For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Paul is free from all human claims because he preached the gospel without getting any praise for it and never wanted anything from anyone, except their salvation. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.
"For though I be free from all men, I have made myself servant to all "it is said, "that I might gain all. And every one that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things.".
For instance, Paul circumcised Timothy because of the Jews who believed, in order that those who had received their training from the law might not revolt from the faith through his breaking such points of the law as were understood more cam ally, knowing right well that circumcision does not justify; for he professed that "all things were for all "by conformity, preserving those of the dogmas that were essential, "that he might gain all.".
And Daniel, under the king of the Persians, wore "the chain".
But that he might not, by dragging all at once away from the law to the circumcision of the heart through faith those of the Hebrews who were reluctant listeners, compel them to break away from the synagogue, he, "accommodating himself to the Jews, became a Jew that he might gain all."
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all. I humbled myself to all things, even to want and hunger; I accommodated myself to the weaknesses of all, insomuch that, when I saw the Corinthians slow and niggardly in their support of the Apostles, I refused to accept any payment from them, that I might gain all by condescending to their infirmity.
So also the blessed Paul “became all things to all men,” not in order that he might gain some sort of advantage but that, with the loss of a part, he might gain all.
Here again he introduces another high step in advance. For a great thing it is even not to receive, but this which he is about to mention is much more than that. What then is it that he says? Not only have I not received, says he, not only have I not used this right, but I have even made myself a slave, and in a slavery manifold and universal. For not in money alone, but, which was much more than money, in employments many and various have I made good this same rule: and I have made myself a slave when I was subject to none, having no necessity in any respect, (for this is the meaning of, though I was free from all men;) and not to any single person have I been a slave, but to the whole world.
Wherefore also he subjoined, I brought myself under bondage to all. That is, To preach the Gospel I was commanded, and to proclaim the things committed to my trust; but the contriving and devising numberless things beside, all that was of my own zeal. For I was only under obligation to invest th...
Now by this time, you who argue about "Joseph "and "Daniel "know that things old and new, rude and polished, begun and developed, slavish and free, are not always comparable. For they, even by their circumstances, were slaves; but you, the slave of none,
