1 Corinthians 7:17

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 1 Corinthians 7:17

15But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound ⌞by a marriage vow⌟. God has called you to live in peace. 16How do you as a wife know whether you will save your husband? How do you as a husband know whether you will save your wife? Everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him when God called him. This is the guideline I use in every church. 18Any man who was already circumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t undo his circumcision. Any man who was uncircumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t get circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and the lack of it is nothing. But keeping what God commands is everything.

1 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 would like everyone to be like me. However, each person has a special gift from God, and these gifts vary from person to person.
• Matthew 19:12For example, some men are celibate because they were born that way. Others are celibate because they were castrated. Still others have decided to be celibate because of the kingdom of heaven. If anyone can do what you’ve suggested, then he should do it.”
• Romans 12:3Because of the kindness that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.
• 1 Peter 4:10Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you to serve others.
• 1 Corinthians 7:18Any man who was already circumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t undo his circumcision. Any man who was uncircumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t get circumcised.
• 1 Corinthians 4:17That’s why I’ve sent Timothy to you to help you remember my Christian way of life as I teach it everywhere in every church. Timothy is my dear child, and he faithfully does the Lord’s work.
• 1 Corinthians 16:1Now, concerning the money to be collected for God’s people ⌞in Jerusalem⌟: I want you to do as I directed the churches in Galatia.
• 2 Corinthians 11:28Besides these external matters, I have the daily pressure of my anxiety about 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

• Church
• Contentment
• Divorce
• Marriage

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Abuse
• Attend
• Consent
• Contain
• Distraction
• Loose
• Mercy
• Revelation of Christ

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