1 Corinthians 7:23
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
You were bought
The phrase "You were bought" refers to the concept of redemption, a central theme in Christian theology. The Greek word used here is "ἐξαγοράζω" (exagorazō), which means to buy out of the marketplace, often used in the context of purchasing a slave's freedom. This imagery is powerful, as it underscores the believer's liberation from the bondage of sin through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Historically, the act of buying a slave's freedom was a significant and costly endeavor, reflecting the immense value and love God places on each individual. This phrase reminds believers of their new identity in Christ, having been redeemed and set free from the spiritual slavery of sin.

at a price
The "price" mentioned here is the precious blood of Jesus Christ, as referenced in 1 Peter 1:18-19, which speaks of being redeemed "not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ." The Greek word "τιμή" (timē) signifies value or honor, emphasizing the costly nature of this transaction. In the historical context of the early church, this would resonate deeply with believers who understood the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where the blood of animals was required for atonement. The ultimate sacrifice of Christ surpasses all, offering eternal redemption and underscoring the profound love and grace of God.

do not become
This phrase serves as an imperative, a command to the believers. The Greek word "γίνομαι" (ginomai) means to become or to come into being. It suggests a transformation or change in state. Paul is urging the Corinthians to resist any regression into a state of spiritual or literal bondage. This command is not merely a suggestion but a call to live in the freedom that Christ has provided. It reflects the transformative power of the Gospel, which calls believers to a new way of life, free from the constraints and expectations of worldly systems.

slaves of men
The term "slaves" in Greek is "δοῦλοι" (douloi), which refers to individuals who are in a state of servitude. In the Roman world, slavery was a common institution, and many early Christians were either slaves or had been slaves. Paul uses this term metaphorically to caution against becoming entangled in human systems or ideologies that contradict the freedom found in Christ. The phrase "of men" highlights the contrast between serving God and being subject to human authority or influence. Historically, this would resonate with the Corinthian church, situated in a cosmopolitan city where social status and allegiance to various leaders were prevalent. Paul is reminding them that their ultimate allegiance is to Christ, who has set them free, and not to any human authority that might seek to control or exploit them.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth with guidance on Christian living.

2. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece known for its commerce and diverse population, including a significant Christian community.

3. The Corinthian Church
The recipients of Paul's letter, dealing with issues of morality, division, and questions about Christian conduct.

4. Jesus Christ
The one who paid the price for believers' freedom through His sacrificial death.

5. Slavery in the Roman Empire
A common social institution during Paul's time, providing a backdrop for his metaphorical use of slavery.
Teaching Points
Understanding Our Value
Recognize that believers are precious to God, having been purchased by the blood of Christ. This understanding should shape our identity and self-worth.

Living in Freedom
Embrace the freedom Christ has given us, avoiding the entanglements of worldly systems and ideologies that can enslave us.

Serving God, Not Man
Prioritize serving God over seeking approval or becoming dependent on human systems or relationships that can lead to spiritual compromise.

Guarding Against Spiritual Slavery
Be vigilant against anything that might enslave us spiritually, whether it be sin, legalism, or the pursuit of worldly success.

Reflecting Christ's Ownership
Live in a way that reflects Christ's ownership over our lives, demonstrating His love, grace, and truth in our daily actions and decisions.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to be "bought at a price," and how should this impact our daily lives?

2. How can we identify areas in our lives where we might be becoming "slaves of men"?

3. In what ways can we actively live out the freedom we have in Christ, according to Galatians 5:1?

4. How does understanding our redemption through Christ's sacrifice influence our interactions with others?

5. Reflect on a time when you felt pressured to conform to worldly standards. How can 1 Corinthians 7:23 guide you in similar situations in the future?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Corinthians 6:20
This verse also mentions being "bought at a price," emphasizing the theme of belonging to God and living for His glory.

Galatians 5:1
Paul speaks about the freedom believers have in Christ and warns against returning to a yoke of slavery.

Romans 6:18
Discusses being set free from sin and becoming slaves to righteousness, highlighting the transformation in a believer's life.

1 Peter 1:18-19
Describes the precious blood of Christ as the means of redemption, reinforcing the concept of being bought at a price.
Celibacy and MarriageE. Hurndall 1 Corinthians 7:1, 2, 7-9, 25-35
Mixed MarriagesC. Lipscomb 1 Corinthians 7:12-28
Abide in Your CallingJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Christianity and the Relations of LifeH. Bremner 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Christianity Universally ApplicableJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Christ's FreemenA. Maclaren, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Deliverance from SlaveryJ. Leifchild, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Every Christian At His PostJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Forms Versus CharacterA. Maclaren, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Freedom Through ChristA. H. Moment.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
In Christ, the Servant the Lord's FreemanJ. Fawcett.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Liberty and SlaveryC. Hodge, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
On the Choice of a ProfessionJ. Walker, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Personal Christianity for the Bond and the FreeD. Thomas, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Slaves and FreeA. Maclaren, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The Christian SlaveJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The Common Lot the Best Sphere1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The Dignity of the True ChristianJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The External and the Real in ReligionJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The GospelJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The One Threefold EssentialH. M. Butler, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The Subordination of LoveLyman Abbott.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
The True Freedom and Dependence of Every ChristianJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
True ContentmentJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
True FreedomJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
True LibertyJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Why Christians Should be Contented with Their CircumstancJ. Lyth, D. D.1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Christianity and StavesE. Hurndall 1 Corinthians 7:20-24
Freedom and BondageJ.R. Thomson 1 Corinthians 7:22, 23
People
Corinthians, Paul
Places
Corinth
Topics
Bondmen, Bondservants, Bought, Cost, Infinite, Payment, Price, Redeemed, Servants, Slaves
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Corinthians 7:23

     1315   God, as redeemer
     2321   Christ, as redeemer
     5242   buying and selling
     5402   market
     5974   value
     6714   ransom

1 Corinthians 7:20-24

     5629   work, ordained by God

1 Corinthians 7:22-23

     6662   freedom, abuse

1 Corinthians 7:22-24

     6723   redemption, NT

Library
Forms Versus Character
'Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.'--1 COR. vii. 19. 'For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love.'--GAL. v. 6. 'For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.'--GAL. vi. 16 (R.V.). The great controversy which embittered so much of Paul's life, and marred so much of his activity, turned upon the question whether a heathen man could come
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Slaves and Free
'He that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's free man: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.'--1 COR. vii. 22. This remarkable saying occurs in a remarkable connection, and is used for a remarkable purpose. The Apostle has been laying down the principle, that the effect of true Christianity is greatly to diminish the importance of outward circumstance. And on that principle he bases an advice, dead in the teeth of all the maxims recognised by worldly
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Christian Life
'Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.'--1 COR. vii. 24. You find that three times within the compass of a very few verses this injunction is repeated. 'As God hath distributed to every man,' says the Apostle in the seventeenth verse, 'as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.' Then again in the twentieth verse, 'Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he is called.' And then finally in our text. The reason for
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

Marriage and Celibacy.
Preached January II, 1852. MARRIAGE AND CELIBACY. "But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep as though they wept not; and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away."--1 Corinthians vii. 29-31. The subject of our exposition last Sunday was an essential portion
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

A Drama in Five Acts
Dear brethren, the important lesson which we endeavor to teach this morning is just this--that because time is so short, and the things of this world so frail and fleeting, it becomes us always to look at the things which are seen in their true character, and never to build substantial hopes on unsubstantial comforts, nor seek for solid joy from unreal things. In order that I may make this matter very plain, and may be the more likely to enlist your attention, and to secure the friendship of your
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

How to Use the Present Life, and the Comforts of It.
The divisions of this chapter are,--I. The necessity and usefulness of this doctrine. Extremes to be avoided, if we would rightly use the present life and its comforts, sec. 1, 2. II. One of these extremes, viz, the intemperance of the flesh, to be carefully avoided. Four methods of doing so described in order, sec. 3-6. 1. BY such rudiments we are at the same time well instructed by Scripture in the proper use of earthly blessings, a subject which, in forming a scheme of life, is by no mean to be
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Family Religion.
"Lo! where yon cottage whitens through the green, The loveliest feature of a matchless scene; Beneath its shading elm, with pious fear, An aged mother draws her children near, While from the Holy Word, with earnest air, She teaches them the privilege of prayer. Look! how their infant eyes with rapture speak; Mark the flushed lily on the dimpled cheek; Their hearts are filled with gratitude and love, Their hopes are centered in a world above!" The Christian home demands a family religion. This makes
Samuel Philips—The Christian Home

The Apostolic Scriptures.
"And I think that I also have the Spirit of God."--1 Cor. vii. 40. We have seen that the apostolate has an extraordinary significance and occupies a unique position. This position is twofold, viz., temporary, with reference to the founding of the first churches, and permanent, with regard to the churches of all ages. The first must necessarily be temporary, for what was then accomplished can not be repeated. A tree can be planted only once; an organism can be born only once; the planting or founding
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

It Is, Therefore, the Present Necessity that we are to Avoid...
14. It is, therefore, the present necessity that we are to avoid, but yet such as is a hindrance to somewhat of the good things to come; by which necessity the married life is forced to have thought of the things of the world, how to please, the husband the wife or the wife the husband. Not that these separate from the kingdom of God, as there are sins, which are restrained by command, not by counsel, on this account, because it is matter of condemnation not to obey the Lord when He commands: but
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

But Lest any Should Think that of Two Works...
19. But lest any should think that of two works, the good and the better, the rewards will be equal, on this account it was necessary to treat against those, who have so interpreted that saying of the Apostle, "But I think that this is good by reason of the present necessity," [2056] as to say that virginity is of use not in order to the kingdom of heaven, but in order to this present time: as though in that eternal life, they, who had chosen this better part, would have nothing more than the rest
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

After that the Same Apostle Adds, and Says...
15. After that the same Apostle adds, and says, "Thou art bound to a wife, seek not loosening: thou art loosed from a wife, seek not a wife." [2050] Of these two, that, which be set first, pertains unto command, against which it is not lawful to do. For it is not lawful to put away a wife, save because of fornication, [2051] as the Lord Himself saith in the Gospel. But that, which he added, "Thou art loosed from a wife, seek not a wife," is a sentence of counsel, not of command; therefore it is lawful
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Yet He Added, "But Such Shall have Tribulation of the Flesh...
16. Yet he added, "But such shall have tribulation of the flesh, but I spare you:" [2053] in this manner exhorting unto virginity, and continual continence, so as some little to alarm also from marriage, with all modesty, not as from a matter evil and unlawful, but as from one burdensome and troublesome. For it is one thing to incur dishonor of the flesh, and another to have tribulation of the flesh: the one is matter of crime to do, the other of labor to suffer, which for the most part men refuse
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Far be It, Therefore, that the Apostle So Said...
20. Far be it, therefore, that the Apostle so said, unto such as are married or are about to marry, "But I spare you," as if he were unwilling to say what punishment is due to the married in another life. Far be it that she, whom Daniel set free from temporal judgment, be cast by Paul into hell! Far be it that her husband's bed be unto her punishment before the judgment seat of Christ, keeping faith to which she chose, under false charge of adultery, to meet either danger, or death! To what effect
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

For not Even Herein Ought Such as are Married to Compare Themselves with The...
10. For not even herein ought such as are married to compare themselves with the deserts of the continent, in that of them virgins are born: for this is not a good of marriage, but of nature: which was so ordered of God, as that of every sexual intercourse whatever of the two sexes of human kind, whether in due order and honest, or base and unlawful, there is born no female save a virgin, yet is none born a sacred virgin: so it is brought to pass that a virgin is born even of fornication, but a sacred
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Here Some one Will Say, what Has this to do with Holy virginity...
21. Here some one will say, What has this to do with holy virginity, or perpetual continence, the setting forth of which was undertaken in this discourse? To whom I make answer in the first place, what I mentioned above, that the glory of that greater good is greater from the fact that, in order to obtain it, the good of married life is surmounted, not the sin of marriage shunned. Otherwise it would be enough for perpetual continence, not to be specially praised, but only not to be blamed: if it
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Let Marriages Possess their Own Good, not that they Beget Sons...
12. Let marriages possess their own good, not that they beget sons, but that honestly, that lawfully, that modestly, that in a spirit of fellowship they beget them, and educate them, after they have been begotten, with cooperation, with wholesome teaching, and earnest purpose: in that they keep the faith of the couch one with another; in that they violate not the sacrament of wedlock. All these, however, are offices of human duty: but virginal chastity and freedom through pious continence from all
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

And Now by Plainest Witnesses of Divine Scriptures...
22. And now by plainest witnesses of divine Scriptures, such as according to the small measure of our memory we shall be able to remember, let it more clearly appear, that, not on account of the present life of this world, but on account of that future life which is promised in the kingdom of heaven, we are to choose perpetual continence. But who but must observe this in that which the same Apostle says a little after, "Whoso is without a wife has thought of the things of the Lord, how to please
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

And not Without Just Cause a Doubt is Raised...
14. And not without just cause a doubt is raised, whether he said this of all married women, or of such as so many are, as that nearly all may be thought so to be. For neither doth that, which he saith of unmarried women, "She, that is unmarried, thinkest of the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit:" [1973] pertain unto all unmarried women: whereas there are certain widows who are dead, who live in delights. However, so far as regards a certain distinction and, as it were, character
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

And yet not to These Themselves is Marriage a Sin...
11. And yet not to these themselves is marriage a sin; which, if it were chosen in comparison of fornication, would be a less sin than fornication, and yet would be a sin. But now what shall we say against the most plain speech of the Apostle, saying, "Let her do what she will; she sinneth not, if she be married;" [1966] and, "If thou shalt have taken a wife, thou hast not sinned: and, if a virgin shall have been married, she sinneth not." [1967] Hence surely it is not lawful now to doubt that marriage
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

There is this Further, that in that Very Debt which Married Persons Pay One...
4. There is this further, that in that very debt which married persons pay one to another, even if they demand it with somewhat too great intemperance and incontinence, yet they owe faith alike one to another. Unto which faith the Apostle allows so great right, as to call it "power," saying, "The woman hath not power of her own body, but the man; again in like manner also the man hath not power of his own body, but the woman." [1943] But the violation of this faith is called adultery, when either
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Further, in the Very Case of the More Immoderate Requirement of the Due Of...
6. Further, in the very case of the more immoderate requirement of the due of the flesh, which the Apostle enjoins not on them by way of command, but allows to them by way of leave, that they have intercourse also beside the cause of begetting children; although evil habits impel them to such intercourse, yet marriage guards them from adultery or fornication. For neither is that committed because of marriage, but is pardoned because of marriage. Therefore married persons owe one another not only
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Therefore the Good of Marriage Throughout all Nations and all Men Stands in The...
32. Therefore the good of marriage throughout all nations and all men stands in the occasion of begetting, and faith of chastity: but, so far as pertains unto the People of God, also in the sanctity of the Sacrament, by reason of which it is unlawful for one who leaves her husband, even when she has been put away, to be married to another, so long as her husband lives, no not even for the sake of bearing children: and, whereas this is the alone cause, wherefore marriage takes place, not even where
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Therefore as Many Women as There are Now...
19. Therefore as many women as there are now, unto whom it is said, "if they contain not, let them be married, [1986] ^" are not to be compared to the holy women then, even when they married. Marriage itself indeed in all nations is for the same cause of begetting sons, and of what character soever these may be afterward, yet was marriage for this purpose instituted, that they may be born in due and honest order. But men, who contain not, as it were ascend unto marriage by a step of honesty: but
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

But I Marvel, If, as it is Allowed to Put Away a Wife Who...
7. But I marvel, if, as it is allowed to put away a wife who is an adulteress, so it be allowed, having put her away, to marry another. For holy Scripture causes a hard knot in this matter, in that the Apostle says, that, by commandment of the Lord, the wife ought not to depart from her husband, but, in case she shall have departed, to remain unmarried, or to be reconciled to her husband; [1950] whereas surely she ought not to depart and remain unmarried, save from an husband that is an adulterer,
St. Augustine—On the Good of Marriage

Links
1 Corinthians 7:23 NIV
1 Corinthians 7:23 NLT
1 Corinthians 7:23 ESV
1 Corinthians 7:23 NASB
1 Corinthians 7:23 KJV

1 Corinthians 7:23 Commentaries

Bible Hub
1 Corinthians 7:22
Top of Page
Top of Page