1 COR 7:24 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

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).

7:24

Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

So then, my fellow believers, I want each one of you, with God’s help, to stay/remain in the place/situation in life you were in when God called/chose you.
And so, my fellow believers, we^(incl) each should keep on living the same kind of life we^(incl) had when God called/chose us to become one of his people, for he is near to help us.

Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him: Paul ended this paragraph by repeating his main teaching: Remain in the situation/place you were in at the time God called you and joined you together with Christ. The words here are similar to what Paul said in 7:17 and 7:20.

After the phrase that the BSB translates as each one should remain, the Greek text includes a phrase that can be translated as “with God” or “at the side of God” or “near God.” There are two ways to understand what that means here:

It means “with God at his side to help.” God is near to help the believer no matter what his place in life. Paul was comforting and encouraging the believers. Here is another way to translate this:
My friends, each of you should remain in fellowship with God in the same condition that you were when you were called. (GNT) (GNT, GW and probably the KJV, RSV, ESV, NET, NCV, and NASB, which all say “with God”)
It means “before God,” that is, in the sight or presence of God, or with God looking on. Since God is watching, the believer should live in a way pleasing to God no matter what his place in life is. For example:
So, my friends, everyone is to remain before God in the condition in which he received his call. (REB) (NIV, NJB, REB)

The BSB, CEV, and NLT do not explicitly translate this phrase. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions. Paul wanted to remind the believers that God is present and can make each one content wherever he is.

Brothers: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Brothers refers to all the Corinthian believers. Paul was addressing them in an affectionate way as members of the family of faith. The GNT translates it as “My friends.”

each one: The Greek word that the BSB translates as each one refers to each one of the group of believers.

should remain in the situation he was in when God called him: There are two ways to understand Paul’s meaning here:

Paul meant that God called the believers to himself in a situation. They should remain in the situation they were in at that time. For example:
stay as you were when you were called (NCV) (BSB, RSV, GNT, NJB, NCV, CEV, NLT, GW, NET, NASB, ESV)
Paul meant that God called the believer to a situation. For example:
remain in the situation God called him to (NIV) (NIV, KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is in agreement with the meaning of 7:17. See the note there.

General Comment on 7:24

In some languages it may be natural to translate this verse using the inclusive pronoun “we” (referring to all Christians):

And so, Christian brothers and sisters, whatever way of life we had when God called us to belong to him, we do not have to change that. Let us keep living that same way of life, with God helping us.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

This verse is very similar to [7:20](../07/20.md). The main difference is that this verse refers to remaining with God, while that verse does not. With that exception, translate this verse so that it sounds similar to [7:20](../07/20.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη & ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ Θεῷ.

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη ἀδελφοί ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρά Θεῷ)

The order of elements in this sentence might be confusing in your language. If your language would structure this sentence in a different way, you could rearrange the elements so that they sound more natural. Paul has arranged the elements to emphasize each one in that which he was called, so retain the emphasis on this element if possible. Alternate translation: [let each one remain with God in that which he was called]

ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη

in that ˱he˲_˓was˒_called

Alternate translation: [in that which God gave to him] or [in what he received from God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἐκλήθη, ἀδελφοί & μενέτω

˱he˲_˓was˒_called brothers & ˱him˲_˓let_be˒_remaining

Although Brothers, he, and him are masculine, Paul is using these words to refer to any believer, whether man or woman. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Brothers, he, and him with non gendered words or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [Brothers and sisters … he or she was called, let him or her remain]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἐκλήθη

˱he˲_˓was˒_called

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Paul uses the passive form here to focus on those who are called rather than focusing on the person doing the “calling.” If you must state who does the action, Paul implies that “God” does it. Alternate translation: [God called him]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p

μενέτω

˱him˲_˓let_be˒_remaining

Here Paul uses a third-person imperative. If you have third-person imperatives in your language, you could use one here. If you do not have third-person imperatives, you could express the idea using a word such as “should” or “must.” Alternate translation: [he must remain]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ Θεῷ

in in this ˱him˲_˓let_be˒_remaining (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη ἀδελφοί ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρά Θεῷ)

Here, remain with God in that refers to faithfully serving God in a specific situation. In other words, Paul does not want them to try to change their social and economic situations. Instead, they should serve God in the situations in which God called them. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind remain with God in that plainly or with a comparable metaphor. Alternate translation: [let him live his life with God in that] or [let him be content serving God in that]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear 1 COR 7:24

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

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

Paragraph 7:17–24

7:24

General Comment on 7:24

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 7:24

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

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

Paragraph 7:17–24

7:24

General Comment on 7:24

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

OET interlinear 1 COR 7:24