Passage

Remaining, with freedom possible

Source and translation

World English Bible, Protestant Edition · Public domain · en

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²⁰Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:20World English Bible, Protestant Edition

The scene

The letter asks each person to remain in the condition in which they were called.

To understand

The next verse addresses someone enslaved and explicitly mentions using an opportunity to become free. Reading the instruction alongside that line prevents “remain” from erasing the stated possibility of freedom.

A question

What limit does the next verse place on reading “remain” as a ban on change?