1 Corinthians 7:19

Contextual Overview

¹⁷Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches. ¹⁷ But as God hath distributed to euery man, as the Lord hath called euery one, so let him walke, and so ordeine I in all Churches. ¹⁷ But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. ¹⁷ Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. ¹⁷ Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. ¹⁷ But in any case each one of you should continue to live the way God has given you to live—the way you were when God called you. This is a rule I make in all the churches. ¹⁷Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]. This is the rule I make in all the churches. ¹⁷ Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. ¹⁷Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. ¹⁷Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Circumcision: 1 Corinthians 8:8, Romans 2:25-29, Romans 3:30, Galatians 5:6, Galatians 6:15

but: 1 Samuel 15:22, Jeremiah 7:22, Jeremiah 7:23, Matthew 5:19, John 15:14, 1 John 2:3, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 3:22-24, 1 John 5:2, 1 John 5:3, Revelation 22:14

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:10 - Every Genesis 17:23 - circumcised Genesis 34:24 - every male Deuteronomy 30:10 - hearken unto Deuteronomy 30:16 - to love Joshua 5:5 - they had not Proverbs 19:16 - keepeth the Luke 8:15 - keep John 15:10 - ye keep Acts 15:1 - ye Acts 16:3 - and took Romans 2:26 - General Romans 4:10 - not in circumcision 1 Corinthians 9:21 - not 1 Corinthians 13:2 - I am Galatians 3:28 - neither Colossians 3:11 - circumcision 2 Thessalonians 3:4 - that

Cross-References

Genesis 7:2
You shall take seven pairs of every clean animal with you, the male and his female. Of the animals that are not clean, take two, the male and his female.

Genesis 7:2
Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.

Genesis 7:2
From all the clean animals you must take for yourself seven pairs, a male and its mate. And from the animals that are not clean you must take two, a male and its mate,

Genesis 7:2
Take with you seven pairs, each male with its female, of every kind of clean animal, and take one pair, each male with its female, of every kind of unclean animal.

Genesis 7:2
You must take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, the male and its mate, two of every kind of unclean animal, the male and its mate,

Genesis 7:2
"Of every clean animal you shall take with you seven pair, the male and his female, and of animals that are not clean, two each the male and his female;

Genesis 7:2
"You shall take with you seven pairs of every clean animal, a male and his female; and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and his female;

Genesis 7:2
Of euery cleane beast thou shalt take to thee by seuens, the male & his female: but of vncleane beastes by couples, the male & his female.

Genesis 7:2
You shall take with you of every clean animal by sevens, a male and his female; and of the animals that are not clean, two, a male and his female;

Genesis 7:2
Take seven pairs of every kind of animal that can be used for sacrifice and one pair of all others.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Circumcision is nothing,.... In the affair of justification before God, and acceptance with him; it cannot make any man righteous in the sight of God, nor recommend him to the divine favour; it is no evidence of a man's calling, or of his having the truth or grace of God in him; nor is it of any avail in the business of salvation. It was something formerly; it was a command and an ordinance of God, to Abraham and his natural seed; it pointed at the corruption and pollution of nature; was typical of the effusion of the blood of Christ, for pardon, and cleansing, and of the internal circumcision of the heart; it was a sign and seal to Abraham, that he should be the father of many nations, and that the righteousness of faith should come upon the uncircumcised Gentiles; and was a distinguishing character of the people of the Jews, until the Messiah came: but now it is nothing, nor has it any of these uses, being with the rest of the ceremonies abolished by Christ; it gives no preference to the Jew above the Gentile; he that has this mark in his flesh, is not a whir the better for it, and he that is without it, is not at all the worse; and is a reason why both the one and the other should be easy, and not attempt any alteration in themselves with regard to this, or think the better or worse of themselves on account of it. This is said in direct opposition to the sentiments of the Jews, who extol circumcision to the skies. The apostle says it is nothing, and they say it is everything, and everything is nothing without it; they say, it is the hinge of their whole law l, and that it is equal to all the precepts in the law m; their extravagant commendations of it take in the following passage n;

"says R. Eliezar ben Azariah, uncircumcision is rejected, because by it the wicked are defiled, as it is said, "for all the Gentiles are uncircumcised"; says R. Ishmael, גדולה מילה, "great is circumcision"; for on account of it, thirteen covenants were made; says R. Jose, "great is circumcision", for it drives away the sabbath, the weighty (command in the law, that is, it is obliged to give way to it); R. Joshua ben Korcha says, "great is circumcision", for it was not suspended to Moses the righteous one full hour; R. Nehemiah says, "great is circumcision", for it drives away plagues; says Rabba, "great is circumcision", for notwithstanding all the commands which Abraham our father did, he was not called perfect until he was circumcised; as it is said, "walk before me, and be thou perfect"; says another, "great is circumcision", for had it not been for that, the holy blessed God would not have created his world; as it is said, "thus saith the Lord, if my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth",''

More of this kind might be produced, but enough of this.

And uncircumcision is nothing; it does not hinder any having an interest in, and partaking of the blessings of grace; nor their enjoyment of the Gospel and Gospel ordinances; nor their communion and fellowship with the churches of Christ, much less their everlasting salvation, as say o the Jews;

"the holy blessed God (say they) rejects the uncircumcised, and brings them down to hell; as it is said, Ezekiel 32:18 "son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down"; and so says Isaiah, Isaiah 5:14 "therefore hell hath enlarged herself and opened her mouth", לבלי חק; that is, to him that hath not the law of circumcision; as it is said, Psalms 105:10 "and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant"; for no circumcised persons go down to hell:''

but the keeping of the commandments of God; that is something; not that the commands of God, and the observance of them, are of any avail to procure the pardon of sin, acceptance with God, justification in his sight, and eternal salvation; yet they are of moment, as they are the commands and ordinances of God; and ought to be kept in faith and fear, as they were delivered from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory of God; and though for keeping of them there is no reward of debt, yet in keeping of them there is a reward of grace; peace of mind is had, and the presence of God enjoyed; obedience to them, upon Gospel principles and motives, is a fruit of grace, an evidence of faith, and of the new creature; it is the ornament of a Christian profession, and is profitable to men.

l Shebet Judah, p. 94. Ed. Gent. m Zohar in Lev. fol. 6. 1. T. Bab. Nedarim, fol 32. 1. Caphtor, fol. 9. 2. n Misn. Nedarim, c. 3. sect. 11. Maimon. Hilch. Milah, c. 3. sect. 8, 9. o Shemot Rabba, sect. 19. fol. 104. 4. Vid. Maimon. in Misn. Sabbat, c. 19. sect. 6.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Circumcision is nothing ... - It is of no consequence in itself. It is not that which God requires now. And the mere external rite can be of no consequence one way or the other. The heart is all; and that is what God demands; see the notes at Romans 2:29.

But the keeping of the commandments of God - Is something, is the main thing, is everything; and this can be done whether a man is circumcised or not.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. Circumcision is nothing — Circumcision itself, though commanded of God, is nothing of itself, it being only a sign of the justification which should be afterwards received by faith. At present, neither it nor its opposite either hinders or furthers the work of grace; and keeping the commandments of God, from his love shed abroad in a believing heart, is the sum and substance of religion.