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.
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Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
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.
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.
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."
I am made all things to all men. Not by acting deceitfully or sinfully, but through sympathy and compassion, which made me suit myself to the dispositions of all men, Song of Solomon , as far as honesty and God"s law allow, that I might be able to heal the indispositions of all. Cf. S. Augustine (Epp9,19): "Not by lying, but by sympathy; not by cunning craftiness, but by large-hearted compassion was Paul made all things to all men."
The Apostle does not sanction what men of the world wish for and do, viz, the accommodating ourselves through right and wrong to all men, feigning to be heretics with heretics, Turks with Turks, pure with the pure, and unclean with those that are unclean. This he condemns ( Galatians 2:11 et seq.). The advice of S. Ephrem (Attende tibi, c10) is sound: "Have charity with all and abstain from all;" and again the apophthegm of S. Bernard, which embraces every virtue: "Live so as to be prudent for yourself, useful to others, pleasing to God." S. Jordan, S. Dom...
Everywhere the Savior becomes “all things to all men.” To the hungry, bread; to the thirsty, water; to the dead, resurrection; to the sick, a physician; to sinners, redemption.
Paul became all things to all men, not in the expectation that he would win everybody but that he might save at least some. It was not possible for all the seed to be saved, but neither could it be that all of it should perish. Someone as ardently zealous as Paul was sure to have some success at least.
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 has 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.
Next, not to waste time by naming all severally, he says, I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
Do you see how far it is carried? I have become all things to all men, not expecting, however, to save all, but that I may save though it be but a few. And so great care and service have I undergone, as one naturally would who was about saving all, far however from hoping to gain all: which was truly magnanimous and a proof of burning zeal. Since likewise the sower sowed every where, and saved not all the seed, notwithstanding he did his part. And having mentio...
No doubt he used to please them by celebrating the Saturnalia and New-year's day!.
From respect of persons. And yet as Paul himself "became all things to all men".
But so did circumstances require him to "become all things to all, in order to gain all; "
