English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 7:17
17Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
1 Corinthians 7:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
- New International Version (NIV)Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.
Context of 1 Corinthians 7:17
15But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 71 Corinthians 7:17 word by word
εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ἐμέρισεν ὁ κύριος, ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ θεός, οὕτως περιπατείτω· καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butεἰei · if: notG1487
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- hath distributedμερίζωmerizō · to divideG3307
- to every manἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538
- the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
- hath calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
- soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- let him walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- ordain Iδιατάσσωdiatassō · to directG1299
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- churchesἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 7:17
- 1 Corinthians 7:7I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
- Matthew 19:12For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it."
- Romans 12:3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
- 1 Peter 4:10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:
- 1 Corinthians 7:18Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
- 1 Corinthians 4:17That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
- 1 Corinthians 16:1Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.
- 2 Corinthians 11:28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17But as God hath distributed to every man, etc. - Let every man fulfill the duties of the state to which God in the course of his providence has called him. So ordain I in all Churches - I do not lay on you a burden which others are not called to bear: this is the general rule which, by the authority of God, I impose on every Christian society.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17But as God hath distributed - As God hath divided ( ̓́ emerisen); that is, given, imparted to anyone. As God has given grace to everyone. The words ̓ ̀ ei mēdenote simply but in the beginning of this verse. The apostle here introduces a new subject; or an inquiry varying somewhat from that preceding, though of the same general nature. He had discussed the question whether a husband and wife ought to be separated on account of a difference in religion…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-24Verses 17-24 The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Generally, Christians should stay in the social situation they were in when they first became believers (see 1 Corintihans 7:20, 24).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. But--Greek, "If not." "Only." Caution that believers should not make this direction (1Co 7:16; as Alford explains it) a ground for separating "of themselves" (1Co 7:12-14). Or, But if there be no hope of gaining over the unbeliever, still let the general principle be maintained, "As the Lord hath allotted to each, as God hath called each, so let him walk" (so the Greek in the oldest reading); let him walk in the path allotted to him and wherein he was…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 7:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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