1 Corinthians 7:22 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →In Christ the bound are truly free and the free are bound to Christ, so earthly status is transformed.
What Does 1 Corinthians 7:22 Mean?
Paul turns the social order inside out. The servant called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman -- liberated where it matters most. And the free person called by Christ becomes Christ's bondservant -- happily owned by a good Master.
This is the deep reframing beneath his counsel. Real freedom is freedom from sin and union with Christ, available to any rank. Real servanthood is glad belonging to the Lord, the highest honor of all. Earthly distinctions of bound and free are relativized by a greater reality, so that every believer stands on level ground: freed by Christ and devoted to him.
1 Corinthians 7:22 in the Original Language
apeleutheros (ἀπελεύθερος), 'freeman' -- a freed person, one released from bondage.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 7:22
What does 1 Corinthians 7:22 mean?
In Christ the bound are truly free and the free are bound to Christ, so earthly status is transformed.