1 Corinthians 9:22
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
To the weak as weak and all things to all men means adapting the manner of labor and the presentation of truth to people's conditions and circumstances, meeting them where they are and on common ground so as not to needlessly arouse prejudice, that some may be won to salvation. Toward those weak in faith it means showing tenderness, sympathy, patience, kindness and courtesy toward their understanding and scruples rather than contempt, in order to win their confidence and bring them to Christ. It does not mean sacrificing one jot of principle, abandoning obedience to God, vacillating in faith or changing any doctrine of God's word, but remaining firmly grounded under the law to Christ and firm on essentials such as salvation only in Christ. In practice it means approaching Jews by honoring the Old Testament Scriptures, types and prophecies and exalting Christ as their fulfillment, and approaching Gentiles by first preaching Christ as the only hope of salvation and then presenting the law of God as the test of obedience. It calls for a winning manner of humility, courtesy and tender sympathy even for the roughest cases, and for following Christ's social, beneficent life by meeting all classes where they are rather than secluding from others.
Meaning and Limits
Paul adapted his manner of labor to the condition and circumstances of the people he hoped to reach, meeting them where they were and on common ground so as not to needlessly arouse prejudice, that he might win some to salvation. Becoming like those he served meant shaping the approach, presentation of Scripture, and order of teaching to their background, including the weak, and serving them as far as possible without vacillating in faith, for he remained firmly grounded while seeking to reach them. In settings where expressing some features of faith would at once provoke opposition, he retained his faithfulness to God and Christ while choosing a way of speaking that could help people hear the truth. To be weak as the weak is to show tenderness toward those weak in faith, adapting to their understanding and scruples with sympathy, love, patience, kindness, courtesy and consideration rather than contempt or needless provocation. This gentleness is exercised only as far as can be done without sacrificing principle, and its purpose is to win confidence, overcome prejudice, teach truth, and bring them to faith in Christ so that some may be saved.
By all means saving some calls for unselfish, personal effort to save souls, using every fitting opportunity, giving time and labor, approaching neighbors with sympathy and love, praying for them, looking for ways to help them, and sharing Scripture without hiding the truth. The work is to be done as Christ worked, drawing people from sin to righteousness and leading unbelieving neighbors and friends to salvation. Becoming all things to all men does not mean sacrificing one jot of principle, abandoning obedience to God and the law of Christ, vacillating in faith, changing any doctrine of God's word, or making concessions contrary to integrity. It means remaining firmly grounded, remaining under the law to Christ, and holding fast essentials such as salvation only in Christ while adapting methods of work. It does not mean being led away by the sophistry and maxims of men, or agreeing with those who teach for doctrine the commandments of men, or letting love wax cold because iniquity and transgression are in the ascendancy and advancing. All zeal and earnestness in allegiance to the law of God are to be retained even while holding back for a time what hearers are not ready to receive.
Becoming all things to all men means studying carefully when to speak, what to say and what to leave unsaid with unbelievers, rather than speaking the whole truth on every occasion. Beginning with teachings hearers can accept, bearing with their prejudices and setting aside personal feelings, and leading them gradually to the gospel is not deception but right soul-winning work that removes prejudice and saves souls. Accommodation of customs is permitted only when it does not conflict with mission or compromise truth. The verse requires not clinging to personal dignity or inflexible, exact rules when they prevent reaching those who most need help, but seeking the good and salvation of others rather than self-pleasing or self-interest. It requires setting aside excessive independence and self-seeking, including all desire for self-recognition and self-supremacy, hiding self in Christ in meekness and lowliness, foregoing personal wishes, judgment, ideas and plans, refusing to work alone or take offense when others do not follow self, and willingly uniting with brethren to help and encourage others and rejoice if God is glorified by their labors. Ministers are thus to approach people with humility, courtesy and tender sympathy and avoid irritating those whose hearts are affected by prejudice, since even those who seem uninterested are still within reach of grace and precious to God, and such unselfish adaptation marks efficient service as a good soldier of the cross.
Adapting Message and Manner
To Jews becoming all things means being as zealous as the most zealous for the law while retaining all zeal and earnestness in allegiance to the law of God, showing perfect familiarity with the Old Testament Scriptures, dwelling on the types and shadows that typified Christ and on prophecies testifying of His mission and work, exalting Christ and His special work for humanity, and opening precious light on prophecies not yet seen. It means not telling them first that they must believe in Jesus of Nazareth, but leading step by step, giving due honor to the ceremonial law by showing Christ instituted the whole Jewish economy in sacrificial service, and laying the foundation carefully and nicely without offense and without at once arousing prejudice by expressing features of faith they are not ready for. When spirits soften through that careful preparation, then Jesus made flesh dwelling among men can be held up as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and the first advent brought forward to show every specification fulfilled in the crucified Jesus.
To Gentiles it means preaching Christ as the only hope of salvation with nothing definite at first on the law, not approaching by exalting the law but by exalting Christ as God's gift and only hope, warming hearts with the costly sacrifice manifesting God's love for Jew and Gentile and calling for surrender of the heart. When hearts are melted and subdued, then the law of God is presented as the test of obedience and Christ is revealed in the law through the types and Old Testament Scriptures, leading to conversion to Christ and to the law. The light reflected from the cross of Calvary is plainly presented as giving significance and glory to the whole Jewish economy, for abrupt unskillful handling of the Word reaches neither Jew nor Gentile, while patient careful study of the best method gains access to hearts and through them to other hearts with far-reaching influence, though some will not be convinced by any method.
In new fields where people do not know the faith it means not presenting the Sabbath first, not running down the churches and not letting people think the work is to tear down. It means coming close to hearts by personal labor, building up and presenting truth as it is in Jesus, dwelling much on vital godliness, and dwelling first on conscience-arousing subjects, practical godliness, devotion and piety, and the self-denying self-sacrificing life of Jesus as example until people see the contrast with their self-indulgent unchristian lives and become dissatisfied. Then the prophecies are presented and the purity and binding claims of the law of God shown, that not one jot or tittle loses its force but holds binding upon every soul to the end of time, and this cautious course is the guile of Paul, the wisdom of the serpent with the harmlessness of the dove.
It allows adapting in matters of custom and ceremony and accommodating local practices of no vital importance when they do not conflict with God's law, so that no one is turned from truth over unessential things. In the Southern field this means using Sunday for missionary work rather than urging people to work that day, so as not to create needless barriers to accepting the message of Jesus. This flexibility does not make teaching uncertain nor change any doctrine established by God's word, for firmness remains on essentials with salvation found only in Christ.
In teaching health reform it means not pressing the most advanced dietary requirements until people have been taught how to prepare food that is palatable, nourishing and affordable, meeting people where they are and adapting teaching to their circumstances. In caring for patients it means not pressing unfamiliar points of faith or drawing them into needless controversy, but approaching with care and clear patient considerate explanation when they are willing to hear, which weakens prejudice and prepares hearts to receive truth without sacrificing any principle.
It calls for a winning manner and the loving spirit Jesus manifested, because salvation of the soul is precious and souls can never be compelled, requiring coming just as near to others as possible while still preserving integrity. It requires setting aside excessive independence and unbending from being set in one's own way, cultivating humbleness of mind, the softening influence of grace, strict justice, purity, integrity, love, noble generosity, gentle benignity and loving tenderness that drew the poorest, humblest and little children without fear. It requires humility, courtesy, tender sympathy, kind manners, a pleasant loving face, expressions of sympathy, respect and deference to the judgment of others, and tender sympathy even for the roughest hardest cases and those showing no apparent interest because they are still subjects of grace and precious to God. It forbids crowding and pressing anyone, bearing down to censure, repulsing others, becoming objectionable by stern manners, making items of dress a test when Christian character is otherwise consistent, needlessly provoking or showing contempt to those weak in faith, and irritating hearts affected by prejudice, for meeting scruples and understanding with sympathy, love, patience, kindness and courtesy wins confidence, melts callous prejudice, opens closed hearts and teaches truth to bring to Christ, doing more apart from pulpit effort than preaching without these graces.
It forbids renouncing social communion and secluding from others, and requires following the inspiring authoritative social beneficent life of Christ by joining with the interests of humanity in order to save people, because they will seldom seek truth on their own. It requires not shunning society but seeking it to bestow heavenly benefits, ordering contact with the world to keep calm hallowed peace and gain sacred thorough knowledge of how to meet men with their prejudices where they are and minister light, comfort and peace found in accepting truth. Hearts are touched by divine truth not only from the pulpit but in another humbler yet equally promising field, in the home of the lowly and in the mansion of the great, at the shared table and in gatherings for innocent social enjoyment, meeting all classes where they are. It calls for a kind generous spirit toward the poor, feeling as God's stewards holding all not as their own but lent in trust to advance Christ's cause on earth.
It means meeting people where they are without compromising truth and without denying truth, meeting them as near as conscience allows, giving those in error credit for honesty, agreeing with them where possible and approaching with caution and wisdom. It means finding common ground with those not of the faith to agree in principles and in the lessons of Christ, rather than shutting light within four walls where it cannot reach others, since few will become combative over those holy principles. Love for people and thoughtful agreement wherever possible help open hearts so prejudice does not shut them against truth and the light can benefit them that some may be saved.
The verse is a comforting Scripture bringing joy and comfort, calling believers to arise in the strength of God and build for time and eternity, working together with God in building and fitting character and improving every capability to glorify Him, trusting He is able to do all things and committing the keeping of the soul to Him as a faithful Creator who gives strength for service. Those moved by its apostolic spirit become wholehearted missionaries giving themselves to win perishing souls to Christ, willing to spend themselves in the work, reflecting God's love and grace, with the victories in winning souls credited to God.