1 Corinthians 9:22
New International Version
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

New Living Translation
When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

English Standard Version
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

Berean Standard Bible
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

Berean Literal Bible
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all these things to all, so that by all means I might save some.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

New American Standard Bible
To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.

NASB 1995
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

NASB 1977
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

Legacy Standard Bible
To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

Amplified Bible
To the weak I became [as the] weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means [in any and every way] save some [by leading them to faith in Jesus Christ].

Christian Standard Bible
To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some.

American Standard Version
To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
I was with the weak as weak that I might gain the weak. I was everything to every person that I might give life to every person.

Contemporary English Version
When I am with people whose faith is weak, I live as they do to win them. I do everything I can to win everyone I possibly can.

Douay-Rheims Bible
To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all.

English Revised Version
To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I became like a person weak in faith to win those who are weak in faith. I have become everything to everyone in order to save at least some of them.

Good News Translation
Among the weak in faith I become weak like one of them, in order to win them. So I become all things to all people, that I may save some of them by whatever means are possible.

International Standard Version
To the weak I became weak in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some of them.

Literal Standard Version
to the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some.

Majority Standard Bible
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

New American Bible
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some.

NET Bible
To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.

New Revised Standard Version
To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.

New Heart English Bible
To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I may by all means save some.

Webster's Bible Translation
To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak: I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Weymouth New Testament
To the weak I have become weak, so as to gain the weak. To all men I have become all things, in the hope that in every one of these ways I may save some.

World English Bible
To 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.

Young's Literal Translation
I became to the infirm as infirm, that the infirm I might gain; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul the Servant to All
21To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.…

Cross References
Romans 11:14
in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.

Romans 14:1
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on his opinions.

Romans 14:2
For one person has faith to eat all things, while another, who is weak, eats only vegetables.

Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Romans 15:2
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

1 Corinthians 9:23
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 10:33
as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

1 Corinthians 8:13
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Romans 15:1
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Corinthians 11:29
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

I am.

1 Corinthians 10:33
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

that I might by.

1 Corinthians 9:19
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

1 Corinthians 7:16
For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

Romans 11:14
If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

Jump to Previous
Events Feeble Gain Hope Means Possible Salvation Save Ways Weak Win
Jump to Next
Events Feeble Gain Hope Means Possible Salvation Save Ways Weak Win
1 Corinthians 9
1. He shows his liberty;
7. and that the minister ought to receive a living by the Gospel;
15. yet that himself has of his own accord abstained,
18. to be neither chargeable unto them,
22. nor offensive unto any, in matters indifferent.
24. Our life is like unto a race.














(22) To the weak.--We can scarcely take this (as some do) to refer to weak Christians, of whom he has spoken in 1 Corinthians 8. The whole passage treats of the attitude which the Apostle assumed towards various classes outside the Christian Church, that he might gain them as converts. The words "I became," which have introduced the various classes in 1Corinthians 9:20, are here again repeated, and this passage seems to be an explanation and reiteration of what had gone before. "It was to the weak points (not to the strong points) of Jews, proselytes, and Gentiles that I assimilated myself. To the weak ones among all these classes I became weak, that I might gain those weak ones."

I am made all things to all. . . .--Better, I am become all things to all men that I should save at least some. Although he had thus accommodated himself, so far as was possible, consistently with Christian duty, to the weaknesses of all, he could only hope to win some of them. The natural climax would have been--"I become all things to all men that I might win all." But the Apostle's humility could not let him dare to hope for so great a reward as that. All the self-sacrifice he could make was necessary to gain "at all events some," and that would be his ample reward. The word "save" means "win over to Christianity," as in 1Corinthians 7:16, and is used here instead of the previous word "gain," being repeated to prevent any possible perversion of the Apostle's meaning as to "gaining men." His subject was not, as enemies might suggest, to win them to himself--but to Christ.

Verse 22. - To the weak. His whole argument here is a plea for condescension to the infirmities of weak converts. A similar condescension to their prejudices might be necessary to win them to Christianity at all (1 Corinthians 8:13; "We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves," Romans 15:1). St. Paul often touches on our duties to weak brethren (1 Corinthians 8:7; Romans 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Acts 20:35). All things to all men. He repeats the same principle in 1 Corinthians 10:33, "I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved;" and once more, at the end of his course (2 Timothy 2:10). This condescension laid him open to the malicious attacks of religious enemies (Galatians 1:10). But not on that account would St. Paul ever be led to abandon the fruitful aid of that universal sympathy and tolerance which is one of the best tests of Christian love. That I might by all means save some. He adds this explanation of the motive of his condescension to various scruples συγατάβασις) lest any should accuse him of men pleasing, as some of his Galatian opponents had done (Galatians 1:10). In his desire to win souls he acted with the wisdom and sympathy taught by experience, suppressing himself.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
To the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

weak
ἀσθενέσιν (asthenesin)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 772: (lit: not strong), (a) weak (physically, or morally), (b) infirm, sick. Strengthless.

I became
ἐγενόμην (egenomēn)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

weak,
ἀσθενής (asthenēs)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 772: (lit: not strong), (a) weak (physically, or morally), (b) infirm, sick. Strengthless.

to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

win
κερδήσω (kerdēsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2770: To gain, acquire, win (over), avoid loss. From kerdos; to gain.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

weak.
ἀσθενεῖς (astheneis)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 772: (lit: not strong), (a) weak (physically, or morally), (b) infirm, sick. Strengthless.

I have become
γέγονα (gegona)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

all
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

things
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

to all [men],
πᾶσιν (pasin)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

by all possible means
πάντως (pantōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3843: Wholly, entirely, in every way, by all means, certainly. Adverb from pas; entirely; specially, at all events, in no event.

I might save
σώσω (sōsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

some [of them].
τινὰς (tinas)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.


Links
1 Corinthians 9:22 NIV
1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT
1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV
1 Corinthians 9:22 NASB
1 Corinthians 9:22 KJV

1 Corinthians 9:22 BibleApps.com
1 Corinthians 9:22 Biblia Paralela
1 Corinthians 9:22 Chinese Bible
1 Corinthians 9:22 French Bible
1 Corinthians 9:22 Catholic Bible

NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak I became as weak (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 9:21
Top of Page
Top of Page