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

The phrase “become all things to all people” comes from 1 Corinthians 9:22, where the apostle Paul states: “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.” This verse provides important insight into Paul’s missionary approach and philosophy of ministry.

In the broader context of 1 Corinthians 9, Paul is defending his right as an apostle to receive financial support from the churches he planted. However, he explains that while he has this right, he has not always exercised it. Instead, he has supported himself through manual labor at times to avoid hindering the gospel (1 Cor 9:12). Paul views flexibility in financial matters as one way he has adapted his methods to be more effective in reaching different groups of people.

Paul then explains that he tailors his approach not only with regard to money, but more broadly in his interactions with both Jews and Gentiles. To the Jews, those “under the law,” he lives by the Mosaic law so as not to offend them or erect barriers to the gospel (1 Cor 9:20). To Gentiles, the “lawless,” he lives without reference to the Jewish law since he is not under obligation to it (1 Cor 9:21). By shaping his methods to the unique needs and sensibilities of his audience, Paul hopes to gain a hearing for the message of Christ.

This principle of flexibility comes to a climax in verse 22. For the sake of the gospel, Paul has made himself “a slave to everyone.” The purpose behind this adaptability is clear: Paul wants “to save some.” The Greek word translated “save” here refers to salvation from sin and spiritual death through repentance and faith in Christ. Paul’s driving motivation is to see as many people as possible come to salvation in Jesus.

To summarize, when Paul says he has become all things to all people, he means:

• He is willing to adapt his behavior, communication style, and outward practices in appropriate ways in order to reduce potential barriers to the gospel.
• He aims to meet people where they are – culturally, intellectually, spiritually, etc. – and build common ground for sharing the message of Christ.
• He is focused on winning others to salvation in Jesus above all else, even his own rights or preferences.

In becoming all things to all people, Paul is not being deceptive or wishy-washy about his own beliefs. Rather, he is filtering out non-essentials and cultural trappings to expose diverse groups to the essential truth and power of the gospel. His adaptability serves to advance God’s kingdom, not his own. As John Stott notes, “Paul has not abandoned his peculiar identity in order to become all things to all people. He remains a Jew to the Jews, and a Gentile to Gentiles. But he has surrendered his personal preferences in the hope of saving some.”

Principles for Ministry

While 1 Corinthians 9:22 addressed Paul’s specific missionary context, his example of flexibility contains some principles that remain instructive for ministry today:

1. The salvation of souls should be the supreme goal in ministry. Methods are flexible, but the message of repentance and faith in Christ is fixed.
2. Cultural sensitivity and understanding are needed to communicate and apply the gospel in ways that make sense to a target audience.
3. Some cultural customs and practices may be used if they do not contradict Scripture, while others must be rejected if antithetical to biblical principles.
4. Staying focused on “becoming all things to all people” helps prevent insular attitudes or maintaining traditions for tradition’s sake.
5. Adapting practices or communication styles may be appropriate if done with transparency, integrity, and the right motives.
6. The ultimate model is Christ Himself, who gave up heavenly glory to meet human beings where we are as one of us (Phil 2:5-8).

In working to apply Paul’s example, it is also important to recognize a few cautions:

• The gospel message itself must never be compromised in an effort to be culturally adaptable.
• Some outward practices may create moral dilemmas if they go against biblical standards of holiness.
• Adapting too much to cultural preferences can lead to syncretism, producing a distorted gospel.
• Sensitivity should not become overly dependent on human wisdom at the expense of spiritual discernment.
• Other biblical teachings limit the principle of becoming “all things;” we cannot condone sin to avoid offense.

Overall, 1 Corinthians 9:22 charges believers to remove unnecessary hindrances to the gospel while maintaining loyalty to biblical truth. With wisdom, flexibility, and dependence on the Spirit, we gain opportunities to communicate and live out the message of new life in Jesus Christ.

Examples for Today

What might it look like today for believers to become all things to all people for the sake of the gospel? Here are a few examples:

• Language – Adapting vocabulary and style to connect with a young urban audience vs. a rural community.
• Music – Incorporating culturally meaningful songs in a worship service, while maintaining sound doctrine.
• Ethnic foods – Enjoying ethnic foods with neighbors as a way to build relationships and understand perspectives.
• Holiday customs – Participating in aspects of common holidays/festivals that do not violate biblical principles.
• Dress – Adopting appropriate cultural clothing or hairstyles for ministry in certain contexts.
• Discipleship – Using oral learning techniques in cultures with low literacy rates.
• Teaching style – Using narrative and inductive communication to engage audiences shaped by oral learning.
• Apologetics – Critiquing folk religion practices in a way that speaks to people according to their worldview assumptions.
• Meeting felt needs – Performing acts of community service as opportunities to share the gospel.

Each ministry context requires wisdom and sensitivity to apply 1 Corinthians 9:22 well. But as we prayerfully depend on the Spirit’s guidance, adapting appropriate practices can help break down barriers for people to understand and respond to the unchanging message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Cautions and Boundaries

In seeking to become all things to all people, it is critical to maintain biblical boundaries. Charles Spurgeon offers a helpful warning:

Be not such fools as to tamper with the two edged sword of truth. Many handle it as if it were a toy, but it will cut to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit…The truth of God can no more be shaped to suit men than can fire be made to cool men’s fingers, instead of burning them. Take care you do not cut yourselves with that sharp two-edged sword, which you dare to handle as though it were a mere toy.

Some key boundaries on becoming all things to all people include:

• Maintaining standards of doctrinal truth – no compromising core teachings about Christ, salvation, Scripture, etc.
• Not violating commands of Scripture related to issues like sexuality, honesty, justice, etc.
• Avoiding outright participation in religious ceremonies or rituals tied to other faiths.
• Not embracing practices expressly forbidden in Scripture like occultism, drunkenness, etc.
• Resisting cultural pressures to distort biblical truth by compromising or being silent.
• Not over-adapting to the point of losing Christian integrity or identity.

No one can read hearts, but true Christlike adaptability is motivated by loving a lost world, not gaining the world’s approval. Timothy Keller offers this guidance:

If you only live the gospel in a way that feels “normal” to you and strips it of offense and narrowness, you are not taking up the cross. The gospel doesn’t make sense and will offend people.

As we share Christ across cultures, becoming all things to all people does not mean stripping away the offense of the cross or truths that contradict human wisdom. Faithful gospel ministry requires discerning when contextual adaptation is appropriate and when faithfulness to Christ requires countercultural boldness.

Conclusion

Paul’s example of becoming all things to all people was driven by a consuming desire to see more people saved through the gospel. It calls us to remove unnecessary obstacles to faith without compromising the truth and power of the message itself. Adapting language, customs, teaching methods, and communication styles can be a wise way to gain a hearing so that the unchanging Word may take root in diverse hearts and cultures. But such flexibility must be guided by biblical faithfulness under the guidance of the Spirit. The supreme goal is not cultural acceptance but that more may come to repentance and eternal life through Christ.