哥林多前書7:17-24

 

7:17 只要照主所分給各人的，和上帝所召各人的而行。我吩咐各教會都是這樣。
7:18 有人已受割禮蒙召呢，就不要廢割禮；有人未受割禮蒙召呢，就不要受割禮。
7:19 受割禮算不得甚麼，不受割禮也算不得甚麼，只要守上帝的誡命就是了。
7:20 各人蒙召的時候是甚麼身分，仍要守住這身分。
7:21 你是作奴隸蒙召的嗎？不要因此憂慮；若能以自由，就求自由更好。
7:22 因為作奴僕蒙召於主的，就是主所釋放的人；作自由之人蒙召的，就是基督的奴僕。
7:23 你們是重價買來的，不要作人的奴僕。
7:24 弟兄們，你們各人蒙召的時候是甚麼身分，仍要在上帝面前守住這身分。

 

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. ²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

 

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    保羅這段教導是要弟兄姊妹守住原有的身分，不要因為信仰的緣故，故意改變身分。