All Things to All People: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Free. Eleutheros. Paul owed no one. Answered to no one. Belonged to no one.

And yet—I have made myself a slave. Edoulosa—enslaved myself. Voluntary slavery. To everyone. To win as many as possible. The freedom spent for others. The liberty leveraged for evangelism.

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.

To the Jews. Paul was Jewish by birth. But in Christ, the law's demands were fulfilled. Yet when among Jews, he lived Jewishly. Observed the customs. Kept the food laws. Not because he had to. To win them.

To those under the law. Torah-observant Jews. He became like one under the law. Lived as though Torah-bound. Though I myself am not under the law. The parenthetical clarification. He wasn't obligated. He was free. But he adapted.

To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.

To those not having the law. Gentiles. The nations without Torah. Paul became like one not having the law. He ate with them. Didn't impose Jewish customs.

Though I am not free from God's law. Another parenthetical. Not lawless. Not antinomian. But am under Christ's law. Ennomos Christou. In-lawed to Christ. Christ's law governed. That was different from Torah's external demands.

To win those not having the law. The same goal. Different method. Same salvation offered.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.

To the weak. Those with scruples. Those with tender consciences. Those who couldn't eat idol meat, couldn't drink wine, couldn't exercise the freedom others enjoyed.

I became weak. Accommodated. Didn't flaunt freedom. Didn't trample their conscience.

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

All things to all people. Panta pasin gegona. Not chameleon. Not compromising truth. But flexing on non-essentials. Adapting method while preserving message.

By all possible means. Pantos. Every way possible. I might save some. Sozo. Not all—but some. Worth any accommodation.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

For the sake of the gospel. Dia to euangelion. The gospel drove the adaptation. That I may share in its blessings. Sunkoinonos—co-partner. Paul wanted participation in the gospel's rewards.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

The athletic metaphor. Corinth knew the Isthmian Games—second only to the Olympics. Races. Runners. Prizes.

All the runners run. Pantes men trechousin. Everyone on the track competes. Only one gets the prize. One winner.

Run in such a way as to get the prize. Houtos trechete. Run to win. Not to participate. To win.

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Strict training. Egkrateuetai—exercises self-control. The athletes disciplined themselves. Diet. Exercise. Sleep. Abstinence. Rigorous preparation.

They do it to get a crown that will not last. The Isthmian crown was pine or celery. It wilted. Decayed. Disappeared.

We do it to get a crown that will last forever. Aphtharton—incorruptible, unfading. Eternal reward for temporal discipline.

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

Not aimlessly. Adelos—uncertainly, without clear direction. Paul knew where he was going.

Not like a boxer beating the air. Aera deron—hitting air. Shadow boxing without opponent. Paul's blows landed. His effort connected.

No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I strike a blow to my body. Hupopiazo—bruise, give a black eye to. Make it my slave. Doulagogo—lead as a slave. The body that wanted to rule had to be ruled.

So that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. Adokimos—disapproved, rejected after testing. The preacher who proclaimed could still fail. The evangelist who won others could still lose.

Paul took that risk seriously.

The discipline was not optional.

The body had to be mastered.

The race had to be run with purpose.

The prize was eternal.

Disqualification was possible.

So Paul ran.

All things to all people.

Body under control.

Eyes on the prize.

Running to win.