1 Corinthians 7:23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Ye are bought with a price— Slaves were bought and sold in the market, as cattle are, and the laws of the Roman Empire considered them as the property of the purchasers. This therefore is a reason for what the Apostle advised, 1 Corinthians 7:21 that they should not be slaves to men, that is, not make themselves the slaves of men, because Christ had paid a price for them, and they belonged to him. But he tells them in general, in the next verse, that nothing in any man's civil estate or right is altered by his becoming a Christian. See Locke. According to Dr. Whitby the meaning is, "Are you redeemed from servitude? Do not sell yourselves for slaves again." It is indeed probable, that the Apostle does counsel Christians against becoming slaves, if it could be prevented; and with great reason; as it was a circumstance which seemed less suitable to the dignity of the Christian profession, and must expose them to many incumbrances and interruptions in duty, especially on the sabbath, and other seasons of religious assembly,—besides the danger of being present at domestic idolatrous sacrifices, or being ill-treated if they refused their compliance. The interpretation, however, seems objectionable, because the advice is unnecessarily restrained thereby to those slaves who had been redeemed; which plainly as well suited those who had theirfreedom given them; and indeed suited all Christians, who never had been slaves at all, and who might more easily have been prevailed upon by their poverty to bring themselves into a condition, the evils and inconveniences of which they did not thoroughly know.—If a state of slavery be so inconvenient for the practice and unworthythe dignity of the Christian profession,—in how horrible a light must they stand, who call themselves Christians, and yet carry on an infamous traffick, in order to enslave, and reduce to the most complicated distress, millions of their fellow-creatures! See Mr. Sharp's short account of Africa, and of the Slave-tra