I would have started by quoting Proverbs 17:8 "A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds."
The Bible elsewhere condemns bribery. I would take this as an observation, not a prescription.
1 Cor. 9: " 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."
Does anyone seriously contend Paul didn't run across his share of corruption in the notoriously corrupt Roman Empire? If I remember correctly, there were at least two occasions where jailers tried to stick him up for a bribe.
So did he immediately launch into an anti-corruption campaign to clean up the Empire, which would have been really tough as the Emperors during this period (Claudius and Nero) were the most corrupt of all, or did he work within the (corrupt) system so as to be able to keep working for Christ?
Must be the translation, KJV has it as “A gift...” Bit different.