1Cor 7:17-24 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Cor 7:17-24: 7:17-24 Paul states as a general principle that Christians should accept their God-given lot in life. 7:17 As a general rule, Christians should continue in the social situation in which they first became believers (see 7:20 , 24 ).

Summary for 1Cor 7:17-24: 7:17-24 ^a Paul states as a general principle that Christians should accept their God-given lot in life. 7:17 ^b As a general rule, Christians should continue in the social situation in which they first became believers (see 7:20 ^c, 24 ^d).
Summary for 1Cor 7:18-19: 7:18-19 ^e Circumcision illustrates the general principle just stated (7:17 ^f). All Jewish males were circumcised. Some, seeking acceptance in Gentile society, attempted to reverse the procedure surgically (see 1 Maccabees 1:14-15; Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.1), a practice Paul discourages. Circumcision has little importance (see also Rom 2:28-29 ^g; 4:9-12 ^h; Gal 5:2-6 ⁱ; 6:12-15 ^j; Phil 3:2-3 ^k) compared with keeping God’s commandments, such as the commands to love God and others.
Summary for 1Cor 7:21-23: 7:21-23 ^l Slavery illustrates the general principle stated in 7:17 ^m, 20 ⁿ, 24 ^o. Slavery was widespread in the Greco-Roman world, and many Christian converts were slaves serving rich families. Like circumcision, one’s own slavery is, according to Paul, a relatively unimportant issue for the Christian. Even as a slave, the Christian is spiritually free from the power of sin, death, and the law (see Rom 6:14 ^p; 7:4-6 ^q; 8:2 ^r). And as a freeman, the believer is still a slave of Christ (see Eph 6:5-6 ^s; 1 Pet 2:16 ^t).

• As one who has been purchased at a high price (see 1 Cor 6:20 ^u), the free Christian ought not to be enslaved by the world.