1 Corinthians 7:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Each person should remain content in the situation in which God's call reached them.
What Does 1 Corinthians 7:20 Mean?
Paul restates his governing rule in a single line, framing the verses around it. "Abide" -- remain, stay rooted -- in the calling, the station of life, where the gospel first found you.
This is not a ban on all change, as the next verse shows, but a release from restless discontent. One need not overturn one's whole life to follow Christ; one can begin serving him at once, right where one is. The settled heart finds that God meets it in the ordinary place, and that faithfulness there is itself a high calling.
1 Corinthians 7:20 in the Original Language
klesis (κλῆσις), 'calling' -- both God's summons to faith and one's station in life.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 7:20
What does 1 Corinthians 7:20 mean?
Each person should remain content in the situation in which God's call reached them.