Live as You Are Called

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And (A)so I [a]ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? (B)Let him not be circumcised. 19 (C)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but (D)keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is (E)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is (F)Christ’s slave. 23 (G)You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with (H)God in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

25 Now concerning virgins: (I)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one (J)whom the Lord in His mercy has made (K)trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—(L)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

29 But (M)this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not (N)misusing it. For (O)the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without [b]care. (P)He who is unmarried [c]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman (Q)cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:17 direct
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:32 concern
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:32 is concerned about

17 ει μη εκαστω ως εμερισεν ο θεος εκαστον ως κεκληκεν ο κυριος ουτως περιπατειτω και ουτως εν ταις εκκλησιαις πασαις διατασσομαι

18 περιτετμημενος τις εκληθη μη επισπασθω εν ακροβυστια τις εκληθη μη περιτεμνεσθω

19 η περιτομη ουδεν εστιν και η ακροβυστια ουδεν εστιν αλλα τηρησις εντολων θεου

20 εκαστος εν τη κλησει η εκληθη εν ταυτη μενετω

21 δουλος εκληθης μη σοι μελετω αλλ ει και δυνασαι ελευθερος γενεσθαι μαλλον χρησαι

22 ο γαρ εν κυριω κληθεις δουλος απελευθερος κυριου εστιν ομοιως και ο ελευθερος κληθεις δουλος εστιν χριστου

23 τιμης ηγορασθητε μη γινεσθε δουλοι ανθρωπων

24 εκαστος εν ω εκληθη αδελφοι εν τουτω μενετω παρα τω θεω

25 περι δε των παρθενων επιταγην κυριου ουκ εχω γνωμην δε διδωμι ως ηλεημενος υπο κυριου πιστος ειναι

26 νομιζω ουν τουτο καλον υπαρχειν δια την ενεστωσαν αναγκην οτι καλον ανθρωπω το ουτως ειναι

27 δεδεσαι γυναικι μη ζητει λυσιν λελυσαι απο γυναικος μη ζητει γυναικα

28 εαν δε και γημης ουχ ημαρτες και εαν γημη η παρθενος ουχ ημαρτεν θλιψιν δε τη σαρκι εξουσιν οι τοιουτοι εγω δε υμων φειδομαι

29 τουτο δε φημι αδελφοι οτι ο καιρος συνεσταλμενος το λοιπον εστιν ινα και οι εχοντες γυναικας ως μη εχοντες ωσιν

30 και οι κλαιοντες ως μη κλαιοντες και οι χαιροντες ως μη χαιροντες και οι αγοραζοντες ως μη κατεχοντες

31 και οι χρωμενοι τω κοσμω τουτω ως μη καταχρωμενοι παραγει γαρ το σχημα του κοσμου τουτου

32 θελω δε υμας αμεριμνους ειναι ο αγαμος μεριμνα τα του κυριου πως αρεσει τω κυριω

33 ο δε γαμησας μεριμνα τα του κοσμου πως αρεσει τη γυναικι

34 μεμερισται η γυνη και η παρθενος η αγαμος μεριμνα τα του κυριου ινα η αγια και σωματι και πνευματι η δε γαμησασα μεριμνα τα του κοσμου πως αρεσει τω ανδρι

35 τουτο δε προς το υμων αυτων συμφερον λεγω ουχ ινα βροχον υμιν επιβαλω αλλα προς το ευσχημον και ευπροσεδρον τω κυριω απερισπαστως

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17 if not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each -- so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct:

18 being circumcised -- was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised;

19 the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing -- but a keeping of the commands of God.

20 Each in the calling in which he was called -- in this let him remain;

21 a servant -- wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free -- use [it] rather;

22 for he who [is] in the Lord -- having been called a servant -- is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

23 with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;

24 each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.

25 And concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful:

26 I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus: --

27 Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 But and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.

29 And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as not having;

30 and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

31 and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

32 And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

33 and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.

34 The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she shall please the husband.

35 And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,

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17 Only, (A)as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And (B)so I direct in (C)all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? (D)He is not to be circumcised. 19 (E)Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is (F)the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 (G)Each person is to remain in that [a]state in which he was called.

21 Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. 22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave, is (H)the Lord’s freed person; likewise the one who was called as free, is (I)Christ’s slave. 23 (J)You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. 24 Brothers and sisters, (K)each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have (L)no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who [b](M)by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think, then, that this is good in view of the [c]present (N)distress, that (O)it is good for a man [d]to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have [e]trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say, brothers, (P)the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not (Q)make full use of it; for (R)the present form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is (S)unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but [f]to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:20 Lit calling
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Lit has been shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Lit so to be
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Lit tribulation in the flesh
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:35 Lit for what is seemly