7. I wish that all of you were like me, but God has given different gifts to each of us.
8. Here is my advice for people who have never been married and for widows. You should stay single, just as I am.
9. But if you don't have enough self-control, then go ahead and get married. After all, it is better to marry than to burn with desire.
10. I instruct married couples to stay together, and this is exactly what the Lord himself taught. A wife who leaves her husband
11. should either stay single or go back to her husband. And a husband should not leave his wife.
12. I don't know of anything else the Lord said about marriage. All I can do is to give you my own advice. If your wife isn't a follower of the Lord, but is willing to stay with you, don't divorce her.
13. If your husband isn't a follower, but is willing to stay with you, don't divorce him.
14. Your husband or wife who isn't a follower is made holy by having you as a partner. This also makes your children holy and keeps them from being unclean in God's sight.
15. If your husband or wife isn't a follower of the Lord and decides to divorce you, then you should agree to it. You are no longer bound to that person. After all, God chose you and wants you to live at peace.
16. And besides, how do you know if you will be able to save your husband or wife who isn't a follower?
17. In every church I tell the people to stay as they were when the Lord Jesus chose them and God called them to be his own. Now I say the same thing to you.
18. If you are already circumcised, don't try to change it. If you are not circumcised, don't get circumcised.