1st Corinthians Chapter 9 verse 21 Holy Bible
to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.
read chapter 9 in ASV
To those without the law I was as one without the law, not as being without law to God, but as under law to Christ, so that I might give the good news to those without the law.
read chapter 9 in BBE
to those without law, as without law, (not as without law to God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain [those] without law.
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To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
read chapter 9 in KJV
read chapter 9 in WBT
to 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.
read chapter 9 in WEB
to those without law, as without law -- (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) -- that I might gain those without law;
read chapter 9 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 21. - To them that are without law, as without law. In other words, I so far became to the heathen as a heathen (Romans 2:12), that I never wilfully insulted their beliefs (Acts 19:87) nor shocked their prejudices, but on the contrary, judged them with perfect forbearance (Acts 17:30) and treated them with invariable courtesy. St, Paul tried to look at every subject, so far as he could do so innocently, from 'their point of view (Acts 17.). He defended their gospel liberty, and had intercourse with Gentile converts on terms of perfect equality (Galatians 2:12). Not without law to God. Not even "without law" (anomos) Much less "opposed to law" (antiheroes), though free from it as a bondage (Galatians 2:19). The need for this qualification is shown by the fact that in the Clementine writings, in the spurious letter of Peter to James, St. Paul is surreptitiously calumniated as "the lawless one." Even the Gentiles were "not without law to God" (Romans 2:14, 15). So that St. Paul is here using language which base opponents might distort, but which the common sense of honest readers would prevent them from misinterpreting.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) To them that are without law--i.e., the heathen. St. Paul adapted himself to their habits and mode of thought when necessary. He quoted from their literature (Acts 17:28); he based an argument on the inscriptions on their altars (Acts 17:23); and he did not require them to adopt Jewish ceremonies (Galatians 2:9; Galatians 2:11). The parenthesis explains in what sense only St. Paul was "without" the Law, so as to prevent the possibility of this statement being used as a justification of lawlessness. As being one with Christ, he was indeed under the law of God as revealed in the person, work, and teaching of the Lord. (See Galatians 6:2.)
