12. I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If any Christian man is married to a woman who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13. If any Christian woman is married to a man who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.
14. Actually, the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and an unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, their children would be unacceptable ⌊to God⌋, but now they are acceptable to him.
15. But if the unbelieving partners leave, let them go. Under these circumstances a Christian man or Christian woman is not bound ⌊by a marriage vow⌋. God has called you to live in peace.
16. How do you as a wife know whether you will save your husband? How do you as a husband know whether you will save your wife?
17. Everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him when God called him. This is the guideline I use in every church.
18. Any man who was already circumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t undo his circumcision. Any man who was uncircumcised when he was called to be a Christian shouldn’t get circumcised.
19. Circumcision is nothing, and the lack of it is nothing. But keeping what God commands is everything.
20. All people should stay as they were when they were called.
21. Were you a slave when you were called? That shouldn’t bother you. However, if you have a chance to become free, take it.
22. If the Lord called you when you were a slave, you are the Lord’s free person. In the same way, if you were free when you were called, you are Christ’s slave.
23. You were bought for a price. Don’t become anyone’s slaves.
24. Brothers and sisters, you should remain in whatever circumstances you were in when God called you. God is with you in those circumstances.
25. Concerning virgins: Even though I don’t have any command from the Lord, I’ll give you my opinion. I’m a person to whom the Lord has shown mercy, so I can be trusted.