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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"To the weak became I weak, that I might gain the weak:" in this part coming to their case, with a view to which also all these things have been spoken. However, those were much greater things, but this more to the purpose; whence also he hath placed it after them. Indeed he did the same thing likewise in his Epistle to the Romans, when he was finding fault about meats; and so in many other places. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
So now too, for your sake, because of your unsteadiness in convictions and inclination toward temptation, I did not wish to be fed at your expense. And in those cases when, because of the weakness of his listeners, he does not speak clearly about the divinity of the Son or about the divinity of the Spirit, know that he becomes "to the weak, as weak." And why enumerate many things? I adapted myself to all. Although I did not hope to save all, I desired to save at least a few. And this is even more remarkable. …
Clement of Alexandria
For we are taught what is like by what is like. For says Solomon, "Answer a fool according to his folly." Wherefore also, to those that ask the wisdom that is with us, we are to hold out things suitable, that with the greatest possible ease they may, through their own ideas, be likely to arrive at faith in the truth. For "I became all things to all men, that I might gain all men." Since also "the rain" of the divine grace is sent down "on the just and the unjust." "Is He the God of the Jews only, and not also of the Gentiles? …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
This is correctly interpreted to mean that he, not by lying but by sympathy, brought it about that he enabled their con-version by his own great love which made it seem as though he himself were afflicted with that evil of which he wished to heal them.
Ambrose of Milan
He who did not think it robbery to be equal with God took the nature of a slave. He became all things to all men to bring salvation to all. Paul, an imitator of him, lived as if outside the law while remaining accountable to the law. He spent his life for the advantage of those he wished to win. He willingly became weak for the weak in order to strengthen them. He ran the race to overtake them.
Translation