I Corinthians 7:23 · Bible study
1 Corinthians 7:23 Commentary: Bought with a Price, Not Bondservants of Men
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study of 1 Cor 7:23: Does Paul forbid slavery or spiritual bondage? Commentators on 'bought with a price' and 'bondservants of men.'
Research Summary
- Meaning: Believers are redeemed by Christ’s blood and belong to God, so they must not become spiritually enslaved to human opinions, sinful demands, or false religious authorities.
- Key words: “Bought” (ἠγοράσθητε, aorist passive of ἀγοράζω, market purchase language); “bondservants” (δούλοι, slaves); “become” (γίνεσθε, present imperative, ongoing action).
- Main debate: Does “do not become bondservants of men” forbid literal slavery, spiritual bondage to human leaders, or both? Commentators divide, with Clarke taking the literal view and Calvin, Gill, Vincent emphasizing spiritual subjection.
- Theological theme: Redemption creates exclusive ownership: believers owe ultimate allegiance to Christ alone.
- Best use: A rallying text for Christian liberty and for resisting any human institution or tradition that claims the loyalty that belongs to God.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
WEB World English Bible 2000
You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.
KJV King James Version 1769
Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
You are bought with a price: be not made the bondslaves of men.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por precio sois comprados; no os hagáis siervos de los hombres.
Vós fostes comprados por alto preço; portanto não vos façais escravos dos seres humanos.
Vous avez été rachetés à un grand prix; ne devenez pas esclaves des hommes.
Ihr seid teuer erkauft; werdet nicht der Menschen Knechte.
Gij zijt duur gekocht, wordt geen dienstknechten der mensen.
Voi siete stati riscattati a prezzo; non diventate schiavi degli uomini.
Drogoście kupieni; nie bądźcie niewolnikami ludzkimi,
Вы куплены дорогою ценою; не делайтесь рабами человеков.
你們是重價 買來的，不 要作 人 的奴僕。
It is the Lord who has made payment for you: be not servants of men.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Corinthians 7:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that “bought with a price” refers to Christ’s redemptive work, echoing 1 Corinthians 6:20 and passages such as Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 1:18, 19. This purchase establishes God’s ownership of every believer. The command “do not become bondservants of men” is read in several related ways. Calvin, Gill, and Vincent stress that Paul warns against spiritual subjection, obeying sinful commands from masters or submitting to human doctrines and party leaders (see 1 Corinthians 3:21, 22 and Galatians 2:4). Barnes sees the verse as a call to contentment: even in slavery, serve Christ as Lord, not men. Clarke reads it more literally: it forbids selling oneself into slavery altogether, a sin against the liberty Christ bought. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown combines these, cautioning against both external and internal servitude. All agree, however, that the believer’s supreme loyalty must be to God, not any human authority.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Spiritual bondage only: The immediate context (v.22–24) and the Corinthian party spirit; supported by Calvin, Gill, Vincent, and JFB's reference to 'servile adherence to party leaders.'
- Literal slavery forbidden: Clarke reads the verse as a prohibition against selling oneself into slavery, citing the high cost of Christ’s redemption and the sacredness of human liberty.
- Both literal and spiritual: Barnes and JFB allow both senses: believers should not become slaves to men either externally (by selling themselves) or internally (by submitting to false teachers or sinful commands).
- General principle of ultimate loyalty: Many commentators see it as a broad warning against letting any human claim the authority that belongs to Christ, applicable across situations.
What is clear: All Christians agree that believers are redeemed by Christ and owe their ultimate allegiance to God, not to any human person, institution, or tradition.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'bondservants of men' | All commentators see it as a warning against a form of human domination that contradicts Christ’s lordship. | Calvin, Gill, and Vincent limit it to spiritual subjugation (sinful commands, false doctrines). Clarke extends it to prohibit selling oneself into physical slavery. Others, like Barnes, apply it broadly to any servitude that supersedes service to God. |
| Relevance to institution of slavery | All agree the verse speaks to slaves’ inner freedom and loyalty to Christ. | Clarke condemns the slave trade as a high offense against God. Others (Barnes, Calvin) do not see the verse as abolishing the institution but as redefining the slave’s spiritual identity within it. |
| The verb 'become' (γίνεσθε) | The present imperative calls for an ongoing posture, not a one-time decision. | Some, like JFB, note the shift from singular to plural ('thou' to 'ye'), emphasizing that the warning applies to all believers, not just slaves. The grammatical force of 'stop becoming' or 'do not continue becoming' is highlighted by several, but applied differently to literal vs spiritual slavery. |
| Price of redemption | The price is Christ’s blood, as taught in 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 1 Peter 1:18, 19. | None debated; this is universally affirmed. |
Historical & Cultural Context
First-century Corinth was a Roman colony with a diverse population of citizens, freedmen, and slaves. Slavery was woven into the economy; many in the church were slaves (1 Corinthians 7:21, 22). Paul’s principle in this chapter is that conversion does not automatically change one’s civil status (v.20, v.24). Yet he radically redefines that status: the slave is the Lord’s free man, and the free person is Christ’s slave (v.22).
The language of “buying” (ἀγοράζω) evokes the marketplace (agora), where slaves were purchased and set free. Paul transfers this marketplace imagery to redemption: the price is not silver or gold but the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18). The Old Testament background of Yahweh redeeming Israel from Egypt (Leviticus 25:42) reinforces the idea that God’s people belong to Him alone.
The Corinthian church was also fractured by loyalty to human leaders (1 Corinthians 1:10, 13). False teachers had infiltrated other churches, “spying out our liberty” (Galatians 2:4). So “bondservants of men” likely carries a double reference: literal slaves must not submit to evil commands, and free believers must not bow to human religious authority. Paul’s instruction is meant to guard the freedom that Christ’s purchase secured, whether from a master’s ungodly demands or from a teacher’s bondage to rules.
Textual Notes
The Greek text of 1 Corinthians 7:23 is stable across the major manuscript families (Papyrus 46, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus, and Codex Vaticanus). No significant variants are noted in the supplied commentaries. The only minor variation involves word order in a few late manuscripts, but it does not affect interpretation.
Reception History
This verse has been used in several key periods of church history. During the Reformation, figures such as Calvin and Gill applied it to reject human traditions and the authority of church leaders that contradicted Scripture. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it became a rallying cry for abolitionists; Adam Clarke, for example, explicitly condemned the slave trade as a “high offense against God.” More broadly, the verse has been woven into hymns and teachings on Christian liberty, emphasizing that every believer, slave or free, belongs to Christ and must not surrender that allegiance to any human power. In modern contexts, it is often cited in discussions on the Lordship of Christ over work, culture, and conscience.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Your identity: purchased by Christ. The verb “were bought” (ἠγοράσθητε) is aorist passive, a completed transaction. You are no longer your own (1 Corinthians 6:20). This establishes who you belong to.
- Your freedom: do not become slaves of men. The present imperative “do not become” (μὴ γίνεσθε) means “stop becoming” or “do not continue in a state of becoming.” In whatever station you find yourself, resist letting human demands dictate your conscience. True obedience belongs to God.
- Your calling: live out that freedom. Verses 20 and 24 say “stay in the condition you were called.” This is not passive resignation; it is active faithfulness within your sphere, serving Christ as Lord.
Five-point outline
- The price paid: the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 1:18).
- The owner: you belong to God, not to any human master.
- The warning: avoid spiritual slavery to sinful commands, party loyalties, or human traditions (Gill, Calvin).
- The exception: if a master commands sin, obey God rather than men (the principle behind Acts 5:29).
- The result: peace, contentment, and boldness, knowing your ultimate identity is secure in Christ.
Illustration hooks
- Market auction: Imagine being bought out of slavery by a wealthy patron who then sets you free. Would you then return to the auction block and sell yourself back? That is the logic of this verse. Christ paid the highest price to free you, do not put yourself back into any form of human bondage.
- Employee and conscience: A worker is asked to falsify records. The boss has authority, but the boss is not ultimate. The employee remembers that Christ purchased them, so they answer to a higher Master. That changes both the decision and its spiritual weight.
- Peer pressure: In a group that pressures you to adopt their opinions or sins, you feel the pull to become a “people-pleaser.” This verse reorients your loyalty: pleasing Christ, not humans, is the final aim.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Does this verse mean I should disobey my boss or the government?” (No: civil obedience is expected, but when commanded to sin, God is Lord.)
- “If I am a Christian, how free am I really? Can I ignore church authority?” (Paul’s point is about ultimate loyalty; human authorities are gifts and may have legitimate claims, but they cannot claim the soul.)
- “How do I know if I am serving men instead of God?” (Check the source of the command: does it contradict Scripture? Does it arise from fear of people rather than love for God?)
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits in a chapter full of practical guidance about marriage, slavery, and daily life. Paul’s driving concern is that every believer, whatever their outward situation, lives with the deep certainty that they belong to Christ. “Bought with a price” is the anchor. The command that follows warns against letting any human claim the authority that belongs only to God. As you discuss, think about what forms of human bondage, external or internal, are most tempting in your own context.
Discussion questions
- Read 1 Corinthians 7:17, 24 aloud. What is Paul’s main point about social status?
- What does it mean that believers were “bought with a price”? How does 1 Corinthians 6:20 and Acts 20:28 deepen that understanding?
- The Greek verb “do not become” (μὴ γίνεσθε) is present imperative. Why does the tense matter? (It suggests ongoing action: “stop becoming” or “do not keep allowing yourself to become.”)
- Paul tells slaves not to “become bondservants of men.” In your own words, what is the difference between serving a human master and being a “bondservant of men”?
- How might a free person in Corinth be tempted to become a slave to men? (Think of the party divisions in 1 Corinthians 1, 4 or the pressure from false teachers.)
- What are some modern forms of “becoming servants of men” that Christians face today, in work, family, church, or culture?
- How does the certainty that Christ purchased you shape your decisions when human authorities ask you to compromise your faith?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Leviticus 25:42 | For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They shall not be sold as slaves. |
| Matthew 23:8 | But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. |
| Matthew 23:11 | But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. |
| Acts 20:28 | Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. |
| I Corinthians 6:20 | for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. |
| Galatians 2:4 | This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage, |
| Titus 2:14 | who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works. |
| I Peter 1:18 | knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke distinguishes between Paul's point that Christianity does not abolish civil relationships like slavery, and his own strong condemnation of the institution itself. While the apostle leaves believers in their existing social station, Clarke insists that buying and selling human beings is a high offense against God and an attack on liberty.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes insists that even Christian slaves should see themselves as God's servants, not as property of their human masters. Because Christ's blood purchased them, they belong to God and serve Him within their earthly role. This perspective promotes contentment and prevents any improper attempt to disrupt society's existing relationships.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that being bought by Christ sets a limit on human authority. Believers must not obey commands that are wicked or depraved, even under threat, because they belong to their Redeemer. The warning applies especially to those pressured into sin by those over them.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible Schools draws attention to the literal wording, slaves of men, to stress that the soul remains free even if the body is bound. The point is that believers must guard their inner freedom and refuse to let any outward relationship enslave their minds or spirits. No human power can reach that far.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Geneva Notes stresses that believers have been purchased by Christ's sacrifice and therefore belong to God alone. This redemption frees them from any obligation to submit to human authority or traditions that would enslave their consciences. Christians must not become servants of men in matters of faith.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that being bought by Christ’s blood does not forbid civil servitude but forbids submitting to human authority in matters of faith. Believers are Christ’s freemen and must not become servants to men’s lusts or human doctrines, since Christ alone is their Lord and Master.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Paul shifts from addressing one person to addressing everyone, because all believers are bought with Christ's blood. This command has two layers: externally, free people must not become slaves to men, and spiritually, no believer should be a servile follower of party leaders or human opinion.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange interprets the sanctification of the unbelieving spouse as a theocratic consecration, not personal holiness. By being one flesh with a believer, the unbeliever shares in that partner's holy standing, making the marriage acceptable to God. Christians should stay in their original calling unless providence clearly opens another path.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry stresses that a believer's outward circumstances—whether slave or free, Jew or Gentile—are God's own distribution, not accidents. The Christian's duty is not to change his condition but to live faithfully within it, since the same gospel call reaches every rank and the same obedience is required in all.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent clarifies that "servants of men" does not refer to physical slavery or outward bondage. Instead it means spiritual subjection to human will and guidance, which stands in direct contrast to belonging to Christ.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley emphasizes that believers, bought with a price, already belong to God. Therefore they should avoid becoming bondservants of men whenever possible, since such servitude exposes them to many temptations.