19. Being circumcised or uncircumcised isn't really what matters. The important thing is to obey God's commands.
20. So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
21. Are you a slave? Don't let that bother you. But if you can win your freedom, you should.
22. When the Lord chooses slaves, they become his free people. And when he chooses free people, they become slaves of Christ.
23. God paid a great price for you. So don't become slaves of anyone else.
24. Stay what you were when God chose you.
25. I don't know of anything that the Lord said about people who have never been married. But I will tell you what I think. And you can trust me, because the Lord has treated me with kindness.
26. We are now going through hard times, and I think it is best for you to stay as you are.
27. If you are married, stay married. If you are not married, don't try to get married.
28. It isn't wrong to marry, even if you have never been married before. But those who marry will have a lot of trouble, and I want to protect you from that.
29. My friends, what I mean is that the Lord will soon come, and it won't matter if you are married or not.
30. It will be all the same if you are crying or laughing, or if you are buying or are completely broke.