Εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ἐμέρισεν ὁ Θεός, ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ κύριος, οὕτως περιπατείτω. καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι. (1 Corinthians 7:17)
The Grammar of Calling and Distribution
Paul’s pastoral instruction in 1 Corinthians 7:17 unfolds a theological imperative grounded in divine sovereignty and ecclesial order. This single verse reveals a surprising depth through the use of two aorist verbs — ἐμέρισεν (“He has assigned”) and κέκληκεν (“He has called”) — alongside a present imperative, περιπατείτω (“let him walk”). The structure forms a bridge between what God has done and what each person must do in response.
εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ἐμέρισεν ὁ Θεός
This initial clause functions as an exception clause modifying Paul’s general exhortation. The phrase εἰ μὴ introduces a limitation or condition — literally “except to each one…” The word ἑκάστῳ, dative singular masculine of the distributive pronoun, emphasizes individual, personal treatment.
ἐμέρισεν is an aorist active indicative 3rd person singular of the verb μερίζω, meaning “to assign” or “to apportion.” The aorist aspect portrays the divine action as a decisive, completed allotment. Paul attributes this action to ὁ Θεός, placing divine initiative at the foundation of each person’s circumstance.
ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ κύριος
Here we encounter another distributive pronoun, ἕκαστον, accusative singular, coordinating with ἑκάστῳ for rhetorical emphasis. The verb κέκληκεν (perfect active indicative 3rd person singular of καλέω) conveys a perfective aspect, indicating that the calling is not only past but has abiding results. The subject is ὁ κύριος, reinforcing that calling belongs not to human decision but to Christ’s sovereign summons.
Together, the phrases express parallel divine acts: God distributes, the Lord calls — both completed actions that shape the believer’s present identity.
Imperative Living: οὕτως περιπατείτω
The climactic exhortation οὕτως περιπατείτω (“in this way let him walk”) brings the grammar to a theological apex. The adverb οὕτως ties directly back to the pattern just described — the individual’s divinely apportioned circumstance and calling. The verb περιπατείτω is present active imperative, 3rd person singular of περιπατέω, “to walk” — a frequent Pauline metaphor for one’s manner of life.
Theological Implication:
The use of the imperative, informed by two divine aorists, reveals that Christian ethics are not abstract or self-directed. They are a response to God’s prior initiative. Believers are not commanded to alter their station but to walk faithfully within it. Paul roots this counsel not in cultural accommodation, but in a theology of divine calling and ecclesial unity.
Apostolic Consistency: καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι
Paul adds weight to his instruction by declaring its universal ecclesial authority. The phrase ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις (“in all the churches”) underscores that this is no local suggestion. The verb διατάσσομαι (present middle indicative) is used of military or governmental orders. It reveals not only Paul’s apostolic authority but his alignment with divine order: the church is to reflect the sovereignty and peace of God’s intentional distribution.
Distributive Emphasis and Soteriological Equality
Both ἑκάστῳ and ἕκαστον reinforce Paul’s pastoral concern for the dignity of every individual believer. The repetition is not redundant; it’s pastoral. No one is overlooked in the divine economy. In a context dealing with circumcision, slavery, marriage, and singleness, Paul declares that God’s calling dignifies each station. There is no hierarchy of holiness in circumstance, only faithfulness in one’s walk.
Table of Key Forms and Functions
| Greek Word | Form | Function | Theological Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐμέρισεν | Aorist Active Indicative | Past divine action of assigning | God has decisively apportioned life circumstances |
| κέκληκεν | Perfect Active Indicative | Completed call with ongoing results | Believers live in the enduring effect of divine calling |
| περιπατείτω | Present Active Imperative | Ongoing lifestyle command | The believer’s ethical response to divine calling |
| διατάσσομαι | Present Middle Indicative | Authoritative instruction by Paul | Apostolic order grounded in divine order |
Faithfulness in the Given Lot
This verse does not call for social revolution but for spiritual fidelity. Paul does not erase distinction but reorients its value: what matters is not change of status, but faithfulness within it. The aorist verbs testify that our lives are shaped by divine initiative; the imperative verb demands that we respond in obedient perseverance. And this is no private ethic — Paul teaches it in every church.
The grammar of 1 Corinthians 7:17 affirms that God’s sovereignty is not abstract doctrine but a lived reality. He allots. He calls. We walk.
