16. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
17. But as God has given to every man and as the Lord has called every man, so let him walk. This I command in all churches.
18. Is any man called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any man called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God is everything.
20. Let each man remain in the same condition in which he was called.
21. Were you called while a servant? Do not worry about it. But if you may become free, do so.
22. For he who is called in the Lord while a servant is the Lord’s freeman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ’s servant.
23. You were bought at a price. Do not be the servants of men.
24. Brothers, let every man, in whatever condition he is called, remain there with God.
25. Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord. Yet I will give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.
26. I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27. Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be uncommitted. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28. But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless they will have trouble in this life, but I would spare you that.