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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 7:23 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Co 7:23 |
Strong Concordance |
Ye are bought [59] with a price [5092]; be [1096] not [3361] ye [1096] the servants [1401] of men [444]. |
| |
King James |
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| be not ye--Greek, "become not ye." Paul here changes from "thou" (Co1 7:21) to "ye." YE ALL are "bought" with the blood of Christ, whatever be your earthly state (Co1 6:20). "Become not servants to men," either externally, or spiritually; the former sense applying to the free alone: the latter to Christian freemen and slaves alike, that they should not be servile adherents to their party leaders at Corinth (Co1 3:21-22; Mat 23:8-10; Co2 11:20); nor indeed slaves to men generally, so far as their condition admits. The external and internal conditions, so far as is attainable, should correspond, and the former be subservient to the latter (compare Co1 7:21, Co1 7:32-35). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Ye are bought with a price - Though you are slaves to people, yet you have been purchased for God by the blood of His Son; see the note at Co1 6:20. You are, therefore, in his sight of inestimable worth, and are bound to be His.
Be not ye the servants of men - That is, "Do not regard yourselves as the slaves of men. Even in your humble relation of life, even as servants under the laws of the land, regard yourselves as the servants of God, as obeying and serving him "even in this relation," since all those who are bought with a price - all Christians, whether bond or free - are in fact the servant (slaves, δοῦλοι douloi) of God, Co1 7:22. in this relation, therefore, esteem yourselves as the servants of God, as bound by his laws, as subject to him, and as really serving him, while you yield all proper obedience to your master." Rosenmuller, Grotius, and some others, however, think that this refers to Christians in general; and that the apostle means to caution them against subjecting themselves to needless rites and customs which the false teachers would impose on them. Others have supposed (as Doddridge) that it means that they should not sell themselves into slavery; but assuredly a caution of this kind was not needful. The view given above I regard as the interpretation demanded by the connection. And in this view it would promote contentment, and would even prevent their taking any improper measures to disturb the relations of social life, by the high and solemn consideration that even in that relation they were in common with all Christians, the true and real servants of God. They belonged to God, and they should serve Him. In all things which their masters commanded, that were in accordance with the will of God, and that could be done with a quiet conscience, they were to regard themselves as serving God; if at any time they were commanded to do that which God had forbidden, they were to remember that they were the servants of God, and that he was to be obeyed rather than man. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The servants of men
Not referring to the outward condition of bondage, but to spiritual subjection to the will and guidance of men as contrasted with Christ. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Ye are bought with a price - Ye belong to God; therefore, where it can be avoided, do not become the bondslaves of men - Which may expose you to many temptations. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Ye are bought with a price - As truly as your bodies have become the property of your masters, in consequence of his paying down a price for you; so sure you are now the Lord's property, in consequence of your being purchased by the blood of Christ.
Some render this verse interrogatively: Are ye bought with a price from your slavery? Do not again become slaves of men. Never sell yourselves; prefer and retain your liberty now that ye have acquired it.
In these verses the apostle shows that the Christian religion does not abolish our civil connections; in reference to them, where it finds us, there it leaves us. In whatever relation we stood before our embracing Christianity, there we stand still; our secular condition being no farther changed than as it may be affected by the amelioration of our moral character. But slavery, and all buying and selling of the bodies and souls of men, no matter what color or complexion, is a high offense against the holy and just God, and a gross and unprincipled attack on the liberty and rights of our fellow creatures. |
32 But [1161] I would have [1511] [2309] you [5209] without carefulness [275]. He that is unmarried [22] careth [3309] for the things that belong to [3588] the Lord [2962], how [4459] he may please [700] the Lord [2962]:
33 But [1161] he that is married [1060] careth [3309] for the things that are [3588] of the world [2889], how [4459] he may please [700] his wife [1135].
34 There is difference also between [3307] a wife [1135] and [2532] a virgin [3933]. The unmarried woman [22] careth for [3309] the things [3588] of the Lord [2962], that [2443] she may be [5600] holy [40] both [2532] in body [4983] and [2532] in spirit [4151]: but [1161] she that is married [1060] careth [3309] for the things [3588] of the world [2889], how [4459] she may please [700] her husband [435].
35 And [1161] this [5124] I speak [3004] for [4314] your [5216] own [846] profit [4851]; not [3756] that [2443] I may cast [1911] a snare [1029] upon you [5213], but [235] for that which [4314] is comely [2158], and [2532] that ye may attend upon [2145] the Lord [2962] without distraction [563].
21 Art thou called [2564] being a servant [1401]? care [3199] [4671] not [3361] for it [3199]: but [235] if [1499] thou mayest [1410] be made [1096] free [1658], use [5530] it rather [3123].
20 For [1063] ye suffer [430], if a man [1536] bring [2615] you [5209] into bondage [2615], if a man [1536] devour [2719] you, if a man [1536] take [2983] of you, if a man [1536] exalt himself [1869], if a man [1536] smite [1194] you [5209] on [1519] the face [4383].
8 But [1161] be [2564] not [3361] ye [5210] called [2564] Rabbi [4461]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Master [2519], even Christ [5547]; and [1161] all [3956] ye [5210] are [2075] brethren [80].
9 And [2532] call [2564] no [3361] man your [5216] father [3962] upon [1909] the earth [1093]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Father [3962], which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].
10 Neither [3366] be ye called [2564] masters [2519]: for [1063] one [1520] is [2076] your [5216] Master [2519], even Christ [5547].
21 Therefore [5620] let [2744] no man [3367] glory [2744] in [1722] men [444]. For [1063] all things [3956] are [2076] yours [5216];
22 Whether [1535] Paul [3972], or [1535] Apollos [625], or [1535] Cephas [2786], or [1535] the world [2889], or [1535] life [2222], or [1535] death [2288], or [1535] things present [1764], or [1535] things to come [3195]; all [3956] are [2076] yours [5216];
20 For [1063] ye are bought [59] with a price [5092]: therefore [1211] glorify [1392] God [2316] in [1722] your [5216] body [4983], and [2532] in [1722] your [5216] spirit [4151], which [3748] are [2076] God's [2316].
21 Art thou called [2564] being a servant [1401]? care [3199] [4671] not [3361] for it [3199]: but [235] if [1499] thou mayest [1410] be made [1096] free [1658], use [5530] it rather [3123].
22 For [1063] he that is called [2564] in [1722] the Lord [2962], being a servant [1401], is [2076] the Lord's [2962] freeman [558]: likewise [3668] also [2532] he that is called [2564], being free [1658], is [2076] Christ's [5547] servant [1401].
20 For [1063] ye are bought [59] with a price [5092]: therefore [1211] glorify [1392] God [2316] in [1722] your [5216] body [4983], and [2532] in [1722] your [5216] spirit [4151], which [3748] are [2076] God's [2316].