7 ¹⁷ However that may be, each one must order his life according to the gift the Lord has granted him and his condition when God called him. That is what I teach in all our congregations. 7 ¹⁸ Was a man called with the is marks of circumcision on him? Let him not remove them. Was he uncircumcised when he was called? Let him not be circumcised. 7 ¹⁹ Circumcision or uncircumcision is neither here nor there; what matters is to keep God's commands. 7 ²⁰ Every man should remain in the condition in which he was called. 7 ²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you; but if a chance of liberty should come, take it. Or: but even if a chance of liberty should come, choose rather to make good use of your servitude. 7 ²² For the man who as a slave received the call to be a Christian is the Lord's freedman, and, equally, the free man who received the call is a slave in the service of Christ. 7 ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 7 ²⁴ Thus each one, my friends, is to remain before God in the condition in which he received his call.