17 [a]But as God hath distributeth to every man, as the Lord [b]hath called every one, so let him walk: and so ordain I in all Churches.

18 [c]Is any man called being circumcised? let him not [d]gather his uncircumcision: is any called uncircumcised? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Taking occasion by that which he said of the bondage and liberty of matrimony, he digresseth to a general doctrine concerning the outward state and condition of man’s life, as Circumcision and uncircumcision, servitude and liberty: warning every man generally to live with a contented mind in the Lord, what state or condition forever he be in, because that those outward things, as to be circumcised or uncircumcised, to be bond or free, are not of the substance (as they term it) of the kingdom of heaven.
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Hath bound him to a certain kind of life.
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:18 Notwithstanding he giveth us to understand, that in these examples all are not like sort: because that circumcision is not simply of itself to be desired, but such as are bound may desire to be free. Therefore herein only they are equal, that the kingdom of God consisteth not in them, and therefore these are no hindrance to obey God.
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:18 He is said to gather his uncircumcision, who by the help of a Chirurgeon recovereth an upper skin: which is done by the drawing the skin with an instrument, to make it to cover the nut. Celsus in book 7, chapter 25.

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