1 Corinthians 7:21

Verse

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

American Standard Version (1901)

Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.

Bible in Basic English

If you were a servant when you became a Christian, let it not be a grief to you; but if you have a chance to become free, make use of it.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Free Bible Version

If you were a slave when you were called, don't worry—though if you have an opportunity to become free, take it.

Geneva Bible 1599

Art thou called being a seruant? care not for it: but if yet thou maiest be free, vse it rather.

King James (Authorized) Version

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Plain English Version

Sometimes bosses own their workers. Those workers belong to their bosses and their bosses control them. They have to do what their bosses say, and they don’t get any pay. If God picked you while you were a worker like that, don’t worry. Don’t try to run away and get free. (But if your boss says you can go free, then do that.)

Translation for Translators

If one of you was a slave when you (sg) became a Christian [RHQ], do not be concerned about it. However, if you get an opportunity to be free, do what you need to do to become free.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Were you a slave when God called you? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can become free, take advantage of it.

Noah Webster Bible

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

World English Bible

Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

Young's Literal Translation

a servant — wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free — use [it] rather;

Context

Live Your Calling

²⁰Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.²¹Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.²²For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

Summary

In this verse, Paul addresses the issue of slavery, advising slaves to not be concerned about gaining their freedom if they are in that situation when they become believers. Instead, he encourages them to focus on serving God wholeheartedly in whatever circumstances they find themselves. Paul emphasizes that true freedom comes from being a servant of Christ, regardless of one's social status. This teaching underscores the importance of prioritizing spiritual growth and obedience to God over seeking worldly freedom or status.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Art thou called being a servant? - Δουλος εκληθης, Art thou converted to Christ while thou art a slave - the property of another person, and bought with his money? care not for it - this will not injure thy Christian condition, but if thou canst obtain thy liberty - use it rather - prefer this state for the sake of freedom, and the temporal advantages connected with it.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Art thou called being a servant?.... That is, called by grace whilst in the condition of a servant, care not for it; do not be troubled at it, and uneasy with it; be not anxiously solicitous to be otherwise; bear the yoke patiently, go through thy servitude cheerfully, and serve thy master faithfully; do not look upon it as any objection to thy calling, any contradiction to thy Christian liberty, or as unworthy of, and a reproach upon thy profession of Christ: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. The Syriac renders the last clause, , "choose for thyself to serve"; perfectly agreeable to the sense given of the words, by several great critics and excellent interpreters, who take the apostle's meaning to be, that should a Christian servant have an opportunity of making his escape from his master, or could he by any art, trick, and fraudulent method, obtain his liberty, it would be much more advisable to continue a servant, than to become free by any such means: yea, some seem to carry the sense so far, that even if servants could be made free in a lawful way, yet servitude was most eligible, both for their own and their master's good: for their own to keep them humble and exercise their patience; for their master's not only temporal, but spiritual good; since by their good behaviour they might be a means of recommending the Gospel to them, and of gaining them to Christ; but one should rather think the more obvious sense is, that when a Christian servant has his freedom offered him by his master, or he can come at it in a lawful and honourable way, this being preferable to servitude, he ought rather to make use of it; since he would be in a better situation, and more at leisure to serve Christ, and the interest of religion: however, certain it is, that the apostle's design is, to make men easy in every station of life, and to teach them how to behave therein; he would not have the freeman abuse his liberty, or be elated with it, nor the servant be uneasy under his servitude, nor be depressed by it, for the reasons following.

1 Corinthians 7:21

Live Your Calling

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

American Standard Version (1901)

Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.

Bible in Basic English

If you were a servant when you became a Christian, let it not be a grief to you; but if you have a chance to become free, make use of it.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Free Bible Version

If you were a slave when you were called, don't worry—though if you have an opportunity to become free, take it.

Geneva Bible 1599

Art thou called being a seruant? care not for it: but if yet thou maiest be free, vse it rather.

King James (Authorized) Version

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

If one of you was a slave when you (sg) became a Christian [RHQ], do not be concerned about it. However, if you get an opportunity to be free, do what you need to do to become free.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Were you a slave when God called you? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can become free, take advantage of it.

Noah Webster Bible

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

World English Bible

Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

Young's Literal Translation

a servant — wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free — use [it] rather;

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

1 Corinthians 7:21

Verse

Context

Live Your Calling

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

1 Corinthians 7:21

Live Your Calling

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes