Should the Corinthians make use of their slavery or their opportunity for freedom?

Explanation:

Paul says that if one was a slave when he was called, he should not be worried by this. He follows up his statement with the clause in the second half of 1 Corinthians 7:21. There is some question on how to translate this clause. One could translate it as, But even if you are to become free, rather, make use of your slavery.⁴ If Paul wants us to take him in this way, his point seems to be that the slave should remain a slave, even if they are offered freedom. The second way to translate this clause is, But if you are able to become free, make use of it.⁵ According to this option, Paul is saying that while one should live out his call as a Christian even if he is a slave, if he gets the opportunity to be released from slavery, he can take it. Both translations are possible, but the second is more likely based on the syntax and grammar.

First, the most telling clue for the second translation comes from the fact that the verb to make use of lacks a direct object.⁶ This means that Paul does not specify what the slave is to make use of, so the reader must fill in the blank. Should the slave make use of his slavery or his freedom? When a verb lacks a direct object, one normally takes a word from earlier in the sentence to fill in the blank.⁷ In this case, the only available word that makes sense is freedom. Thus, it makes most sense that Paul says that if one can become free, one ought to make use of their freedom.

Second, we find that the verb to make use is in the simple past tense. If Paul was saying that a slave ought to remain a slave in order to make use of his slavery, we should expect Paul to put the verb in the present tense, because that tense signifies an ongoing activity. In other words, one should make use of his slavery on an ongoing basis. Since Paul does not use the present, it is more likely that he has in mind the one-time situation of taking advantage of freedom.⁸

Third, the phrase ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ can have emphatic force, as in, but, if indeed. Paul says that if one was a slave when called, he should not worry about it. Still, there is value in being a freedman, so Paul adds that but, if indeed one can gain his freedom, he should go ahead and gain it.

Counterargument:

Each of these grammatical arguments can be countered. First, when a verb lacks a direct object, this is called an elliptical clause. An elliptical clause is when an author leaves out a term and leaves it up to the reader to infer the missing term based on the context. There is no rule that says one must take a word from earlier in the clause to complete the author’s thought. Indeed, it is the context that determines what term the author means to use. In the case of 1 Corinthians 7:21, we can determine Paul’s meaning by looking to 1 Corinthians 7:20. There Paul says that each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Thus, he should remain a slave, even if the opportunity for freedom presents itself.

Second, that Paul does not put the verb to make use in the present tense does not rule out the possibility that he has slavery in mind. He does not mean that one should make use of his slavery based on his ongoing behaviour, but that he ought to change his attitude toward being enslaved. Such an attitude change is a one-time move, which is supported by the aorist tense.

Third, whether ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ is emphatic is up for debate. The phrase could also be concessive, so that it is translated but even if.⁹ And if Paul means to use the term concessively, then his point is that even if freedom becomes available, one should make use of his slavery. In other words, one should remain as he is and forget about the opportunity for freedom.

Response to counterargument:

The fact that each of the above grammatical arguments can be countered does not mean that they are the not best way to take the grammar. Indeed, there is often more than one way to translate a sentence, but we seek the best translation. As we will see, both the literary and theological context suggest that Paul’s point is that a slave can make use of their freedom (see arguments 2 and 3).

Explanation:

That Paul allows for an exception aligns well with his approach throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40. His point throughout this section is that whether one is married, single, enslaved, or circumcised, one ought to live out his calling to Christ faithfully. Of course, life is complex, so Paul allows for a variety of exceptions. For example, he says that married people ought not to abstain from sexual relations, except for prayer and for a time (1 Corinthians 7:5). Also, he explains that Christians are not to divorce, but if they do, let them remain unmarried or be reconciled (1 Corinthians 7:11). Further, converts are not to divorce their pagan spouse, but if the pagan spouse wants to leave, let it be so (1 Corinthians 7:15). Similarly, those who are enslaved should not be worried about their enslavement, but if they are able to become free, they can make use of the opportunity (1 Corinthians 7:21).¹⁰ That Paul includes an exception when he gives his instruction on slavery fits well with the overall pattern of Paul’s thought throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40.

Counterargument:

It might be that Paul includes many exceptions throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40 but this does not mean that he makes an exception in 1 Corinthians 7:21. Sometimes Paul will use grammar that could be translated as an exception or something else. In the case of 1 Corinthians 7:21, we have to consider the meaning of the term μᾶλλον. Paul uses μᾶλλον to close out 1 Corinthians 7:21 and set up his elliptical clause. μᾶλλον χρῆσαι literally means instead, make use of. With this translation in mind, we can look back at Paul’s point. Paul is saying that even if one could become free, instead make use of slavery.

Response to counterargument:

The problem with this counterargument is that μᾶλλον χρῆσαι can be taken in several senses depending on the context. For example, instead of taking μᾶλλον as instead one could take it as an intensive, as in, by all means.¹¹ In this case, Paul’s point is not that one should avoid freedom, but that by all means one should make use of the opportunity. That the phrase μᾶλλον χρῆσαι can equally be taken to mean instead, make use of slavery, or by all means make use of the opportunity for freedom, means that we must decide between these based on the context. As this argument purports, based on the context it makes most sense that Paul is offering an exception to the notion that one ought not to worry about being a slave. That is because throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40, Paul acknowledges the complexity of living out one’s faith by introducing various exceptions that round out his general teaching.

Explanation:

We need to understand Paul based on his rhetorical purpose. What is Paul trying to say throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40, and especially in 1 Corinthians 7:17–24? If we can pinpoint Paul’s overall purpose, this will help us decide which translation of 1 Corinthians 7:21 makes the most sense. When we consider Paul’s overall purpose in 1 Corinthians 7:17–24, his point seems to be that one should not be overly concerned about his own situation when he was called but should be concerned to live out the call to faith in Christ. We can deduce this by tracking Paul’s train of thought. First, he says that everyone should lead the life to which God has called him (1 Corinthians 7:17). He then says that those who were circumcised should remain so. Likewise, those who were enslaved or free. Paul’s point is that each one should remain as he was when he was called (1 Corinthians 7:20). Why? Because he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman in the Lord, and he who was free when called is a slave to Christ (1 Corinthians 7:22). In other words, one’s external situation does not matter. What matters is living out one’s call to faith in Jesus Christ.¹²

Of course, if Paul’s point is that one’s external situation does not matter, then it is hard to see why Paul would say that slaves should remain enslaved. If slaves should remain enslaved this implies that one’s external circumstance does matter. Such an implication runs counter to Paul’s overall purpose. On the other hand, Paul does not want the Corinthians to think that they should be indifferent to their circumstances. Indeed, freedom is better than slavery, so if the opportunity for freedom arises, the slave should take it.¹³ Still, what matters even more than one’s status as slave is that one lives out their call to the gospel.

Counterargument:

If we want to understand Paul in light of his purpose then it makes the most sense to think that Paul tells slaves to remain as slaves. We can deduce this based on his comments in 1 Corinthians 7:17 and 1 Corinthians 7:20. In both places, Paul tells the Corinthians to remain as they are. In other words, it is important that there be Christians in many different circumstances. Some should be married, others single, and others enslaved. Thus, even if a slave has an opportunity for freedom; instead, one should make the most of being enslaved.

Response to counterargument:

Paul’s point throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40 is not that it is important for there to be Christians in many different circumstances. Of course, it is good when there are Christians in many different circumstances, but our goal as interpreters is to identify Paul’s intent. Paul’s intent throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40 is that one’s external situation is not important when it comes to living the life God has assigned to him. We can deduce this by looking at not just the immediate context of 1 Corinthians 7:17–24 but the entire chapter. Paul has explained that married people ought not to abstain (1 Corinthians 7:2), single people can remain single (1 Corinthians 7:8), and mixed marriages should not divorce (1 Corinthians 7:12). Paul is explaining that God called the Corinthians to salvation in Christ regardless of their outward situation. Paul also notes exceptions along the way because his point is not that the Corinthians rigidly adhere to their situation (1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Corinthians 7:11; 1 Corinthians 7:15), but that God accepts them in whatever situation they are in. Thus, they ought to live out their call accordingly. Paul’s point is not that God needs Christians from every walk of life, and therefore, one should not change his external situation. Rather, his point is that God calls people regardless of external situation.

Possible weaknesses:

The one weakness of this view is that even if Paul wants us to fill out the elliptical clause with the term freedom, he may have another meaning in mind. In other words, it is possible that Paul is saying that one ought to make use of his opportunity for freedom, as this interpretation holds, but it is also possible that Paul is saying that if one were to gain their freedom, they should make use of it. So there remains some ambiguity.¹⁴

Explanation:

Paul seems to suggest that if one is enslaved and has an opportunity for freedom, one should take advantage of it. Paul writes, but if you are able to become free. The problem is that slaves had no choice over whether they could become free.¹⁹ That’s because freedom was at the sole discretion of the slave owner. If the slave owner said you were free, you were free, and if he kept you as a slave, you remained a slave.²⁰ There was no opportunity to take advantage of the matter. Thus, when Paul says if you can become free, he is either being rhetorical²¹ or has something other than freedom from slavery in mind.²² His real point in 1 Corinthians 7:17–24 is that one remains content in his situation (1 Corinthians 7:20).

Counterargument:

The problem with this argument is that it is false that slaves had no choice over whether they could go free. In the Greco-Roman world a slave could offer money to his master to obtain his freedom.²³ Sometimes this was accomplished by raising funds through one’s community.²⁴ Further, Paul is offering general advice to the Corinthians. He has just explained that slaves ought to be content in their situation (1 Corinthians 7:20). At the same time, even if it is the case that slaves normally have no choice over their freedom, Paul knows that life is complex, and various circumstances might result in an opportunity for an enslaved person to go free. (Paul himself works to free the slave Onesimus from Philemon; see Philemon.) Thus, Paul does not want enslaved people to think that he commands them to remain slaves, so he adds that although they ought to live out their calling, even as slaves, they are free to take up an opportunity for freedom.

Explanation:

It is not clear whether Paul says that slaves should make use of opportunities for freedom or if they should make use of their time as slaves. To help us understand what Paul means, we can look to his overall theme throughout 1 Corinthians 7:1–40, which is that the gospel is to be lived out in various circumstances. In other words, whether one is married, celibate, circumcised, slave or free, one ought to live out his call to the gospel.²⁵

Counterargument:

No one doubts that Paul’s general point is that the gospel can be lived out regardless of one’s external circumstances. Still, Paul understands the complexities of life, and he offers various exceptions to his instructions (see Interpretation 1, argument 2). For example, Paul says that married people ought not to refrain from sexual relations, except for prayer and for a time (1 Corinthians 7:5). Married people ought not to divorce, but if they do, the parties should remain single or reconcile (1 Corinthians 7:11). Likewise, slaves should live out their call to the gospel, even as slaves, but if they get an opportunity for freedom, they should take it (1 Corinthians 7:21). In other words, Paul is not commanding the Corinthians to remain in their situation come what may. He is saying that they can live out the gospel regardless of their (ever-changing) external circumstances.

Possible weaknesses:

The problem with this view is that it is hard to see why Paul would specifically instruct slaves to remain enslaved. Common sense dictates that it is much better to be free than to be a slave. Paul knows this as well as anyone and makes sure the Corinthian slaves do not misunderstand his point. One would have to make a substantial argument to show that Paul prefers people to remain enslaved, and this interpretation falls short of that standard.