KJV: 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.
YLT: for he who is in the Lord -- having been called a servant -- is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:
Darby: For the bondman that is called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman; in like manner also the freeman being called is Christ's bondman.
ASV: For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant.
| ὁ | The [one] |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| Κυρίῳ | [the] Lord |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: κύριος Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. |
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| κληθεὶς | having been called |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: καλέω Sense: to call. |
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| δοῦλος | [being] a slave |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: δοῦλοσ1 Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition. |
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| ἀπελεύθερος | a freedman |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἀπελεύθερος Sense: a slave that has been released from servitude, a freeman. |
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| Κυρίου | of [the] Lord |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: κύριος Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. |
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| ὁμοίως | likewise |
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Parse: Adverb Root: ὁμοίως Sense: likewise, equally, in the same way. |
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| ἐλεύθερος | free |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ἐλεύθερος Sense: freeborn. |
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| δοῦλός | a slave |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: δοῦλοσ1 Sense: a slave, bondman, man of servile condition. |
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| Χριστοῦ | of Christ |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Χριστός Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. |
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Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 7:22
Απελευτερος Apeleutheros is an old word for a manumitted slave, ελευτερος eleutheros from ερχομαι erchomai to go and so go free, απ aṗ from bondage. Christ is now the owner of the Christian and Paul rejoices to call himself Christ‘s slave But Christ set us free from sin by paying the ransom Christ is thus the patronus of the libertus who owes everything to his patronus. He is no longer the slave of sin (Romans 6:6, Romans 6:18), but a slave to God (Romans 6:22). [source]
Those who were not slaves, but freemen, when converted, are as much slaves of Christ as those who were and still were slaves of men. All were slaves of sin and have been set free from sin by Christ who now owns them all. [source]
Rev., correctly, freedman; the preposition ἀπ ' from implying previous bondage. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 7:22
Lit., bond-servant or slave. Paul applies the term to himself, Galatians 1:10; Philemon 1:1; Titus 1:1; and frequently to express the relation of believers to Christ. The word involves the ideas of belonging to a master, and of service as a slave. The former is emphasized in Paul's use of the term, since Christian service, in his view, has no element of servility, but is the expression of love and of free choice. From this stand-point the idea of service coheres with those of freedom and of sonship. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 4:7; Ephesians 6:6; Philemon 1:16. On the other hand, believers belong to Christ by purchase (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18; Ephesians 1:7), and own Him as absolute Master. It is a question whether the word contains any reference to official position. In favor of this it may be said that when employed in connection with the names of individuals, it is always applied to those who have some special work as teachers or ministers, and that most of such instances occur in the opening salutations of the apostolic letters. The meaning, in any case, must not be limited to the official sense. [source]
Whether the apostle means, use the bondage or use the freedom - whether, take advantage of the offer of freedom, or, remain in slavery - is, as Dean Stanley remarks, one of the most evenly balanced questions in the interpretation of the New Testament. The force of καὶ evenand the positive injunction of the apostle in 1 Corinthians 7:20and 1 Corinthians 7:24, seem to favor the meaning, remain in slavery. The injunction is to be read in the light of 1 Corinthians 7:22, and of Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11; 1 Corinthians 12:13, that freeman and slave are one in Christ; and also of the feeling pervading the Church of the speedy termination of the present economy by the second coming of the Lord. See 1 Corinthians 7:26, 1 Corinthians 7:29. We must be careful to avoid basing our conclusion on the modern sentiment respecting freedom and slavery. [source]
Negative imperative active third plural of καταπρονεω kataphroneō to think down on. See note on 1 Timothy 4:12. He must not presume on the equality of Christian brotherhood not allowed by the state‘s laws. Some of these Christian slaves might be pastors of churches to which the master belonged. For the difficulty of the Christian master‘s position, see note on 1 Corinthians 7:22; Philemon 1:16. [source]
The teacher or other special worker in the church. Comp. Titus 1:1; Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philemon 1:1, Colossians 4:12. Of any Christian, 1 Corinthians 7:22; Ephesians 6:6. The phrase is often applied to the Old Testament prophets as a body: see Amos 3:7; Jeremiah 7:25; Ezra 9:11; Daniel 9:6. To Joshua, Judges 2:8; to David, Psalm 78:70. [source]