1 Coríntios 9

1 Coríntios 9

Poole - “To the Gentiles he behaved himself as if he himself had been a Gentile, that is, forbearing the observances of the Levitical law, to which the Gentiles had never any obligation at all.” Ryrie - Paul is not demonstrating two-facedness or multi-facedness, but rather he is testifying of a constant, restrictive self-discipline in order to be able to serve all sorts of men. Just as a narrowly channeled stream is more powerful than an unbounded marshy swamp, so restricted liberty results in more powerful testimony for Christ. (The Grace of God) Though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ - Paul's point is that he did not live lawlessly (without obedience to the moral law of God), but by the Spirit was enabled to obey the moral law of God since he was now subject to the law of Christ. Paul was like the man described by James "who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty (eleutheria), and abides by it (ENABLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT), not having become a forgetful hearer (AS IN James 1:22-24+) but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25+) The phrase law of Christ is used one other time in the NT in Galatians 6:2 " Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." Here the the law of Christ is the law of love which fulfills the entire law (Gal 5:14+; Ro 13:8, 10+). NIVSB on law of God...law of Christ - By God’s law Paul likely means the universal moral standards that are inhrent to God’s character, such as prohibitions against lying, stealing, murder, etc. By “Christ’s law” Paul is probably referring to Christ’s teachings, though the term is not necessarily restricted to them.