1 Corinthians 7:17

Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain. in all the churches.

'Only' -'I would add this' (Nor) 'This sentence is tied to what precedes by the excepting conjunction "nevertheless", which refers back to the exception in v. 15. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases; nevertheless, change is not to be the rule.' (Fee p. 309)

'distributed' -'assigned' (NASV) 'Our providentially allotted task' (Lenski p. 299) 'And we're not to understand Paul to say that because God has "distributed" to each man his position that God actively worked it out in every man's case. There is the permissive will of God. In the final analysis, however, nothing happens that God doesn't permit.' (McGuiggan p. 110)

'To determine what has been assigned, we need to look at the context-slavery, circumcision, i.e. to be. Jew or Gentile. One's outward circumstances in life are assigned to him by God.' (Willis p. 234)

'as God hath called each' -'and in which God has called him.' (RSV); 'and whatever his condition when God called him.' (Wey) The "call" of this verse doesn't refer to one's vocation, but to one's being called by the gospel. (1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Ephesians 4:1) 'Whereas the first clause designates one's position in life as given to him by the Lord, the second clause relates to one's station in life when he received the call to obey the gospel.' (Willis p. 234)

'so let him walk' -'or go on in his life' (Lenski p. 299) So let him serve God in that social condition.

'And so ordain. in all the churches' -'This statement is necessary in order that the Corinthians may understand that what Paul writes to them on the practical subjects mentioned above is not something that was newly devised for the Corinthians alone but something that was applied by Paul in all the churches.' (Lenski p. 299)

-See 1 Corinthians 1:17; 1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Corinthians 14:33. Every congregation was commanded by God to obey the apostles teaching. (Acts 2:42)

'This is the second of four instances in this letter where Paul appeals to what goes on in other churches. The lack of this kind of appeal in his other letters suggests that this is his way of reminding them that theirs is the theology that is off track, not his.' (Fee p. 311)

Points to Note:

1. Paul is not teaching that the Christian could never change jobs, or his social circumstances. For he allowed Christians to marry (1 Corinthians 7:9) and slaves to become free. (1 Corinthians 7:21)

2. Paul is correcting some misconceptions that the Corinthians had, especially concerning the spiritual value of certain social conditions.

'Paul does not mean to stereotype. Christian's secular employment from the time of his conversion, but forbids his renouncing this under. false notion of spiritual freedom. or in contempt of secular things as though there were no will of God for him in their disposition.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 829)

I think Fee is on the right track, concerning what is going on behind the scenes in this chapter, or what Paul is really responding to, when he says..

'..they were seeking to change their present status, apparently because as believers they saw this as conforming to the more spiritual existence that they had already attained. Thus they saw one's status with regard to marriage/celibacy has having religious significance and sought to change it...Paul's concern, therefore, is not that they retain their present social setting, but that they recognize it as the proper one in which to live out God's call.' (Fee p. 309)

When. look at this chapter, it appears to me that the Corinthians were contending that one social condition was "spiritually superior" to another. Celibacy and marriage were on different spiritual levels (1 Corinthians 7:1-2); Celibacy in marriage is better (spiritually) than sex in marriage (1 Corinthians 7:3-5); Divorce is better than sex in marriage (1 Corinthians 7:10-11); Divorce is better than being married to an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:12-15).. see Paul saying to all of this, No! Paul is saying, in whatever social situation in which you were converted, YOU CAN SERVE GOD THERE!

3. 'This command to remain in the circumstances in which one has been called has been given applications which Paul never intended for it to bear since the very earliest of Christian exegesis. In the days of Tertullian (160-240 A.D.), "manufacturers of idols...claimed this principle as justifying their continuing to earn. living in this way." Some among us today want to use this passage to justify the continuance of. marital relationship which the Scriptures label as adulterous.' [Note:. Willis p. 234]

a. We should note that the social circumstances in this chapter are conditions which the gospel has labeled as morally neutral or indifferent. (1 Corinthians 7:18-28)

b. The social circumstances of this chapter are conditions that the Lord views as acceptable or morally neutral. (1 Corinthians 7:17) There are certain marital conditions that the Lord doesn't approve of. (Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:9; Mark 6:17; Romans 7:3)

c. The social circumstances of this chapter, are the very social conditions in which one became. Christian. 'As God has called each' (1 Corinthians 7:17)

Now we all know that you can't become. Christian while engaging in. sinful lifestyle or while being involved in. sinful relationship. Before some of the Corinthians accepted the gospel call, i.e. before they were baptized, they had to stop sinful practices (1 Corinthians 6:9) Before you can accept the gospel call, repentance is demanded. (Acts 2:38)

McGuiggan makes. good comment when he says, 'And of course God doesn't give. person an immoral relationship.' (p. 110)

d. Verse 18 is. good test verse to see what types of social conditions Paul actually had in mind. The social conditions are those that you can substitute for the word "circumcised", and have the text still making sense. These are the types of social conditions that this chapter is dealing with. But the following doesn't fit: 'Was any man called already having an affair with another man's wife? Let him not break off the affair'. 'Was any man called already being in. marriage in which adultery is taking place? (Matthew 5:32) Let him not cease the adultery.'???