1 Corinthians 7:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

She turned to a slave with flattery and persuasion, yet could not incline him, free as he was, to what he did not want. Truly he was not a slave, but exceedingly free. Did slavery hinder him from virtue? Listen, you slaves and free men. Who proved to be the slave: the one who was asked, or the one who asked? The one who persuaded, or the one who despised her persuasions? Thus there are limits of slavery established by God. There are laws defining how far it may extend, and these must not be transgressed. When a master requires nothing contrary to the will of God, one must obey and submit to him. But one must go no further. In this way the slave remains free. If you go further, you become a slave, even if you are free. The Apostle teaches this by the words: “Do not become slaves of men.” If it were not so, and if he commanded them to leave their masters and strive to obtain freedom, how could he then say the following? “In whatever calling each was called, brethren, let each remain in that before God” (1 Cor 7:24). Paul says, “Do not become slaves of men,” that is, do not obey men when they command anything shameful, nor even yourselves.

None of this is an obstacle to piety.” Concerning slavery in particular, he says: “As circumcision brings no profit, and uncircumcision does no harm, so also slavery and freedom are alike. But to show this as clearly as possible, the Apostle says: ‘But if you can also become free, rather make use of it’ (χρησαι), that is, serve all the more. I know that some maintain that the words ‘rather make use of it’ are spoken of freedom. They explain them thus: if you can become free, then be freed. But such a thought would be wholly contrary to Paul’s intention. He is consoling the slave and proving that slavery causes no harm. He would not then command him to seek freedom. In relation to Christ, he says, both are equal: you are a slave, and so is your master. When is a slave free while remaining a slave? When he is freed from passions and diseases of the soul, and does not surrender to greed, anger, and other such passions.” Conversely, when is a free man a slave? When he serves men in some evil thing, in gluttony, greed, or vainglory. Such a man, though free, is worse than any slave. Here is an example of both. Joseph was a slave, but he did not serve men slavishly, for he did not submit to his mistress. She, on the contrary, though free, proved lower than any slave. Today we have no slaves, but we have servants and masters, superiors and subordinates. These lessons apply to all Christians who occupy different positions in society. To persuade Christians all the more to preserve their outward condition, the Apostle says that he teaches this to Christians everywhere. This statement has great significance both historically and for the practice of the Church. It concerns the establishment of common orders of life for all Christians, not in conflict with other prevailing orders, insofar as those are not contrary to the spirit of the Christian faith. According to blessed Theophylact, “The Apostle said this so that Christians, knowing that they have other Christians sharing the same order of life, might be more zealously disposed to obedience to the Apostle’s decree.”

What does it mean? Do not be men-pleasers.

This is one side of slavery to the world, to human opinions, human customs, and the desires of the people among whom one must live. It is scarcely noticed, but it causes much moral evil.

The Apostle speaks as though saying: the fact that you are slaves is not important in Christ. But keep this in mind: do not be slaves of human opinions, customs, and desires against the will of the Lord.

You have been bought by the Lord. Let His will rule in you in all things. Whatever is contrary to this will, wherever it appears, do not agree to do it for the sake of pleasing men.

This rule corresponds to the Apostle's other rules: not to make provision for the flesh in its lusts, and not to please oneself. Here it is: do not please men when the Lord's will is thereby violated.

Theodoret writes: "He does not establish a law contrary to what was said, but commands both the one called a slave and the one named free not to have a servile mind."

Theophylact says: "He says this not only to slaves, but also to free men. He urges all Christians to do nothing for the sake of pleasing men, and in no way to obey them when they command unlawful things. For this is what it means to be slaves of men."

Chrysostom speaks about this at length: "It is possible in slavery not to be a slave, and in freedom not to be free.

When is a slave not a slave? When he does everything for God, and when he serves neither hypocritically nor from man-pleasing. This is both to be a slave of men and to remain free.

And conversely, when is a free man a slave? When he serves men in something evil, in gluttony, covetousness, or vainglory. Such a man, though free, is worse than any slave.

Here is an example of both. Joseph was a slave, but he was not enslaved to men. Therefore, even in slavery, he was freer than all free men, for he did not submit to his mistress.

His mistress, on the contrary, though free, proved lower than any slave. She could not bend him, free as he was, to what he did not wish.

Truly he was not a slave, but supremely free. Thus there are limits to slavery set by God. There are laws defining how far it may extend, and these must not be transgressed.

When the master requires nothing contrary to the will of God, then one must obey and submit to him. But one must not go further. In this way the slave remains free.

But if you go further, you become a slave, though you are free. Joseph was not such. Everywhere and in all things he was true and remained free.

Nothing could enslave him: not bonds, not slavery, not his mistress's love, not dwelling in a foreign land. He always remained free. This is the highest freedom, which shines even in slavery."