Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 9:21

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"To them that are without law, as without law." These were neither Jews, nor Christians, nor Greeks; but "outside of the Law," as was Cornelius, and if there were any others like him. For among these also making his appearance, he used to assume many of their ways. …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 22 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

By "lawless" he means either those who did not have the Law of Moses, who converted from among the Gentiles, such as Cornelius (Acts 10), and in visiting whom Paul condescended to their weakness, or also the Greeks, to whom he likewise adapted himself—for example, when he delivered a speech before the Athenians, he began it from the altar that they had, and taught about Christ not as God but as a man (Acts 17:22–23, 31); for they could not understand any such thing, but even regarded him as one of their own gods, such as Hercules or …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

He did this by compassion, not by lying. For each one becomes like him whom he wants to help when such great mercy prevails as that each one would wish for himself if he were in the same misery. And so he becomes like the other—not by deceiving him but by putting himself in the other's place.

Against Lying 12 ↗