1 Corinthians 7:18
in 1 Corinthians 7Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
KJV
Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 7
Commentary
10 notes on this verseOn the other hand, some, finding something important in circumcision, were circumcised after their conversion to the faith. Therefore he says that this contributes nothing to the faith.
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.
This site's exposition
He should not become uncircumcised
Some Jews in the Greek world had circumcision surgically disguised, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown cite 1 Maccabees 1:15 and Josephus. The opposite pressure came from teachers who required Gentile converts to be circumcised, as at Acts 15:1.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"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.
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 428.
proposed
It is not possible to replace flesh which has been cut off in this way, although the blessed Epiphanius of Cyprus says that it is. Those who want to know more about the subject can consult what he has to say about it.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Probably, many, being ashamed of circumcision, by some medicine restored the circumcised member to its original appearance, growing back the foreskin on it.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Is any man called being circumcised?.... That is, if any man that is a Jew, who has been circumcised in his infancy, is called by the grace of God, as there were many in those days, and many of them in the church at Corinth: let him not become uncircumcised; or "draw on" the foreskin; as some did in the times of Antiochus, for fear of him, and to curry favour with him, who, it is said, 1 Maccab.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Is any man called being circumcised? - Is any man who was formerly a Jew converted to Christianity? Let him not become circumcised - Let him not endeavor to abolish the sign of the old covenant, which he bears in his flesh. The Greek words μη επισπασθω, let him not draw over, are evidently an elliptical expression: the word την ακροβυστιαν, the fore-skin, being understood; which, indeed, is added by the Armenian and the Itala, and several of the Latin fathers.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
not become uncircumcised--by surgical operation (1 Maccabees 1:15; JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 12.5.1]). Some Christians in excess of anti-Jewish feeling might be tempted to this. let him not be circumcised--as the Judaizing Christians would have him (Ac 15:1, 5, 24;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Is any man called? - Does anyone become a Christian? See the note at 1Co 1:26. Being circumcised - Being a native-born Jew, or having become a Jewish proselyte, and having submitted to the initiatory rite of the Jewish religion. Let him not become uncircumcised - This could not be literally done. But the apostle refers here to certain efforts which were made to remove the marks of circumcision which were often attempted by those who were ashamed of having been circumcised. The practice is often alluded to by Jewish writers, and is described by them; compare 1 Mac. 1Co 1:15. It is not decorous or proper here to show how this was done. The process is described in Cels. de Med. 7:25; see Grotuns and Bloomfield. Is any called in uncircumcision? - A Gentile, or one who had not been circumcised. Let him not be circumcised - The Jewish rites are not binding, and are not to be enjoined on those who have been converted from the Gentiles; see the notes at Rom 2:27-30.
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Περιτετμημένος | peritetmemenos | circumcised | G4059 → | |
| τις | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐκλήθη; | eklethe | was called? | G2564 → | 147 times |
| μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἐπισπάσθω· | epispastho | he should become uncircumcised; | G1986 → | |
| ἐν | en | In | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀκροβυστίᾳ | akrobustia | uncircumcision | G203 → | |
| κέκληταί | kekletai | has been called | G2564 → | 147 times |
| τις; | tis | anyone | G5100 → | 528 times |
| μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| περιτεμνέσθω. | peritemnestho | he should d be circumcise. | G4059 → |
Περιτετμημένοςcircumcised
peritetmemenosG4059 →
τιςanyone
tisG5100 →528 times
ἐκλήθη;was called?
ekletheG2564 →147 times
μὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἐπισπάσθω·he should become uncircumcised;
epispasthoG1986 →
ἐνIn
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀκροβυστίᾳuncircumcision
akrobustiaG203 →
κέκληταίhas been called
kekletaiG2564 →147 times
τις;anyone
tisG5100 →528 times
μὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
περιτεμνέσθω.he should d be circumcise.
peritemnesthoG4059 →
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
Colossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
it leads to
- Galatians 3:28–29
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Corinthians 12:13
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
- Romans 10:12
For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,
- Ephesians 3:6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 1:23
which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
- Galatians 3:28–29
Through
Acts 15:24It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.
it leads to
- Acts 15:1
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Galatians 5:12
As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!
- Galatians 5:10
I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.
- Acts 15:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies10
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 9 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); 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; Theodore of Mopsuestia, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.