1 Corinthians 7:17
in 1 Corinthians 7Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.
KJV
But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 7
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But as God hath distributed ... - As God hath divided (ἐμέρισεν emerisen); that is, given, imparted to anyone. As God has given grace to everyone. The words εἰ μὴ ei mē denote simply but in the beginning of this verse. The apostle here introduces a new subject; or an inquiry varying somewhat from that preceding, though of the same general nature. He had discussed the question whether a husband and wife ought to be separated on account of a difference in religion.
This site's exposition
Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him
on 1 Corinthians 7:17-18
The rule of the whole chapter is that each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him. Conversion requires no change of earthly station, and Paul applies the rule first to circumcision.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 428.
proposed
It is wrong to suppose that the circumstances which prevailed when a person was converted stand in the way of his becoming holy.
God has assigned to each person the time of his salvation, that is, the time when he might believe, and he will keep that person until then. Paul tells the Corinthians that this is his general rule, so that when they hear that others are …
The very closing sentence of the period confirms (the supposition) that this is thus to be understood. "As each," it says, "is called by the Lord, so let him persevere." But it is Gentiles who "are called," I take it, not believers.
"Only as God hath distributed to each man, as the Lord hath called each, so let him walk. Was any one called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Was any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. Wast thou called, being a slave? Care not for it." These things contribute nothing unto faith, saith he. Be not then contentious neither be troubled; for the faith hath cast out all these things. "Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. Hast thou been called, having an unbelieving wife? Continue to have her. Cast not out thy wife for the faith's sake. Hast thou been called, being a slave? Care not for it. Continue to be a slave. Hast thou been called, being in uncircumcision? Remain uncircumcised. Being circumcised, didst thou become a believer? Continue circumcised. For this is the meaning of, "As God hath distributed unto each man." For these are no hindrances to piety. Thou art called, being a slave; another, with an unbelieving wife; another, being circumcised.
The Medieval Church1 voice
He said this so that the Corinthians would more readily obey him, since he commands the same thing to others together with them as well.
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Some read it this way: "or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife or not" (ē m)? Then they began a new sentence thus: "let each one act as God has appointed for him," that is, how can you know …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But as God hath distributed - The various stations of life, and various relations, to every one, let him take care to discharge his duty therein. The gospel disannuls none of these.
But as God hath distributed to every man,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Or, But if there be no hope of gaining over the unbeliever, still let the general principle be maintained, "As the Lord hath allotted to each, as God hath called each, so let him walk" (so the Greek in the oldest reading); let him walk in the path allotted to him and wherein he was called.
But as God hath distributed to every man, etc. - Let every man fulfill the duties of the state to which God in the course of his providence has called him. So ordain I in all Churches - I do not lay on you a burden which others are not called to bear: this is the general rule which, by the authority of God, I impose on every Christian society.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | only | G1487 → | 508 times |
| μὴ | me | except | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἑκάστῳ | hekasto | to each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἐμέρισεν | emerisen | has assigned | G3307 → | 14 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κύριος, | kurios | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἕκαστον | hekaston | to each | G1538 → | 81 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| κέκληκεν | kekleken | has called | G2564 → | 147 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεός, | theos | God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | so | G3779 → | 208 times |
| περιπατείτω· | peripateito | he should walk; | G4043 → | |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὕτως | houtos | thus | G3779 → | 208 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ταῖς | tais | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκκλησίαις | ekklesiais | churches | G1577 → | 113 times |
| πάσαις | pasais | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| διατάσσομαι.¶ | diatassomai | I prescribe. | G1299 → | 16 times |
εἰonly
eiG1487 →508 times
μὴexcept
meG3361 →1066 times
ἑκάστῳto each
hekastoG1538 →81 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἐμέρισενhas assigned
emerisenG3307 →14 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κύριος,Lord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
ἕκαστονto each
hekastonG1538 →81 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
κέκληκενhas called
keklekenG2564 →147 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
θεός,God
theosG2316 →1312 times
οὕτωςso
houtosG3779 →208 times
περιπατείτω·he should walk;
peripateitoG4043 →
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὕτωςthus
houtosG3779 →208 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ταῖςthe
taisG3588 →19766 times
ἐκκλησίαιςchurches
ekklesiaisG1577 →113 times
πάσαιςall
pasaisG3956 →1235 times
διατάσσομαι.¶I prescribe.
diatassomaiG1299 →16 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 4:17That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:10
If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am.
- 1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1
Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia:
- 1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
- 1 Corinthians 16:10
Through
1 Corinthians 7:24Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 7:20
Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
- Colossians 3:23–24
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- 1 Corinthians 7:20
Through
2 Corinthians 11:28Apart from these external trials, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
it leads to
- Romans 15:16
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy…
- Romans 15:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 19; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Tertullian, To His Wife Book II; Theodore of Mopsuestia, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.