Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
Parallel translations
- WEB Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.
- KJV Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
- NKJV Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
- NASB Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that.
- NLT Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If you were a slave when called, don't let it trouble you—yet if a chance to become free arises, take it. Earthly status need not distress a believer, but freedom is still a good worth pursuing.
Overview
Paul applies the rule to slaves, the most disadvantaged station. He counsels contentment rather than anxiety, since one's worth before God is unchanged by social rank. Yet he is no fatalist: the believer may rightly seize lawful freedom. The verse balances spiritual contentment with the legitimacy of bettering one's circumstances, and reflects the gospel's quiet but real subversion of slavery's claims (cf. Philemon).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Col 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- 1 Pet 2:18–24Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
- Luke 12:29And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it.
- 1 Cor 12:13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
- Luke 10:40–41But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”
- Phil 4:11I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.
- 1 Pet 5:7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
- Heb 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Luke 21:34But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
- Phil 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Gal 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Tim 6:1–3All who are under the yoke of slavery should regard their masters as fully worthy of honor, so that God’s name and our teaching will not be discredited.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 7:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.