OET interlinear 1 COR 7:17

Section 7:1–40: Paul answered questions about marriage

In an earlier letter to Paul, the Corinthians had mentioned some problems and asked him some questions. There are no longer any copies of this letter, so we can only guess what they wrote by reading Paul’s answers. Apparently some of the questions the Corinthians had asked were about marriage and sex. In this section Paul discussed these topics. He wrote about sexual intercourse, divorce, marrying again after a person’s husband or wife dies, and never marrying.

From the way Paul talked, it appears that the Corinthians were thinking that if believers want to be holy, they should abstain from sexual relations. The Corinthians were wondering if married people should sleep together, if Christians who were married to non-Christians should divorce them, and if Christians should get married. Paul gave them some wise teaching on each of these topics. In 7:1–16 he addressed Christians who were married. In 7:17–24 he wrote about his general rule for Christians: Remain as you are. In 7:25–38 he taught Christians who were not married. In 7:39–40 he addressed women whose husbands had died.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul gave/wrote instructions about Christian marriage

Paul’s teaching on marriage

Paragraph 7:17–24

In these verses Paul taught the Corinthians his general rule or principle: “Remain as you are.” He said that a believer does not have to change his or her situation in life to please God. So each believer should try to stay the way they were when God called them to belong to Christ. They could serve him as Jew or Gentile, married or single, and slave or free. They could please God in whatever situation he has put them.

In these verses Paul began by giving his general rule (7:17). Then he gave an example of this rule: When you become a Christian, it does not matter if you are circumcised or not; just stay that way (7:18–19). Then he repeated the general rule (7:20). Then he gave a second example: When you become a Christian, it does not matter if you are a slave; you can serve God as a slave or as a free man (7:21–23). Then he repeated his general rule (7:24).

Regardless, each one should lead the life

• ¶ Except for that case, it is best for every believer to remain/continue living in the condition/situation

• ¶ But in general each of you should continue to live

that the Lord has assigned to him

• that the Lord Jesus gave to them

• the way the Lord has given you to live,

and to which God has called him.

• and where/as they were when God called them to be his own/people.

• the way you were when God chose you to serve/believe him.

General Comment on 7:17a-c

The BSB has reordered the verse parts. The Greek order of this verse is as follows:

Except, ^17bas the Lord assigned to each person, ^17cas God has called each person, ^17aso/thus let him/her walk.

In some languages it may be natural to follow the Greek order, as the NET has done:

Only, ^17bas the Lord has assigned to each one, ^17cas God has called each person, ^17aso let him live. (NET)

The NLT provides another model of how to reorder this verse:

You must accept ^17bwhatever situation the Lord has put you in, ^17aand continue on as you were ^17cwhen God first called you. (NLT)

This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

• This is the same thing I tell believers to do in every church group I go to.

• Whenever I go to visit any of the other churches, I tell them to follow this same teaching/principle.

General Comment on 7:17a-d

In some languages it may be clearer to place 7:17d at the beginning of the verse. For example:

^17dIn every church I tell the people ^17ato stay living in the situation ^17bthat the Lord had put them in ^17cwhen God called them to be his own. Now I say the same thing to you. (compare the CEV)