· Translation: KJV

1 Corinthians 7:23You were bought with a price. Don't become bondservants of men.

The setting

Corinth, Greece, ~55 AD. Paul warns Christians not to become enslaved to human approval or fear...

The emotion here: urgent warning with fierce protective love

The original word

timē (τιμῆς) — price paid for purchase, specifically referring to Christ's blood

Why it matters

In Roman slave markets, the purchase price determined the slave's value and treatment

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Corinthians 7:23

Paul uses slave-market language — you've already been bought, so you're not for sale

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about avoiding all authority. Paul means don't let humans own your soul — there's a difference between respect and slavery.

Bible Genome reading

1 Corinthians 7:23 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerPaul
Eraearly_church
Primary emotionworship
Literary typeteaching
MarkCommand

Emotional genome

Comfort power60%
Quotability90%
Memorability90%
Crisis relevance60%
Standalone80%
Themes:redemptionfreedom

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Corinthians 7

1 Corinthians 7:23 comes from the book of 1 Corinthians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the teaching genre of biblical literature. Key themes include redemption, freedom. Notable phrases: bought with a price. This verse contains a command.

Your reflection

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