Paul became 'all things to all men' to gain people for the Gospel, because his overwhelming desire was to see lost people saved.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul cared nothing for material things or comforts; his constant focus was lost people [Clip 0][Clip 1]. To reach Jews, Paul identified with them even in customs like temple vows, and to reach weak Gentile believers he came down to their level, all in hope that some would be saved [Clip 0][Clip 6].
1 Corinthians 9:22 — This is the verse containing the phrase 'all things to all men' and states Paul's purpose: that he might by all means save some.
1 Corinthians 10:33 — Paul restates the same principle, seeking the profit of many that they may be saved.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 that although he was free from all men, he made himself servant unto all, that he might gain the more. To the Jews he became as a Jew; to them that are under the law, as under the law; to them that are without law, as without law; and to the weak he became as weak. He sums it up: 'I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.' He did all this for the gospel's sake, that he might be partaker of it with them. In 1 Corinthians 10:33 he explains further that he pleased all men in all things, not seeking his own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's overriding desire and motivation was to see lost people saved; he did not care about material things or comforts [Clip 0]. This explains the apparent contradiction in Acts where Paul, who had been preaching against law and legalism, took a Jewish vow and went into the temple: he did it in hopes of awakening interest among his fellow Jews [Clip 0]. Les says 'unto the Jews I became as a Jew' means Paul identified with the Jews, and 'them that are under the law' refers to the more religious element of Judaism [Clip 0]. Paul's goal was not personal profit; as he wrote, he pleased all in all things, not seeking his own profit but the profit of many, that they might be saved [Clip 1]. Paul could never get lost people off his mind [Clip 1]. He came to the Corinthians not with excellency of speech but in weakness and in fear, determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified [Clip 2]. Paul even left behind whatever material wealth he had as a Jewish religious leader and suffered for the sole purpose of getting the Gospel out to the Gentile world [Clip 5]. His Gentile converts were former pagan idolaters steeped in idolatry, so he came down to their level to reach them [Clip 6].
According to Les Feldick, Paul was not seeking his own profit or material gain [Clip 5]. His motivation was the salvation of lost people [Clip 0][Clip 1]. He withstood pressure from Jewish believers who wanted to stop his ministry to the Gentiles so the Gospel of grace could continue to go out [Clip 3]. He also suffered because of Judaizers—believers who said converts still had to be circumcised and keep the law—and he resisted that distortion [Clip 7]. In other words, his flexibility in customs did not mean he changed the message.
Les teaches that this phrase explains Paul's otherwise confusing actions in Acts. Even though Paul had been preaching against law and legalism, he took a Jewish vow and went into the temple to fulfill it. Les says Paul did all this in hopes that he might awaken some interest among his fellow Jews [Clip 0]. Paul identified with those under the law—the more religious element of Judaism—that he might gain them spiritually [Clip 0].
Les emphasizes that Paul's Gentile converts had been pagan idolaters, steeped in idolatry, before coming out of darkness into the light of the Gospel [Clip 6]. Paul told them he was 'coming down to your level' as he described their former life [Clip 6]. He also identified with the weak in order to gain the weak, as 1 Corinthians 9:22 says, and he approached even the religious Jews in a way that could gain them [Clip 0].
Paul's Motivation and Jewish Identification
Les explains Paul's consuming desire was lost people saved, and that Paul's temple vow showed he became as a Jew to awaken interest among fellow Jews.
Seeking the Profit of Many
Les shows Paul's constant focus on lost people and his principle of pleasing all, not seeking his own profit, that many might be saved.
Paul's Weakness and Dependence
Les notes Paul came to Corinth in weakness and fear, determined to know only Jesus Christ and him crucified, rather than relying on human eloquence.
Resisting Pressure to Stop Gentile Ministry
Les describes how Paul withstood Jewish believers who wanted to stop his ministry so Gentiles could keep receiving the Gospel of grace.
Why Christians Are Divided — 1 Corinthians 3 Explained Verse by Verse
But now of course he had to be in agreement with Paul's Gospel, and so there wasn't any doctrinal differences, but it was personalities. Now we've shown before that Paul was not the kind of a man that just simply drew people to him from his appearance, and from his speech, and so forth. It was quite the opposite. Paul gained his converts strictly through the working of the Holy Spirit.
Leaving All for the Gospel
Les explains that Paul left behind whatever material wealth he had and suffered solely to get the Gospel to the Gentile world.
Reaching Former Pagan Idolaters
Les teaches that Paul's Gentile converts were steeped in idolatry, so Paul came down to their level to describe their former life.
The Judaizers' Opposition
Les shows the pressure Paul faced from Judaizers who demanded circumcision and law-keeping, which troubled Paul because it distorted grace.
1 Corinthians 9:19: For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Paul states the principle behind becoming all things to all men: he made himself a servant so that he might gain more people for the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:20: 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;
This verse shows Paul's specific identification with Jews and those under the law in order to win them.
1 Corinthians 9:21: 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.
Paul also adapted to those outside the law while remaining under the law of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:22: 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.
This is the key verse that explains Paul's overall strategy: to save some through whatever legitimate approach was needed.
1 Corinthians 9:23: And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Paul clarifies that his flexibility was for the sake of the Gospel and its benefits.
1 Corinthians 10:33: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Paul restates the same principle, showing his motivation was the salvation of others, not his own advantage.
1 Corinthians 2:2: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Paul's message remained central and unchanging even as he adapted his cultural approach.
According to Les Feldick, it means Paul shaped his approach to the people he was trying to reach. He became as a Jew to the Jews, as under the law to those under the law, and to the weak as weak, all with the goal of seeing lost people saved [Clip 0][Clip 1].
Les teaches that Paul was not seeking his own profit or material gain. His motivation was the salvation of lost people, and he withstood pressure from Judaizers who wanted to add circumcision and law-keeping to Paul's Gospel [Clip 5][Clip 3][Clip 7].
Les explains that Judaizers were believers that Jesus was the Christ, saved under the kingdom gospel, but they did not comprehend the grace of God or that the law had been satisfied and set aside. They followed Paul telling converts they still had to be circumcised and keep the law, which troubled Paul [Clip 7].
Watch the Teaching: What Does It Mean to Be "All Things to All Men"? — 1 Corinthians 9