Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Wast thou called being a bondservant? (doulov eklhqhs). First aorist passive indicative. Wast thou, a slave, called?
Care not for it (mh soi meletw). "Let it not be a care to thee." Third person singular (impersonal) of melei, old verb with dative soi. It was usually a fixed condition and a slave could be a good servant of Christ (Colossians 3:22; Ephesians 6:5; Titus 2:9), even with heathen masters.
Use it rather (mallon xrhsai). Make use of what? There is no "it" in the Greek. Shall we supply eleuqeriai (instrumental case after xrhsai or douleiai)? Most naturally eleuqeriai, freedom, from eleuqerov, just before. In that case ei kai is not taken as although, but kai goes with dunasai, "But if thou canst also become free, the rather use your opportunity for freedom." On the whole this is probably Paul's idea and is in full harmony with the general principle above about mixed marriages with the heathen. Xrhsai is second person singular aorist middle imperative of xraomai, to use, old and common verb.
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