1 COR 9:22 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 the weak, I become weak to win them over. Yes, I’ve become all things to all people so[fn] that I might be certain of saving some.

9:27 TODO: Investigate why so many other translations translate πάντως something like ‘by all means’ here (whereas our OET-LV gloss is ‘certainly’).

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, 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 weak I became weak so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to everyone so that I might by all means save some.

UST When I am with people who incompletely understand what is right and wrong, I act like someone who incompletely understands what is right and wrong. I act this way so that I can help the people who incompletely understand what is right and wrong to believe in the Messiah. As you can see, when I am with any people, I act like they do so that God might work through all the things I do in order to save some of them.

BSB 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.

BLB 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.

AICNT To the weak I became [[as]][fn] weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

9:22, as: Some manuscripts include. C(04) D(05) BYZ TR

OEB To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so as at all costs to save some.

WEBBE 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.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET 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.

LSV 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.

FBV To those who are weak,[fn] I share in their weakness so that I may win the weak. I have ended up being “everyman” to everyone so that by using every possible means I might win some!

9:22 Probably referring to the “weaker believer” issue mentioned in 8:7 and on.

TCNT To the weak I became [fn]like one who is weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I might save some.

9:22 like one who is ¦ — CT

T4T When I was with those who doubt whether God will permit them to do certain things that others ◄disapprove of/think it is not right to do►, I avoided doing those things, in order that I might convince some of them to trust in Christ. In summary, I have done all the things that the people I have been with think that others should do, in order that by every possible means I might convince some of them to trust in Christ.

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

BBE To the feeble, I was as one who is feeble, so that they might have salvation: I have been all things to all men, so that some at least might have salvation.

Moff to the weak I have become as weak myself,
⇔ to win over the weak.
⇔ To all men I have become all things,
⇔ to save some by all and every means.

Wymth 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.

ASV 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.

DRA To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all.

YLT 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.

Drby I became to the weak, [as] weak, in order that I might gain the weak. To all I have become all things, in order that at all events I might save some.

RV 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.

SLT I became to the weak as weak, that I might gain the weak: I have been all things to all, that altogether I might save some.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 To the weake became I as weake, that I might gaine the weake: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all meanes saue some.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps To the weake became I as weake, that I might winne the weake. I am made all thinges to all men, that I might at the least way saue some.
(To the weak became I as weak, that I might win the weake. I am made all things to all men, that I might at the least way save some.)

Gnva To the weake I become as weake, that I may winne the weake: I am made all thinges to all men, that I might by all meanes saue some.
(To the weak I become as weak, that I may win the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. )

Cvdl To the weake, am I become as weake, to wynne the weake. I am become of all fasshions vnto euery man, to saue some at ye leest.
(To the weak, am I become as weak, to win the weake. I am become of all fasshions unto every man, to save some at ye/you_all least.)

TNT To the weake became I as weake to wynne the weake. In all thinge I fassioned my silfe to all men to save at the lest waye some.
(To the weak became I as weak to win the weake. In all thing I fassioned myself to all men to save at the lest way some. )

Wycl Y am maad sijk to sike men, to wynne sike men; to alle men Y am maad alle thingis, to make alle men saaf.
(I am made sick to sike men, to win sike men; to all men I am made all things, to make all men safe.)

Luth Den Schwachen bin ich worden als ein Schwacher, auf daß ich die Schwachen gewinne. Ich bin jedermann allerlei worden, auf daß ich allenthalben ja etliche selig mache
(The weak_(one) am I been as a Schwacher, on/in/to that I the weak_(one) wins. I am anyone all_sorts_of_things been, on/in/to that I everywhere ya several blessed make)

ClVg Factus sum infirmis infirmus, ut infirmos lucrifacerem. Omnibus omnia factus sum, ut omnes facerem salvos.[fn]
(Became I_am sick/weak weak/sick, as sick lucrifacerem. Allbus everything became I_am, as everyone I_would_do salvos. )

9.22 Omnibus omnia. Omnibus cessit, non tamen religionem excessit.

9.22 Allbus everything. Allbus cessit, not/no nevertheless religionem excessit.

UGNT ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν, ἀσθενής, ἵνα τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω. τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα πάντα, ἵνα πάντως τινὰς σώσω.
(egenomaʸn tois asthenesin, asthenaʸs, hina tous astheneis kerdaʸsō. tois pasin gegona panta, hina pantōs tinas sōsō.)

SBL-GNT ἐγενόμην τοῖς ⸀ἀσθενέσιν ἀσθενής, ἵνα τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω· τοῖς πᾶσιν ⸀γέγονα πάντα, ἵνα πάντως τινὰς σώσω.
(egenomaʸn tois ⸀asthenesin asthenaʸs, hina tous astheneis kerdaʸsō; tois pasin ⸀gegona panta, hina pantōs tinas sōsō.)

RP-GNT Ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ὡς ἀσθενής, ἵνα τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω. Τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα τὰ πάντα, ἵνα πάντως τινὰς σώσω.
(Egenomaʸn tois asthenesin hōs asthenaʸs, hina tous astheneis kerdaʸsō. Tois pasin gegona ta panta, hina pantōs tinas sōsō.)

TC-GNT Ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν [fn]ὡς ἀσθενής, ἵνα τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω. Τοῖς πᾶσι γέγονα [fn]τὰ πάντα, ἵνα πάντως τινὰς σώσω.
(Egenomaʸn tois asthenesin hōs asthenaʸs, hina tous astheneis kerdaʸsō. Tois pasi gegona ta panta, hina pantōs tinas sōsō. )

9:22 ως ¦ — CT

9:22 τα ¦ — 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.

9:22a

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak.

When I am with poor people, I make myself poor, so that by my help, the poor people will follow Christ.
In a similar way, when I preach to those who are powerless, I become powerless myself, so that I will cause the powerless to believe in Christ.

the weak: There are two ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the weak:

It refers to people who were powerless. They were perhaps poor, or slaves. They had low status and low influence. For example:
When I am with those who are oppressed (NLT96)
It refers to believers whose “conscience is weak,” as in 8:7–13. For example:
When I am with people whose faith is weak (CEV)
(CEV, GNT, GW)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This has the strongest support amongst recent commentaries because it fits with Paul’s statement that he himself became weak.9:22 For example, Fee, page 431, says “it is probably a more purely sociological category than a socio-religious one.” See also Thiselton and Garland. It also fits with Paul's purpose of winning the weak, which implies that they were not yet believers.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the poor

those without power/influence

I became weak: This means that Paul worked with his hands and thus accepted a position of low status. Notice that he did not say “like one who is weak” (as in 9:20a, 9:20b and 9:21b), but that he actually became weak.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I live a life of poverty (NJB)

I become powerless

9:22b-c

I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some: This is a summary of the examples that Paul gave in 9:20, 21 and 22a. Translate this in the way that you normally introduce a summary in your language. One way to translate this is:

In summary, I have become all things to all people so that I may do all that I can to save some of them.

9:22b

I have become all things to all people

When I am with people of any kind, I become like them,
In summary, when I preach to different kinds of people, I live like they do.

I have become all things to all people: This clause indicates that Paul was willing to adapt his way of life to meet the needs of different people. He was willing to change or adjust his behavior to help others.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

When I am with people of any kind, I become like them

I change how I live to be like the people I am with

9:22c

so that by all possible means I might save some.

so that I might save/rescue some of them from their sin.
I do all that I can do to help some of them to survive.

so that by all possible means I might save some: The Greek word that the BSB translates as so that indicates that this is a purpose clause. Paul wanted to save people, that is, to help them believe in Christ. Some other ways to translate this are:

in order to save some by all possible means

by all possible means: The Greek word that the BSB translates as by all possible means is more literally “certainly.” English versions often use the English idiom “by all means” in order to keep the repetition of the word all (all things, all men, all means).

Here is another way to translate this:

I want to do all that I can do to save some people

save: In 9:19–21 Paul talked about “winning” people. In this verse he used a different verb: to save. Other ways of translating it are:

bring them to salvation

rescue them from punishment for their sin

help them to survive

To “win” and to save are different ways to say the same thing. You may wish to use the same word in this verse as you used in 9:19–21.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν, ἀσθενής & τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς

˱to˲_the weak weak & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ἀσθενής ἵνα τούς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω Τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα παντᾶ ἵνα πάντως τινάς σώσω)

Much like in [8:7–12](../08/07.md), weak identifies a person who easily feels guilty. A weak person thinks some things are wrong that are probably acceptable before God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express weak with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [To the sensitive … sensitive … the sensitive] or [To those who often condemn themselves … one who condemns himself … those who often condemn themselves]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν & τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς

˱to˲_the weak & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ἀσθενής ἵνα τούς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω Τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα παντᾶ ἵνα πάντως τινάς σώσω)

Paul is using the adjective weak as a noun in order to describe a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [To people who are weak … the people who are weak]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

κερδήσω

˱I˲_˓may˒_win

Just as in [9:19](../09/19.md), to gain someone means to help that person 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]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα πάντα

˱to˲_the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐγενόμην τοῖς ἀσθενέσιν ἀσθενής ἵνα τούς ἀσθενεῖς κερδήσω Τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα παντᾶ ἵνα πάντως τινάς σώσω)

Here, to become all things means that Paul has lived in many different ways. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind I have become all thingsmore naturally in your language. Alternate translation: [I have lived in all ways with everyone]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

τοῖς πᾶσιν γέγονα πάντα

Here, all things and everyone are exaggerations that the Corinthians would have understood to mean that Paul has become many things to many people. Paul speaks in this way to emphasize that he is willing to become anything to anyone as long it leads to saving people. If it would be helpful in your language, you could qualify Paul’s claim and expression the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [I have become many things to many people]

ἵνα πάντως & σώσω

in_order_that in_order_that certainly & ˱I˲_˓may˒_save

Alternate translation: [so that, by using every means I have, I might save]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

πάντως & σώσω

certainly & ˱I˲_˓may˒_save

Here Paul speaks of how he leads others to faith in Jesus as “saving” them. By this, he means that he himself is the means by which God will save some. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express how Paul says that he can save some with a word or phrase that refers to leading someone towards “salvation,” that is, helping them to believe in Jesus. Alternate translation: [God might by all means use me to save]