“To the Jews I became as a Jew” (1Cor 9:20), Paul wrote this, we read it, we hear it but it’s not until we see him actually put this statement into practice that gravity of these words truly impacts us. Paul positioned his audience to receive.
To the Jews I became as a Jew
1 Corinthians 9:20
Paul who wrote more than half the New Testament of the Bible had a very distinct teaching and writing style. Regardless of whether his audience were Jew or gentile, slave or free, his intent was the same, to position his audience so they would, not just hear, but receive the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of Grace which came through Jesus (John 1:17).
He wanted to win, not just the battle, but the war itself. Therefore he couldn’t just dispute the law of Moses with former Jews and gentiles who had been swayed by the Judaizers, he had to first develop their trust in him. In so doing he was hopeful they may receive the Word he shared and explained to them. Importantly he backed up all he taught showing his audience that all he said was according to the Old Testament law and the prophets (Acts 28:23).
Paul honed this skill of first winning the trust of his audience and as he did, he developed his methodology for Ministry that we find throughout Paul’s writings in the Bible. Of course Paul, being the detailed teacher that he is, recorded for us (in writing) his methodology for Ministry:
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 KJV
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. [20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; [21] 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. [22] 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. [23] And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22 (NKJV)
Now this method of being ‘all things to all men’ means Paul put himself in the shoes of his audience. This can be clearly seen in Chapter seven of the Book of Romans where Paul describes himself in a way that his audience can empathise with …why? Because he’s describing their current predicament (not his). Was he lying? No, because in the past he’d been where they were in the present. I pray you can get your head around this fact because once you do it will make rightly dividing all Paul’s writings so much easier for you.
I’m about to show you a couple of examples of Paul using his methodology for ministry that may shake you as they did me when I read them recently. However, as I pondered what I’d just read in Acts, the Holy Spirit showed me that Paul did what he did to win the people so that they may receive from him, which is in fact the method he used everywhere he went and taught.
Acts 16:1-5 KJV
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: [2] Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. [3] Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. [4] And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. [5] And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Acts 21:17-26 KJV
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. [18] And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. [19] And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. [20] And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law
These are: the judaizers
[21] And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. [22] What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. [23] Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; [24] Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. [25] As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. [26] Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
So, given Paul’s hard-line stance in Romans and Galatians (in fact in all his writings) against born again Christians keeping or having anything to do with the Law of Moses, did Paul compromise his beliefs when he did these things we’ve just read in Acts?
Well, though border line it may be, circumcision or non-circumcision avails nothing (Gal 6:15). So clearly Paul treated these rituals as ‘a nothing’ and if he needed to do these things to win these Jews to his trust then so be it. So basically Paul had to decide between taking a hard line and not participating which would have alienated many if not all the Jews present or going along with their ritual which he saw as ‘availing nothing’ (Gal 6:15).
Galatians 6:14-16 KJV
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. [15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. [16] And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Garry Preston
Grace Faith Christian Discipleship