Answer
The highest aim in the apostle Paul’s life was winning souls for Jesus Christ. He adopted a distinctly considerate, humble, and sensitive evangelistic approach to achieve that goal: “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law . . . so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law . . . so as to win those not having 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” (1 Corinthians 9:19–22).
When Paul wrote, “I have become all things to all people,” he was not advocating a chameleon approach to evangelism. “To the weak, I became weak” did not suggest that Paul compromised his moral standards and biblical convictions to win people to Christ. Instead, Paul stressed the need to consider people’s different backgrounds, social circumstances, ethnicities, and belief systems when ministering to them.
Like the other apostles, Paul had certain rights and privileges. He had the right to receive support, food, and shelter and to bring a wife (if he had one) with him (see 1 Corinthians 9:3–14). But Paul relinquished those rights and privileges for the gospel’s sake (1 Corinthians 9:15–18). He selflessly downgraded his interests, prioritizing the concerns of others above his own to bring them to saving faith in Jesus.
As a missionary, Paul encountered people from all walks of life. He was resolute in his determination to find common ground with everyone he ministered to so that he might minimize potential offenses. Paul began boldly, stating that, although he was a free man, with all the individual rights and privileges that his freedom afforded, he would make himself a slave if it meant winning more slaves to Jesus. That’s how far he was willing to go.
Paul’s ministry focused on two vastly dissimilar communities of people—Jews and Gentiles. The differences between these two groups—what they ate, how they dressed, their holiday celebrations, and family life—were so extreme that Paul often had to alter his ministry methods. Paul would never compromise the gospel message or his stand for truth (Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 6:14–16; Galatians 1:6–9). But he would step out of his comfort zone, lay aside his prejudices and familiar traditions, and allow himself to flex and bend to reach both Jewish and non-Jewish audiences.
To the weak, I became weak refers to another group of people Paul ministered to—specifically, certain members of the Corinthian church. “The weak” were Christians who had scruples against eating meat sacrificed to idols (see 1 Corinthians 8:1–13). In the pagan worship of Corinth, the custom of eating meat sacrificed to idols was seen as a way of communing with the gods. Immature Christians who did not yet understand that these gods had no power felt convicted if they consumed such meat. Their consciences, being weak, were not free but guilt-ridden.
“The strong” in this context were more knowledgeable Christians who had no problem eating meat sacrificed to idols because they accurately understood their liberty to do so. The strong knew that “food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (1 Corinthians 8:8). However, Paul warned, “take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9, ESV; cf. Romans 14:13, 21; 2 Corinthians 6:3).
To the weak, I became weak was Paul’s strategy to build bridges instead of walls between himself and those he ministered to. He did whatever he could not to offend or scandalize his audience so that they might be open and receptive to his message. While the message itself might certainly offend or scandalize the hearer (see 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23; 2:14), the messenger should do what he can to avoid being personally offensive.
Paul made allowances for the weak. In the case of meat offered to idols, Paul was willing to “never eat meat again, so that I will not cause [the weak] to fall” (1 Corinthians 8:13). He empathized with the weak just as Christ identified with our weakness (Hebrews 4:15). Paul was more concerned about the good of others than his own rights and privileges. He humbled himself, sacrificed his freedom, and adapted his behavior to help the weak.
The same principle applies to the contemporary issue of social drinking. We may have the freedom to drink alcohol without falling into sin, but we must make sure we never cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble and fall by flaunting our liberty in front of him or her. For love’s sake and to build God’s kingdom rather than tear it down (1 Corinthians 8:1), we must say, like Paul, “To the weak, I became weak.”
