What does it mean to become all things to all people (1 Corinthians 9:22)?

Answer

To comprehend the meaning behind the apostle Paul’s words, “I have become all things to all people,” it is essential to consider the context. Paul was clarifying to the Corinthian church his rationale for embracing a challenging lifestyle. He had willingly given up his entitlement to marriage (verse 5) and financial support from the church (verses 6–12). Paul had wholeheartedly devoted himself to Christ’s purposes and bore the consequences of that decision in his own body (see Galatians 2:20;see Galatians 6:17).

Part of Paul’s mission was to preach to the Gentiles (“for he who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles”), (Galatians 2:8), which necessitated adapting his approach as needed: “To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to win those under the law. To those without the law, I became like one without the law (though I am not outside God’s law but am under Christ’s law) to win those without the law. 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. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

What this does NOT imply is that we should compromise with the world to conform. Some individuals have misinterpreted Paul’s statement “I have become all things to all people” as a justification to adapt themselves to inappropriate behaviors.In their worldly interactions, some assume that unrepentant sinners will be impressed and want to come to Christ. However, Paul never compromised God’s moral standards as outlined in Scripture; instead, he was willing to set aside traditions and familiar comforts to reach any audience, whether Jewish or non-Jewish.

For instance, while in Athens, Paul built a connection with the Greeks before sharing about Jesus. He stood among their numerous idols and remarked on their devotion to their gods «Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. », (Acts 17:22). Instead of condemning the idolatry in Athens, Paul utilized those symbols of pagan pride to capture their attention. On another occasion, when addressing educated Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Paul highlighted his own high level of education to gain their respect (Acts 22:1-2). Subsequently, while under Roman custody and facing flogging, Paul disclosed his Roman citizenship and avoided the punishment (Acts 22:25-29). He never boasted about his credentials, but if relevant information could enhance his credibility with a specific audience, he endeavored to establish common ground. He understood how to conduct himself in a Hebrew household, yet he could set aside the cultural Jewish customs when in a Greek household. He could adapt to be “all things to all people” for the sake of the gospel.

There are various ways we can embody the principle of “becoming all things to all people”:

1. Listen. We are often too quick to express our own thoughts, especially when we feel the other person needs to hear about Jesus. One common error is to engage in a conversation before truly listening to the other person. We all value being heard; when we extend that courtesy to someone, it helps to foster a genuine connection.

1. Listen first. When we take the time to listen to someone else, he or she is more likely to pay attention to what we have to say. By listening first, the other person becomes an individual we care about rather than simply a mission field to convert.

2. Be kind. This should be obvious for Christians, but unfortunately, we can forget kindness in the heat of the moment. This is especially true on the internet. Online anonymity leads many people, even some professing to represent Christ, to make rude or hate-filled comments. Having the last word does not mean we won the argument or earned the person’s respect. James 1:19–20 advises us to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Kindness and respect are always relevant and are suitable regardless of the subject matter.

3. Be sensitive to culture. Trained missionaries understand that, before they can reach a cultural group, they must comprehend the specifics of that culture. The same applies to every believer, even if we never leave our own city. Western culture is rapidly evolving, and in many places, Judeo-Christian principles are no longer accepted or even understood. We don’t have to endorse every aspect of a culture to understand it or connect with those immersed in it. By first listening to discern where people are spiritually and then finding common ground with them, we may be able to reach those hungry for a truth they’ve never encountered.

4. Address prejudice. Prejudice of all kinds has been a part of human history since the beginning. Despite our best efforts, we all harbor some form of prejudice against certain other groups of people. Ironically, even those who condemn prejudice of any kind are often quite prejudiced against those they consider prejudiced! Acknowledging to God our own pride and repenting of judgmental attitudes and lack of love should be an ongoing process for Christians who desire to follow Paul’s example of being all things to all people. As a former Pharisee, he had to confront his own prejudice against others.

Paul went to the Gentiles to spread the gospel to the people Jesus had called him to.

The aim of a Christian is to be inoffensive in every way except in the matter of the cross. The message of the cross of Christ naturally causes offense, but we cannot dilute it. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” «For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. », (1 Corinthians 1:18). Jesus warned us not to be surprised when the world hates us—it hated Him first «If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. », (John 15:18). Our message is offensive to human pride and contradicts the sin nature, so our behavior and attitudes should not cause offense. When we aim to emulate Paul’s example and adapt to all people, we must be willing to humble ourselves, let go of our “rights,” meet people where they are, and do whatever Jesus calls us to do. He died to save them. We must love them enough to tell them that in ways they can understand.