Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.
- KJV Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
- NKJV Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
- NASB Brothers and sisters, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
- NLT Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.
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
Paul closes the section by repeating the rule once more: remain in whatever condition you were called, now lived out "with God." Faithful presence with God transforms any station.
Overview
The threefold repetition (vv. 17, 20, 24) drives home contentment in one's calling. The added phrase "with God" is key: it is not bare circumstance but communion with God within that circumstance that gives life meaning and dignity. The gospel does not so much change a believer's address as it changes the One who now walks with them there.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 1 Cor 7:20Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
- Col 3:23–24Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- 1 Cor 7:17Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
- 1 Cor 10:31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- Gen 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless.
- Gen 5:22–24And after he had become the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
- 1 Sam 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
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 7:24 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.