τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε. See ch. 1 Corinthians 6:20.

δοῦλοι�. Slaves of men. Let your minds and spirits be free, whatever may be your outward condition, i.e. be indifferent to mere external relations altogether, for though man may enslave the body he cannot enslave the soul. We may profitably compare the tone of this passage with that of Epict. Enchir. 19 σὺ δὲ αὐτὸς οὐ στρατηγός, οὐ πρύτανις ἢ ὕπατος εἶναι θελήσῃς, ἀλλ' ἐλεύθερος· μία δὲ ὁδὸς πρὸς τοῦτο, καταφρόνησις τῶν οὐκ ἐφ' ἡμῶν. καταφρόνησις, save of the αἰσχύνη τοῦ σταυροῦ, is nowhere represented as a Christian virtue. Even ‘contempt of the world’ is an expression which savours more of the heathen philosopher than of Christ.

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Old Testament