1 Corinthians 7:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

All this, he says, means nothing for faith. Therefore do not argue or be troubled. Faith is above all these things. “Let each remain in the calling in which he was called.” Were you called in marriage with an unbelieving wife? Remain with her. Do not drive your wife away because of the faith. Were you called as a slave? Do not be anxious. Remain a slave. Were you called uncircumcised? Remain uncircumcised. Did you believe while circumcised? Remain circumcised. This is what the words mean: let each remain “as God has assigned to him.” None of this is an obstacle to piety. You were called in the condition of a slave, another in marriage with an unbeliever, another in circumcision. This is how he regards slavery.

“Only let each one act as God has assigned to him, and each as the Lord has called him.” But St. John did not read it in this way, but thus: “Let each one act as God has assigned to him, and each as the Lord has called him.” This reading is incomparably better. The Apostle speaks as though saying: there must be no divorce under the pretext of unbelief. Rather, let each act according to what God has graciously willed for him. You were called while having an unbelieving wife. Keep her with you, and do not drive her away because of unbelief. “So I command in all the churches.” He said this so that the Corinthians would obey him more readily, when he commands the same thing to others together with them.

But each one, as God has called him, that is, as he was found when called to His Gospel, so let him remain. And what I say to you, I also command to all the Churches.

The Lord has appointed for each person when he can believe, and He sustains him. By this the Apostle teaches those who are waiting that they must not endure scandal, since their hope must be guarded. But if they themselves have fallen away, they must not become like such people. God will come to each one at the call. That is, if a believer is bound in marriage, let him not leave it, whether husband or wife. Let him remain in marriage, whether he is a Jew or a Greek. “So I command in all the churches.” Paul tells the Corinthians that he transmits nothing to them differently from the other churches. Hearing that other believers are also instructed in this, they will follow it more readily. For one is easily inclined to an action when he sees the same thing in a companion.

"For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Only, as God has apportioned to each." With good hope, says the Apostle, take the labor upon yourself. You have God as the helper of your zeal. "Let each one walk as he was called by the Lord. And so I command in all the churches." Here the Apostle clearly showed that he did not command people to be joined to unbelieving husbands or wives, but gave this law to those who had already been joined when they were called. Then, according to his custom, he passes from the subject before him to others, prescribing fitting laws for all.

The thought of remaining in the condition in which one was called to the faith serves as the foundation for the teaching on the indissolubility of marriage bonds. It also applies to every other bond not contrary to the spirit of Christian life. St. John Chrysostom says of this: “Let each remain in the calling in which he was called. Were you called in marriage with an unbelieving wife? Remain with her, and do not drive your wife away because of the faith. Were you called as a slave? Do not grieve, but remain a slave. Were you called uncircumcised? Remain uncircumcised. Did you believe while circumcised? Remain circumcised.

“Only,” ει μη, means if not, if this is not so. I urge you not to separate, in the hope that perhaps the unbelieving party will believe and turn to the Lord. But even if this does not happen, or if such hope cannot be entertained, still do not separate. Submit to the law that one must live in the portion God has given, in the condition in which one was called. To make the structure of this text clearer, “let him walk so” should be placed first: let him walk as God has apportioned to each. “Apportioned,” εμερισεν, means measured out a part, or lot. And let each walk as he was called by the Lord, that is, in the state in which he was called. Let him walk so. Live in that way. Do not tear yourself out of it, but remain in it.