1 Corinthians 9:22

asilentone

I have become all things to all men. What does it mean?

I think it becomes clearer if you read from verse 19 to verse 23. I think Paul acted in accordance to the beliefs and customs held by different groups of men; so that he could relate to them and vice versa, and in doing so, bring as many men to Christ and salvation as possible.

Tammy

glenster

Also see 1 Cor.10:31--11:1.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God. Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just
as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit
of the many, so that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, just as I also am
of Christ. (NASB)

Compared to a Jewish-centric way, with food and clothes rules that just divide
people without ethical need, with the belief as the law of the land and a nation
with a military to defend it, they're to go among Jews and Gentiles anywhere,
without giving offense, for who might be gained to God.

It's one of the things people who made Christianity the law of the land
centuries later screwed up.

Muhammad claimed to correct or improve the Bible, but I think it was a re-
gression. He brought back a nation with the religion as the law of the land
(having the belief or non-belief view as the law of the land, you get people
hurt or killed over something people shouldn't be hurt or killed over; an
exception could be made for a divine intervention, although I haven't seen one),
a military to defend it, and clothes and food rules.

Too retro. That was already fixed and he screwed it up again.

Psychotic Parrot

What he's saying is that after a few drinks he's anybody's. And they can do whatever they want with him.

He is one kinky rascal!

PSacramento

Never take a single verse and try to see its meaning without the help of the rest of the verses, chapters, book AND what is know of the author.

We see this done too many times to justify a mirad of crap.

When scholars write a commentary on a book or letter, they research the history, the background, as much as they can about the author AND the intended audience.

Mad Sweeney

He means that doctrine isn't really important and that he wasn't going to bend over backwards to control the ideas of others. It was more important for him to let them have their culture and self-respect along with Christ than to force Christ on them while destroying their culture and self-respect. That's my take.