1 Corinthians 7:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.

NIV: Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.

NASB: Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised.

CSB: Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.

NLT: For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.

KJV: Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

NKJV: Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

Paul is expanding on the idea that Christians who are married should stay married and Christians who are single should not necessarily seek to get married. He is applying this teaching to many of the areas of a Christian's life.

He begins with circumcision: removing the foreskin from the penis, common especially to the Jewish people (Genesis 17:10–11). Circumcision was required for every male who lived under the law of Moses (Leviticus 12:1–3). Those who come to faith in Christ, however, do not live under the requirements of the law (Romans 6:14).

A primary complaint of the Jewish religious leaders against Paul is exactly what's written in these verses. Not only did he say that new converts to Christianity were not required to be circumcised to be included in God's people, he even forbids them from being circumcised.

This led to understandable tension between Jewish and Gentile Christians living amongst one another. Roman culture often included public baths or competing in the nude in sporting events, as was the custom. In such cases, a person could not very well hide whether they were circumcised. Nor could they avoid the judgments of others, including some Christians, that went along with that awareness.

Should a Jewish person who had been circumcised as an infant seek out surgery to hide or cosmetically reverse his circumcision? Should a Gentile get circumcised, as was required of converts to Judaism, just to be as acceptable to God as possible? In both cases, Paul says "no." Rather, that condition is part of where and how a person was called to Christ. They should stay as they are, in those ways. In the following verses, Paul explains this idea.

First Corinthians 7:17–24 expands on Paul's rule of thumb: that Christians should remain in whatever situation they were in when they came to faith in Christ. Later text clarifies that Paul is not denouncing marriage or forbidding it in any sense. Married or not, circumcised or not, slave or free, Christians aren't obligated to radically upend every aspect of their lives and relationships. Slaves, though, are encouraged to gain their freedom if available. A believing slave is, in fact, free in Christ, while a Christian who is free in this life is, in truth, a slave to Christ. We all belong to God. Our eternal position in Christ matters far more than our temporary position in this life.

Paul rejects an idea concerning the Corinthian believers: that married Christians should not have sex. Perhaps some even thought marriages should be dissolved and avoided. On the contrary, Scripture says married Christians should have regular sex in order to avoid temptation. Those who are married ought to remain married. Unmarried believers with the gift of celibacy, however, should consider remaining single in order to avoid the troubles of marriage. That is Paul's personal preference, though that gift is not given to all others. Single believers can devote themselves to serving Christ without distraction. The time is short. All believers should live and serve Christ now as if this world is passing away.

First Corinthians 7 follows Paul's teaching in the previous chapter, which focused mostly on avoiding sexual immorality. Here he commands married husbands and wives not to deprive each other of sex, or get divorced, in a misguided attempt to be more spiritual. Unmarried people who can live contentedly without sex, however, should consider remaining single in order to serve Christ undivided. Getting married is good, but the time is short. The form of this world is passing away. Unmarried people should think about the opportunities to avoid trouble and serve Christ that come with staying single.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.