1 Corinthians 9:19-21
Paul is not bound to anyone, but acts as a servant to everyone, in hopes of winning people to the Messiah.
To the Jews Paul became like a Jew. Was Paul a Jew to begin with? According to his own statements recorded in Acts 21:39 and Acts 22:3 he was. So when Paul says he became “like a Jew” it did not negate him from being a Jew himself. I take Paul to mean he adopted the culture and practice of the unbelieving Jewish people (so long as it did not violate Torah), blending in, in hopes that they would listen better to his message about Messiah.
Then Paul mentions “to those under the law.” I don’t see how those under the law are any different from the Jews he just mentioned. He becomes as one under the law, even though he is not one who is under the law. Remember this here: when Paul said he became “like a Jew” it didn’t mean he wasn’t a Jew. So if one takes the phrase “under the law” here to mean “living according to the Law of Moses” it doesn’t mean Paul is relieving himself totally from that way of life. He can be subject to the Law of Moses in one sense and yet still make an effort to be like those subject to the Law of Moses.
However, I think Paul is more likely speaking about him being under the grace given through Messiah rather than under the condemnation of the law (similar to the context of Romans 6:14-15). Paul’s statement about not being under the law does not mean that he continues in sin, but rather that he is not under the law in the sense that those apart from Messiah are; under the penalty of the law. Apart from the work of Messiah, every Israelite remains under the condemning power of the law. That condemnation is lifted in Messiah (Romans 8:1). Paul is not really giving a dissertation about obedience or non-obedience to Torah here, he is speaking of getting on the level of people who are not exactly as he.
Next Paul mentions those outside the law, and I take this to mean those who are not Jews (or Israelites). This would be heathen cultures. Paul becomes like one outside the law, but this doesn’t mean that he has disregarded Yahweh's law, for he states he is under the law to the Messiah. In other words, he sometimes adopts the culture of those that do not know Yahweh or His Messiah, but not to the extent of making void the law. Take special note here the the phrase “under the law” (to Messiah) in verse 21 is different from the phrase “under the law” in verse 20. Verse 20 uses “hypo nomos” while verse 21 uses “ennomos.” I bring this up in case anyone tries to argue that if we say “under the law” in verse 20 is “under the condemnation of the law” then that must mean we have to say “under the law to Messiah” means “under the condemnation of the law to Messiah.” Reading it the English sounds like that would be a good point, but noticing the difference in Greek helps see that two concepts are spoken of here. Ennomos (vs. 21) carries with it the meaning of “within or subject to the law of Messiah;” the Lexham English Bible translates it this way. This is used in contrast to anomos, translated as “outside the law” in the same verse. So “under the law to Messiah” (vs. 21) means Paul is subject to the law of Messiah (the way Messiah walked out Torah). But, “under the law” in verse 20 carries with it the idea of being under the condemning power of Torah as a unbelieving Jew.
Then Paul mentions becoming weak to those who are weak, and concludes by saying that his purpose for becoming all things to all men is the hope of winning some of them to the faith.
I do not see anything in these verses that would lead me to believe that the “law of Messiah” is different than the “law of Moses,” (Yeshua and Moshe are on the same team). Paul is simply talking about how he, to the best extent possible, makes an effort to “get on the level” of differing persons.
We would do well to heed to Paul’s example here, instead of making unnecessary boundaries between ourselves and people who aren’t exactly like us. This will get us in trouble with religious people, but we shouldn’t let that bother us. Yeshua himself upset the religious applecart of his day. None of this means we compromise Torah or Scriptural Principles of living.
To the Jews Paul became like a Jew. Was Paul a Jew to begin with? According to his own statements recorded in Acts 21:39 and Acts 22:3 he was. So when Paul says he became “like a Jew” it did not negate him from being a Jew himself. I take Paul to mean he adopted the culture and practice of the unbelieving Jewish people (so long as it did not violate Torah), blending in, in hopes that they would listen better to his message about Messiah.
Then Paul mentions “to those under the law.” I don’t see how those under the law are any different from the Jews he just mentioned. He becomes as one under the law, even though he is not one who is under the law. Remember this here: when Paul said he became “like a Jew” it didn’t mean he wasn’t a Jew. So if one takes the phrase “under the law” here to mean “living according to the Law of Moses” it doesn’t mean Paul is relieving himself totally from that way of life. He can be subject to the Law of Moses in one sense and yet still make an effort to be like those subject to the Law of Moses.
However, I think Paul is more likely speaking about him being under the grace given through Messiah rather than under the condemnation of the law (similar to the context of Romans 6:14-15). Paul’s statement about not being under the law does not mean that he continues in sin, but rather that he is not under the law in the sense that those apart from Messiah are; under the penalty of the law. Apart from the work of Messiah, every Israelite remains under the condemning power of the law. That condemnation is lifted in Messiah (Romans 8:1). Paul is not really giving a dissertation about obedience or non-obedience to Torah here, he is speaking of getting on the level of people who are not exactly as he.
Next Paul mentions those outside the law, and I take this to mean those who are not Jews (or Israelites). This would be heathen cultures. Paul becomes like one outside the law, but this doesn’t mean that he has disregarded Yahweh's law, for he states he is under the law to the Messiah. In other words, he sometimes adopts the culture of those that do not know Yahweh or His Messiah, but not to the extent of making void the law. Take special note here the the phrase “under the law” (to Messiah) in verse 21 is different from the phrase “under the law” in verse 20. Verse 20 uses “hypo nomos” while verse 21 uses “ennomos.” I bring this up in case anyone tries to argue that if we say “under the law” in verse 20 is “under the condemnation of the law” then that must mean we have to say “under the law to Messiah” means “under the condemnation of the law to Messiah.” Reading it the English sounds like that would be a good point, but noticing the difference in Greek helps see that two concepts are spoken of here. Ennomos (vs. 21) carries with it the meaning of “within or subject to the law of Messiah;” the Lexham English Bible translates it this way. This is used in contrast to anomos, translated as “outside the law” in the same verse. So “under the law to Messiah” (vs. 21) means Paul is subject to the law of Messiah (the way Messiah walked out Torah). But, “under the law” in verse 20 carries with it the idea of being under the condemning power of Torah as a unbelieving Jew.
Then Paul mentions becoming weak to those who are weak, and concludes by saying that his purpose for becoming all things to all men is the hope of winning some of them to the faith.
I do not see anything in these verses that would lead me to believe that the “law of Messiah” is different than the “law of Moses,” (Yeshua and Moshe are on the same team). Paul is simply talking about how he, to the best extent possible, makes an effort to “get on the level” of differing persons.
We would do well to heed to Paul’s example here, instead of making unnecessary boundaries between ourselves and people who aren’t exactly like us. This will get us in trouble with religious people, but we shouldn’t let that bother us. Yeshua himself upset the religious applecart of his day. None of this means we compromise Torah or Scriptural Principles of living.