1 Corinthians 7:22

For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

BSB

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

KJV

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

ASV

For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant.

BBE

For he who was a servant when he became a Christian is the Lord's free man; and he who was free when he became a Christian is the Lord's servant.

Original Greek

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ὁ ho The [one] G3588 γὰρ gar for G1063 ἐν en in G1722 κυρίῳ kuriō [the] Lord G2962 κληθεὶς klētheis having been called G2564 δοῦλος doulos [being] a slave G1401 ἀπελεύθερος apeleutheros a freedman G558 κυρίου kuriou of [the] Lord G2962 ἐστίν estin is G1510 ὁμοίως homoiōs likewise G3668 καὶ kai and G2532 ὁ ho the [one] G3588 ἐλεύθερος eleutheros free G1658 κληθεὶς klētheis having been called G2564 δοῦλός doulos a slave G1401 ἐστιν estin is G1510 Χριστοῦ Christou of Christ G5547

The early church

Next he adds also the cause; "For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's free man: likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ's bondservant." "For," saith he, "in the things that relate to Christ, both are equal: and like as thou art the slave of Christ, so also is thy master. How then is the slave a free man? Because He has freed thee not only from sin, but also from outward slavery while continuing a slave. For he suffers not the slave to be a slave, not even though he be a man abiding in slavery: and this is the great wonder. But how is the slave a free man while continuing a slave? When he is freed from passions and the diseases of the mind: when he looks down upon riches and wrath and all other the like passions.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 17–24

The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 7 →

Cross-references

16

People & places

Jesus

Topics

Servant

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.