the Gentiles, who, though they were not without the law of nature, nor without many good civil laws, by which the more cultivated and civilized nations among them were governed, yet they were without the written law of Moses; a description of the Gentiles, usual with the Jews; (see Romans 2:12,14). And to these the apostle accommodated himself, as if he was without the law; by conversing with them without any difference; by eating any sort of food with them; by not circumcising Titus, when the Jews would have had it done; and by resisting Peter, when he, by his example, would have influenced the Gentiles to have lived as did the Jews: being not without law to God ; or the law of God, the moral law; for though he was delivered from the curse and condemnation of it, and as a covenant of works, and the ministry of it by Moses, yet not from the matter of it, and obedience to it, as a rule of walk and conversation: and therefore his compliance with the Gentiles was not in anything that was contrary to the moral law; nor did he act as one that had nothing to do with that law, but as one that was under the law to Christ , or under the law of Christ; that is, the law of love, which obliged him to take every lawful and proper method for the good of such souls: that I might gain them that were without law ; to believe in Christ for life and salvation, and to serve the law of God as in the hands of Christ, the only Lawgiver and King in his church; in testimony of their gratitude to him, for the blessings of grace received by him, without having any dependence on their obedience to it, for acceptance with God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-23 - It is the glory of a minister to deny himself, that he may serve Chris and save souls. But when a minister gives up his right for the sake of the gospel, he does more than his charge and office demands. By preaching the gospel, freely, the apostle showed that he acted from principles of zeal and love, and thus enjoyed much comfort and hope in his soul. And though he looked on the ceremonial law as a yoke take off by Christ, yet he submitted to it, that he might work upon the Jews, do away their prejudices, prevail with them to hear the gospel and win them over to Christ. Though he would transgress no laws of Christ, to please any man, yet he would accommodate himself to all men where he might do it lawfully, to gain some. Doing good was the stud and business of his life; and, that he might reach this end, he did no stand on privileges. We must carefully watch against extremes, an against relying on any thing but trust in Christ alone. We must no allow errors or faults, so as to hurt others, or disgrace the gospel.
Greek Textus Receptus
τοις 3588 T-DPM ανομοις 459 A-DPM ως 5613 ADV ανομος 459 A-NSM μη 3361 PRT-N ων 5607 5752 V-PXP-NSM ανομος 459 A-NSM θεω 2316 N-DSM αλλ 235 CONJ εννομος 1772 A-NSM χριστω 5547 N-DSM ινα 2443 CONJ κερδησω 2770 5661 V-AAS-1S ανομους 459 A-APM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
21. Without law (anomov). 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 (ennomov). The expression differs from that in ver. 20, uJpo nomon under law, though with only a shade of difference in meaning. Ennomov means subject to the law, but in the sense of keeping within (en) the law.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:21 {To them that are without law} (tois anomois). The heathen, those outside the Mosaic law (#Ro 2:14), not lawless (#Lu 22:37; Ac 2:23; 1Ti 1:9). See how Paul bore himself with the pagans (#Ac 14:15; 17:23; 24:25), and how he quoted heathen poets. "Not being an outlaw of God, but an inlaw of Christ" (Evans, Estius has it _exlex, inlex_, m "n anomos qeou, all' ennomos cristou). The genitive case of qeou and cristou (specifying case) comes out better thus, for it seems unusual with anomos and ennomos, both old and regular adjectives.
