10. Now, I have a command for those who are married. Actually, it is not from me; it is what the Lord commanded. A wife should not leave her husband.
11. But if a wife does leave, she should remain single or get back together with her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.
12. The advice I have for the others is from me. The Lord did not give us any teaching about this. If you have a wife who is not a believer, you should not divorce her if she will continue to live with you.
13. And if you have a husband who is not a believer, you should not divorce him if he will continue to live with you.
14. The husband who is not a believer is set apart for God through his believing wife. And the wife who is not a believer is set apart for God through her believing husband. If this were not true, your children would be unfit for God’s use. But now they are set apart for him.
15. But if the husband or wife who is not a believer decides to leave, let them leave. When this happens, the brother or sister in Christ is free. God chose you to have a life of peace.
16. Wives, maybe you will save your husband; and husbands, maybe you will save your wife. You don’t know now what will happen later.
17. But each one of you should continue to live the way the Lord God has given you to live—the way you were when God chose you. I tell people in all the churches to follow this rule.
18. If a man was already circumcised when he was chosen, he should not change his circumcision. If a man was without circumcision when he was chosen, he should not be circumcised.
19. It is not important if anyone is circumcised or not. What is important is obeying God’s commands.
20. Each one of you should stay the way you were when God chose you.
21. If you were a slave when God chose you, don’t let that bother you. But if you can be free, then do it.