John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:22

"For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord`s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ`s bondservant." — 1 Corinthians 7:22 (ASV)

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant. To be called in the Lord, being a servant, is to be chosen from the rank of servants and made a participant in the grace of Christ. This statement is designed to offer consolation to servants and, at the same time, to subdue the arrogance of those who are freeborn.

Since servants find their situation burdensome, because their position is lowly and despised, it is important that the bitterness of servitude be eased by some consolation. Those, on the other hand, who are free need to be restrained, so that they may not be unduly elated on account of their more honorable condition and be puffed up with pride.

The Apostle does both. He teaches that since the liberty of the spirit is far preferable to the liberty of the flesh, servants should find the unpleasantness of their condition more tolerable when they consider the priceless gift they have received. On the other hand, those who are free should not be puffed up, since their condition in the most important respect is not superior to that of servants.

However, we must not infer from this that those who are free are made inferior to servants, or that political order is subverted. The Apostle understood what suited both groups. Those who were free needed (as I have said) to be restrained, so they might not arrogantly triumph over servants. Servants, on the other hand, needed some consolation to be offered, so they might not be disheartened. Indeed, these teachings tend to confirm political order, as he explains that the hardship of their earthly condition is compensated by a spiritual benefit.