1 Corinthians 7:17-24
New American Standard Bible
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.
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- 1 Corinthians 7:20 Lit calling
1 Corinthians 7:17-24
New English Translation
The Circumstances of Your Calling
17 Nevertheless,[a] as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision.[b] Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God’s commandments is what counts. 20 Let each one remain in that situation in life[c] in which he was called. 21 Were you called as a slave?[d] Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity. 22 For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. 24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters,[e] let him remain in it with God.
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- 1 Corinthians 7:17 tn Or “only”; Grk “if not.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:18 tn Grk “Let him not pull over the foreskin,” that is, attempt to reverse the appearance of circumcision by a surgical procedure. This was sometimes done by Hellenistic Jews to hide the embarrassment of circumcision (1 Macc 1:15; Josephus, Ant. 12.5.1 [12.241]). Cf. BDAG 380 s.v. ἐπισπάω 3.
- 1 Corinthians 7:20 tn Grk “in the calling.” “Calling” in Paul is God’s work of drawing people to faith in Christ. As in 1:26, calling here stands by metonymy for a person’s circumstances when he becomes a Christian.
- 1 Corinthians 7:21 tn Traditionally, “servant” (KJV), though almost all modern translations render the word as “slave” here.
- 1 Corinthians 7:24 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.
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