1 CORINTHIANS 7:21 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.”
Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. — The practical case: slavery. Paul does not command manumission but permits it ('if you can gain freedom, do so'—an optative, not imperative). This reflects pastoral realism: some slaves faced danger if freed. However, the deep theological point follows: believers, whether enslaved or free, are apeleutheroi kyriou (freed people of the Lord) in the most profound sense. Heavenly freedom transcends temporal bondage, though earthly freedom is not despised.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 7:21
And again, “Only as God has distributed to each man, as the Lord has 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. Were you called, being a slave? Care not for it.” These things contribute nothing unto…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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