Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 9:21

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 .

It is manifest by the opposition of those that are without Law, mentioned in this verse, to those under the Law, mentioned in the former verse, that as by the latter the Iews are understood, so by the former the Gentiles are to be understood, who were under no obligation to the observance either of the Ceremonial, or Iudicial Law, given to the [illegible: 1 letter]ews; the one to guide that Nation in the matters of Worship till Christ should come; the other to guide them in matters of Civil Justice, as well as in Criminal causes, as matters of Plea and Trespass; [illegible: 1 letter]o that the term [non-Latin text not transcribed] here [illegible: 1 letter]ignifieth differently from what it signifieth in many other Scriptures; where it signifieth men that live as they list, without any regard to any Laws of God or men, as Mark 15.28. Luke. 22.37. Acts 2.23. 2 Thess. 2.8. 1 Tim. 1.9, &c.

This the Apostle makes appear by the next words, where he tells us, he was not without Law to God, but under the Law to Christ, though 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, yet he did not behave himself as one that had no regard to the Law of God, that was yet in force and obligatory, but acknowledged himself to be under that, though a Servant of Christ's: so that he abated nothing of his necessary duty, only denied himself in some things as to which the Law of God had left him a liberty, both to the Jews and Gentiles, propounding to himself the same end as to both, that is, the gaining of their Souls to Christ.

Marginal references: Gal. 2.[illegible: 1 letter]; Chap. [illegible: 1 letter].