1 COR 9:21 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) To those outside our religious rules, I behave like them (although not so far as to disobey God’s law, because I’m under Messiah’s law) in order to win them over.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT To the ones without law, I became as without law (not being without the law of God, but under the law of Christ) so that I might gain the ones without law.

UST When I am with people who do not obey Moses’ law, I act like someone who does not obey Moses’ law. I act this way so that I can help the people who do not obey Moses’ law to believe in the Messiah. Of course, I do obey God’s law, since I do what the Messiah commanded.

BLB To those outside the Law, as outside the Law (not being outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ) so that I might win those outside the Law.

AICNT To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

OEB To those who have no Law I became like a man who has no Law – not that I am free from God’s Law; no, for I am under Christ’s Law – to win those who have no law.

WEBBE to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law towards God, but under law towards Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

WMBB to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law towards God, but under law towards Messiah), that I might win those who are without law.

NET To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.

LSV 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;

FBV To those who don't operate according to the law,[fn] I behave like them, (though not disregarding God's law, but operating under the law of Christ), so that I might gain those who don't observe the law.

9:21 Meaning those who are not Jews, who do not observe the law of Moses.

TCNT To those outside the law I became like one outside the law (though I am not outside the law of God but under the law of Christ), so that I might win those outside the law.

T4T When I was with ◄non-Jews/those who do not know those laws►, I did the things that non-Jews think that people should do, in order that I might convince some of them to trust in Christ. I do not mean that I disobey God’s laws. No, I obey the things that Christ commanded us to do.

LEB To those outside the law I became as outside the law (although I[fn] am not outside the law of God, but subject to the law of Christ) in order that I may gain those outside the law.

9:21 *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“am”) which is understood as concessive

BBE 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.

Moff to those outside the Law I have become like one of themselves--
⇔ though I am under Christ's law, not outside God's Law--
⇔ to win over those outside the Law;

Wymth to men without Law as if I were without Law—although I am not without Law in relation to God but am abiding in Christ's Law—in order to win those who are without Law.

ASV 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.

DRA To them that are under the law, as if I were under the law, (whereas myself was not under the law,) that I might gain them that were under the law. To them that were without the law, as if I were without the law, (whereas I was not without the law of God, but was in the law of Christ,) that I might gain them that were without the law.

YLT 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;

Drby to those without law, as without law, (not as without law to [fn]God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain [those] without law.

9.21 Elohim

RV 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.

SLT To the lawless, as lawless, (not being lawless to God, but subject to the law to Christ,) that I might gain the lawless,

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 To them that are without Law, as without Law (being not without Law to God, but vnder the Law to Christ,) that I might gaine them that are without Law.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps To them that are without lawe, become as though I were without lawe, (when I was not without law as parteyning to the lawe of God, but in the lawe of Christe) to winne them that are without lawe.
(To them that are without law, become as though I were without law, (when I was not without law as pertaining to the law of God, but in the law of Christ) to win them that are without law.)

Gnva To them that are without Lawe, as though I were without Lawe, (when I am not without Lawe as pertaining to God, but am in the Lawe through Christ) that I may winne them that are without Lawe:
(To them that are without Law, as though I were without Law, (when I am not without Law as pertaining to God, but am in the Law through Christ) that I may win them that are without Law: )

Cvdl Vnto them that are without lawe, I am become as though I were without lawe (where as yet I am not without the lawe of God, but am in ye lawe of Christ) to wynne the that are without lawe.
(Unto them that are without law, I am become as though I were without law (where as yet I am not without the law of God, but am in ye/you_all law of Christ) to win the that are without law.)

TNT To them that were without lawe became I as though I had bene without lawe (when I was not without lawe as perteyninge to god but vnder a lawe as concerninge Christ) to wynne the that were without lawe.
(To them that were without law became I as though I had been without law (when I was not without law as pertaining to god but under a law as concerninge Christ) to win the that were without law. )

Wycl as Y were vndur the lawe, whanne Y was not vndur the lawe, to wynne hem that weren vndur the lawe; to hem that weren with out lawe, as Y were with out lawe, whanne Y was not with out the lawe of God, but Y was in the lawe of Crist, to wynne hem that weren with out lawe.
(as I were under the law, when I was not under the law, to win hem that were under the law; to hem that were with out law, as I were with out law, when I was not with out the law of God, but I was in the law of Christ, to win hem that were with out law.)

Luth Denen, die ohne Gesetz sind, bin ich als ohne Gesetz worden (so ich doch nicht ohne Gesetz bin vor GOtt, sondern bin in dem Gesetz Christi), auf daß ich die, so ohne Gesetz sind, gewinne.
(Those, the without law are, am I as without law been (so I though/but not without law am before/in_front_of God, rather am in to_him law Christi), on/in/to that I that, so without law are, wins.)

ClVg iis qui sub lege sunt, quasi sub lege essem (cum ipse non essem sub lege) ut eos qui sub lege erant, lucrifacerem: iis qui sine lege erant, tamquam sine lege essem (cum sine lege Dei non essem: sed in lege essem Christi) ut lucrifacerem eos qui sine lege erant.[fn]
(to_them who/which under lawfully are, as_if under lawfully I_would_be (cum exactly_that/himself not/no I_would_be under lawfully) as them who/which under lawfully they_were, lucrifacerem: to_them who/which without lawfully they_were, as_if without lawfully I_would_be (cum without lawfully of_God not/no I_would_be: but in/into/on lawfully I_would_be Christi) as lucrifacerem them who/which without lawfully they_were. )

9.21 His qui sub lege, etc. Samaritanis qui libros Moysi recipiunt, quibus non coutuntur Judæi. Sunt autem ex origine Persarum, quos sublato Isræl posuit rex Assyriorum vel Persarum ad incolenda loca Samariæ.

9.21 His who/which under lawfully, etc. Samaritanis who/which books of_Moses they_receive, to_whom not/no coutuntur Jews. They_are however from origine Persarum, which by_removing Israel put king Assyriorum or Persarum to incolenda places Samaria.

UGNT τοῖς ἀνόμοις, ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος Θεοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἔννομος Χριστοῦ, ἵνα κερδάνω τοὺς ἀνόμους.
(tois anomois, hōs anomos, maʸ ōn anomos Theou, all’ ennomos Ⱪristou, hina kerdanō tous anomous.)

SBL-GNT τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος ⸀θεοῦ ἀλλʼ ἔννομος ⸀Χριστοῦ, ἵνα ⸀κερδάνω ⸀τοὺς ἀνόμους·
(tois anomois hōs anomos, maʸ ōn anomos ⸀theou allʼ ennomos ⸀Ⱪristou, hina ⸀kerdanō ⸀tous anomous;)

RP-GNT τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος θεῷ ἀλλ' ἔννομος χριστῷ, ἵνα κερδήσω ἀνόμους.
(tois anomois hōs anomos, maʸ ōn anomos theōi all' ennomos ⱪristōi, hina kerdaʸsō anomous.)

TC-GNT τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος, μὴ ὢν ἄνομος [fn]Θεῷ ἀλλ᾽ ἔννομος [fn]Χριστῷ, ἵνα [fn]κερδήσω [fn]ἀνόμους.
(tois anomois hōs anomos, maʸ ōn anomos Theōi all ennomos Ⱪristōi, hina kerdaʸsō anomous. )

9:21 θεω ¦ θεου CT

9:21 χριστω ¦ χριστου CT

9:21 κερδησω ¦ κερδανω CT

9:21 ανομους ¦ τους ανομους CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:1–27: Paul did not use his rights as an apostle

In this section Paul responded to a claim by some of the Corinthians that he was not an apostle. First, he defended his calling and work as an apostle. Then he used himself as an example of someone who did not use his rights.

In chapter 8 and chapter 10 Paul talked about food offered to idols. In this chapter Paul said that he was an example of somebody who had the right to do anything. He was thinking about the right to eat any kind of food. Out of love for others he refrained from doing things that he had a right to do. Instead, he tried to act in a way that would lead others to Christ.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul’s rights as an apostle

Paul's example of not using his rights

Paragraph 9:19–23

In this paragraph Paul explained that he gave up his rights in order to serve others. In this way he could help more people hear and believe the message about Jesus Christ.

9:21a

To those without the law I became like one without the law

When I am with those who don’t follow the law of Moses, I make myself like someone who doesn’t follow the law.
In a similar way, when I preach to non-Jews, I do not follow the laws of the Jews.

those without the law: This refers to Gentiles, not to Jewish people. The Gentiles did not know about the laws that God gave to Moses for the Jewish people. However, they did have their own laws. In your translation, avoid implying that the Gentiles did not have any laws. Other ways to translate this are:

those who don’t follow the law of the Jewish people

those outside the law of Moses

I became like one without the law: In this clause Paul said that he did not follow the Jewish laws when he was with Gentiles, nor did he force them to follow these laws. Other ways to translate this include:

I acted as if I was outside the law of Moses

I don’t follow those laws either

I didn’t force them to obey these laws

9:21b

(though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ),

That does not mean that I no longer obey God’s law, because I do obey Christ’s law.
Of course, I am still subject to God’s laws, because I follow those of Christ.

(though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ): This is parenthetical information. Once again, Paul interrupted himself (as in 9:20c). Paul wanted to correct a possible misunderstanding. When he said that he was “like one without the law,” some people might think that he did not obey God’s moral laws. But that was not true. See law, sense 4 in the Key Biblical Terms. Other ways to translate this include:

This does not mean that I don’t obey God’s law. I am really under Christ’s law. (GNT)

But really, I am not without God’s law—I am ruled by Christ’s law. (NCV)

9:21c

to win those without the law.

I do this so that by my help, the people who do not follow the Law of Moses will follow Christ.
I act like the non-Jews so that I will cause the non-Jews to believe in Christ.

to win those without the law: In this clause Paul said that his purpose in behaving like a Gentile was to help the Gentiles believe in Jesus Christ. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a separate sentence. For example:

I did this to win those who are without the law. (NCV)

General Comment on 9:21a-c

9:21b is parenthetical. The BSB has indicated this using parentheses. In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the verse. For example:

^21aWhen I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law ^21cso I can bring them to Christ. ^21bBut I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. (NCV)

^21aAnd when I am with people who are not ruled by the Law, I forget about the Law ^21cto win them. ^21bOf course, I never really forget about the law of God. In fact, I am ruled by the law of Christ. (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-unknown

τοῖς ἀνόμοις & ἄνομος & τοὺς ἀνόμους

˱to˲_the lawless & ˓the˒_lawless & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος μή ὤν ἄνομος Θεοῦ ἀλλʼ ἔννομος Χριστοῦ ἵνα κερδάνω τούς ἀνόμους)

Here, without the law refers to people who do not have the law that Moses wrote down. These people are not Jews, but Paul is not saying that they are disobedient. Rather, Paul is emphasizing the law that Moses wrote down here, which is why he uses this language rather than referring to “Gentiles” or “non-Jews.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind without the lawby clarifying that Paul is referring to people who do not have the law of Moses. Alternate translation: [To those without Moses’ law … without Moses’ law … those without Moses’ law]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

ὡς ἄνομος

like ˓the˒_lawless

Here Paul omits some words that your language may require to make a complete thought. Paul omits these words because he stated them explicitly in the previous verses (I became in [9:20](../09/20.md)). If your language does need these words, you could supply them from that clause. Since English needs these words, the ULT has supplied them in brackets.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

μὴ ὢν ἄνομος Θεοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἔννομος Χριστοῦ, ἵνα κερδάνω τοὺς ἀνόμους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τοῖς ἀνόμοις ὡς ἄνομος μή ὤν ἄνομος Θεοῦ ἀλλʼ ἔννομος Χριστοῦ ἵνα κερδάνω τούς ἀνόμους)

Much like in [9:20](../09/20.md), Paul includes some statements between being without the law and the purpose of being without the law. If your readers would find this structure confusing, you could rearrange the clauses so that the purpose comes immediately after without the law, or you could mark the statements in the middle as parenthetical, as the ULT does. Alternate translation: [so that I might win those without the law. Now I am not without the law of God, but under the law of Christ]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἄνομος Θεοῦ

˓the˒_lawless lawless ˱of˲_God

Here Paul uses the possessive form to state that: (1) he is not without the law that God has given. Paul distinguishes between the law that Moses wrote down and God’s law in general. Alternate translation: [without any law from God] (2) he is not someone who is disobedient (without the law) towards God. Paul is distinguishing between people who do not have the law that Moses wrote down and people who disobey God. Alternate translation: [disobedient towards God]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἔννομος Χριστοῦ

lawful ˱of˲_Christ

Much like in [9:20](../09/20.md), Paul speaks about those who think that they need to obey the law as if they were physically under the law. By speaking as if the law were on top of these people, Paul emphasizes how the law controls their lives. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express under the law with a word or phrase that refers to the obligation to obey the law of Christ. Alternate translation: [keeping the law of Christ]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

ἔννομος Χριστοῦ

lawful ˱of˲_Christ

Here Paul uses the possessive form to describe the law that Christ commanded. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind this form with a word or phrase that clearly states that Christ commanded this law. Alternate translation: [under Christ’s law] or [under the law that comes from Christ]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

κερδάνω

˱I˲_˓may˒_win

Just as in [9:19](../09/19.md), to gain someone means to help them to believe in the Messiah. Translate this word the same way you did in [9:19](../09/19.md). Alternate translation: [I might convert] or [I might gain for Christ]