Paul"s thought returned to the Cross again (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:20). God has set us free from the worst kind of slavery having purchased us with the precious blood of His Son. How foolish then it would be for us to give up any of the liberties we enjoy that enable us to serve Jesus Christ. How ridiculous it would be to place ourselves back into a slave relationship to anyone or anything but Him. This applies to physical and spiritual bondage. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
1 Corinthians 7:15-24 - Serve God In Your Calling
There was much unsettlement in regard to marriage in the church at Corinth. An unnatural asceticism was showing itself in some quarters and a lawless self-indulgence in others. Against these tendencies Paul resolutely set himself. While he held that marriage should be contracted only in the Lord, he also taught that where it had been consummated it should not be dissolved at the instance of the Christian, though the wish of the unbelieving partner might be acceded to. Children, also, born when one of their parents was a heathen, might be reckoned clean.
The Apostle refers both to vocation and to the Christian life as a divine calling, 1 Corinthians 7:18-24. We are all called to our trade or profession as much as a student is to the ministry. It is interesting that a man will speak of his business as his calling. God has a purpose for each of us, and summons us to fulfill it. Unless we are specially led to do otherwise, we should, on entering the Christian life, remain in the same calling in which our former life was spent. The only difference is that we are to stay in it with God, 1 Corinthians 7:24. In every service, however lowly, we should have an eye toward Christ. All may be done in Him, with Him, for Him. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 7
1He discusses marriage; 4showing it to be a remedy against sinful desires, 10and that the bond thereof ought not lightly to be dissolved 20Every man must be content with his vocation 25Virginity wherefore to be embraced; 35and for what respects we may either marry, or abstain from marrying
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 7:23
Ye were bought with a price [τιμης ηγοραστητε] See note on 1 Corinthians 6:20 for this very phrase, here repeated. Both classes (slaves and freemen) were purchased by the blood of Christ. [source]
Become not bondservants of men [μη γινεστε δουλοι αντρωπων] Present middle imperative of γινομαι ginomai with negative μη mē Literally, stop becoming slaves of men. Paul here clearly defines his opposition to human slavery as an institution which comes out so powerfully in the Epistle to Philemon. Those already free from human slavery should not become enslaved. [source]
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. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 7:23
Galatians 3:13Redeemed us [ημας εχηγορασεν] First aorist active of the compound verb εχαγοραζω exagorazō (Polybius, Plutarch, Diodorus), to buy from, to buy back, to ransom. The simple verb αγοραζω agorazō (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23) is used in an inscription for the purchase of slaves in a will (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 324). See also Galatians 4:5; Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16. Christ purchased us from the curse of the law “Out from (εκ ek repeated) under (υπο hupo in Galatians 3:10) the curse of the law.” [source]
Colossians 2:23In any honor [ἐν τιμῇ τινὶ] Rev., better, of any value. The real value of these ascetic practices contrasted with their popular estimation. Price or value is the original meaning of τιμή , and its use in this sense is frequent in classical Greek. So in the New Testament, as Matthew 27:9, “the price of Him who was priced ( τετιμημένου ).” In Paul, 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23. The idea of value appears in 1 Peter 1:19. “Ye were redeemed - with the precious ( τιμίῳ ) blood of Christ;” something of real and adequate value. So 1 Peter 2:4, of Christ as the living stone, precious ( ἔντιμον ), of recognized value. [source]
Revelation 5:9A new song [ωιδην καινην] Cognate accusative for οιδε oide Second aorist passive indicative of σπαζω sphazō Αγοραζω Agorazō used by Paul and Peter of our purchase from sin by Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5; 2 Peter 2:1; cf. 1 Peter 1:18.).Unto God Dative case of advantage as also in Revelation 5:10.With thy blood (εν τωι αιματι σου en tōi haimati sou). Instrumental use of εν en as in Revelation 1:5. The blood of Christ as the price of our redemption runs all through the Apocalypse. This is the reason why Christ is worthy to “take the book and open its seals.” That is, he is worthy to receive adoration and worship (Revelation 4:11) as the Father does.Men of every No αντρωπους anthrōpous (men) or τινας tinas (some) before εκ ek in the Greek. See a like ellipsis in Revelation 11:9 with a like grouping of words for all mankind, representatives of all races and nations (Revelation 7:9; Revelation 13:7; Revelation 14:6). [source]
Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 7:23
See note on 1 Corinthians 6:20 for this very phrase, here repeated. Both classes (slaves and freemen) were purchased by the blood of Christ. [source]
Present middle imperative of γινομαι ginomai with negative μη mē Literally, stop becoming slaves of men. Paul here clearly defines his opposition to human slavery as an institution which comes out so powerfully in the Epistle to Philemon. Those already free from human slavery should not become enslaved. [source]
Not referring to the outward condition of bondage, but to spiritual subjection to the will and guidance of men as contrasted with Christ. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 7:23
First aorist active of the compound verb εχαγοραζω exagorazō (Polybius, Plutarch, Diodorus), to buy from, to buy back, to ransom. The simple verb αγοραζω agorazō (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23) is used in an inscription for the purchase of slaves in a will (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 324). See also Galatians 4:5; Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16. Christ purchased us from the curse of the law “Out from (εκ ek repeated) under (υπο hupo in Galatians 3:10) the curse of the law.” [source]
Rev., better, of any value. The real value of these ascetic practices contrasted with their popular estimation. Price or value is the original meaning of τιμή , and its use in this sense is frequent in classical Greek. So in the New Testament, as Matthew 27:9, “the price of Him who was priced ( τετιμημένου ).” In Paul, 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23. The idea of value appears in 1 Peter 1:19. “Ye were redeemed - with the precious ( τιμίῳ ) blood of Christ;” something of real and adequate value. So 1 Peter 2:4, of Christ as the living stone, precious ( ἔντιμον ), of recognized value. [source]
Only here, Luke 24:21; 1 Peter 1:18. See on 1 Timothy 2:6. Neither λύτρον ransom, λύτρωσις redemption, nor λυτρωτής redeemer occur in Paul. He has the figure of purchase ( ἀγοράζεσθαι, ἐξαγοράζεσθαι ), 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5. Comp. Revelation 5:9; Revelation 14:3, Revelation 14:4; 2 Peter 2:1. [source]
Cognate accusative for οιδε oide Second aorist passive indicative of σπαζω sphazō Αγοραζω Agorazō used by Paul and Peter of our purchase from sin by Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5; 2 Peter 2:1; cf. 1 Peter 1:18.).Unto God Dative case of advantage as also in Revelation 5:10.With thy blood (εν τωι αιματι σου en tōi haimati sou). Instrumental use of εν en as in Revelation 1:5. The blood of Christ as the price of our redemption runs all through the Apocalypse. This is the reason why Christ is worthy to “take the book and open its seals.” That is, he is worthy to receive adoration and worship (Revelation 4:11) as the Father does.Men of every No αντρωπους anthrōpous (men) or τινας tinas (some) before εκ ek in the Greek. See a like ellipsis in Revelation 11:9 with a like grouping of words for all mankind, representatives of all races and nations (Revelation 7:9; Revelation 13:7; Revelation 14:6). [source]
Second aorist passive indicative of σπαζω sphazō Αγοραζω Agorazō used by Paul and Peter of our purchase from sin by Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5; 2 Peter 2:1; cf. 1 Peter 1:18.). [source]