1 Corinthians 7:17-24
1599 Geneva Bible
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.
20 (A)Let every man abide in the same vocation wherein he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? [e]care not for it: but if yet thou mayest be free, use it rather.
22 For he that is called in the [f]Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called being free, is Christ’s servant.
23 (B)[g]Ye are bought with a price: be not the servants of men.
24 [h]Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with [i]God.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 Hath bound him to a certain kind of life.
- 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.
- 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.
- 1 Corinthians 7:21 As though this calling were too unworthy a calling for Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 7:22 He that is in state of a servant, and is called to be a Christian.
- 1 Corinthians 7:23 He showeth the reason of the unlikeness, because that he that desireth to be circumcised, maketh himself subject to man’s tradition, and not to God. And this may be much more understood of superstitions, which some do foolishly accompt for things indifferent.
- 1 Corinthians 7:24 A repetition of the general doctrine.
- 1 Corinthians 7:24 So purely and from the heart, that your doings may be approved before God.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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