who knows if^ is used to express hope. So here the idea is, ' Who knows, O wife, but that thou shalt save thy husband ? *
17. But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called eveiy one,* so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
Paul was not only averse to breaking up the conjugal re- lation, but it was a general ordinance of his that men should remain in the same social position after becoming Christians, which they had occupied before. We can very imperfectly appreciate the effect produced by the first promulgation of the gospel. The signs and wonders, and diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost by which it was attended ; the perfect equality of men which it announced ; the glorious promises which it contained ; the insignificancy and ephemeral charac- ter which it ascribed to every thing earthly ; and the certain- ty of the second coming of Christ which it predicted, produced a ferment in the minds of men such as was never experienced either before or since. It is not surj^rising, therefore, that men were in many instances disposed to break loose from their social ties ; wnves to forsake their unbelieving husbands, or husbands their wives ; slaves to renounce the authority of their masters, or subjects the dominion of their sovereigns. This was an evil which called for repression. Paul endea- voured to convince his readers that their relation to Christ was compatible with any social relation or position. It mat- tered not whether they were circumcised or uncircumcised, bond or free, married to a Christian or married to a Gentile, their fellowship with Christ remained the same. Their con- version to Christianity involved, therefore, no necessity of breaking asunder their social ties. The gospel was not a revolutionary, disorganizing element ; but one w^hich was de- signed to eliminate what is evil, and to exalt and purify what is in itself indifferent.
As God (or the Lord) hath distributed to every man, i. e. whatever lot in life God has assigned any man. As the Lord (or God) hath called every man, i. e. whatever condition or station a man occupied when called by the word and Spirit of God, let him remain in it. His conversion, at least, does not
* The MSS., A. B. C. D. E. F. G., read b nipios with ifiipiaf, and 6 Sfe6s
with KtK\7\KeV.