The first part of this verse is almost identical with that in 6.20; see the comments. The present context makes it likely that the passive expression You were bought implies not “God bought you” (Good News Bible) but “Christ bought you.” 1 Cor 6.20 and Rev 5.9 imply this interpretation too. There is no clear example in the New Testament of the Greek word for “buy” used figuratively with God as the subject. As in 6.20, the meaning here is “bought and paid for,” not “bought at a high price.”

Both the meaning and the translation of do not become slaves of men are clear, though it is less clear to what situation Paul is referring. Perhaps Paul is briefly recalling the party struggles and false teaching discussed in chapters 1 and 2. Bultmann, quoted by Barrett, paraphrases: “Do not make yourselves dependent on the value judgements of men.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• God paid a price for you; so do not become the property (or, slave) of any one else.

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .