1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Amplified Bible

¹⁷Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]. This is the rule I make in all the churches. ¹⁸Was anyone at the time of his calling [from God already] circumcised? He is not to ^[a]become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called while uncircumcised? ^[b]He is not to be circumcised.^(A) ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping the commandments of God. ²⁰Each one should remain in the condition in which he was [when he was] called.

²¹Were you a slave when you were called? Do not worry about that [since your status as a believer is ^[c]equal to that of a freeborn believer]; but if you are able to gain your freedom, ^[d]do that. ²²For he who was a slave when he was called in the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, likewise he who was free when he was called is a slave of Christ. ²³You were bought with a price [a precious price paid by Christ]; do not become slaves to men [but to Christ]. ²⁴Brothers, let each one remain with God in that condition in which he was [when he was] called.

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 7:18 Paul may be speaking figuratively of abandoning all of one’s Jewish heritage and culture; however, there was a procedure in ancient medicine for reversing circumcision.
1 Corinthians 7:18 A faction of Jewish Christians (often called “Judaizers”) hounded Paul and insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised.
1 Corinthians 7:21 In practice, even if both a slave and his master became Christians, the slave would remain so unless he were freed (cf Onesimus and Philemon); he could not claim that his freedom in Christ applied to his civil status as a slave. But it would have been wrong for others to treat a slave differently from anyone else in church services.
1 Corinthians 7:21 This essentially is an exception to the rule of v 20.

1 Corinthians 7:17-24

New American Standard Bible

¹⁷Only, ^(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. ¹⁸Was 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.

²¹Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. ²²For 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. ²⁴Brothers and sisters, ^(K)each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.