1 CORINTHIANS 7:22 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.”
For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave. — The paradox inverts all value: the enslaved believer is apelutheros kyriou (the Lord's freedperson), possessing the ultimate freedom. The free person becomes doulos Christou (enslaved to Christ), accepting chosen servitude to a liberating master. This theological inversion establishes that temporal status is subordinate to one's relation to Christ. Both freedom and slavery are relativized before the absolute claim of Christ.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 7:22
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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