1COR 7:17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

Vv. 12-16 recommended Christians maintain their current marital status (single, married, widowed, divorced). The current passage generalizes that principle through two more examples.
- [Vv.18-19] If you are circumcised, don’t become uncircumcised, and vice versa. [See my footnote below]
- [Vv.21-22] Slaves should not seek freedom (though they should accept it if given the opportunity)

Whatever situation of life you were in when God called you, stay, glorify God, and be a God’s light to the world in it. This to be a universal principle: “And so I direct in all the churches” (v.17)

V.18 advises against becoming uncircumcised. This may seem strange, but it was actually done. In those days, it would not be uncommon for a man’s genitals to be seen – and assessed! – by other men, such as in public baths or sporting events. The following link takes you to the book of 1 Maccabees 1, part of the Apocrypha. Although the apocrypha isn’t part of the Bible (except for Roman Catholics), we do know that is genuine historical writing from the time between the Old and New Testaments. 1 Maccabees 1:11-15 goes into some detail about Jews who decided to reconcile with Gentiles and thus had surgery to “hide their circumcision.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Maccabees+1&version=GNT

So he has told slaves to remain slaves, but become free if given the opportunity. How does this contradiction square out? I think the point is “don’t seek to change your life situation just because you are a Christian now.

You can imagine that a Jew might fear that his Jewishness would get in the way of preaching the gospel. You can also imagine that a slave might fear that his status might prevent him from evangelizing to others. But God called you where you are and He’ll use you as you are. Stay put and let Him work.

Connecting these statements to the surrounding verses on marriage, divorce, and remarriage, the strong message is that we can be a Christians and faithfully serve God’s purpose whether we are married, have never been married, are widowed, are divorced, or are married to unbelievers. Don’t to try to change any of those to serve or please God.

That’s what he says in the next verses...

1COR7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released 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. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away. 32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

It may seem surprising that Paul is writing in to virgin men in vv.25-26. But there is deep theology in this, and this is a great place to highlight it. Revelation 14:4 defines “virgin” for us. While writing about the 144,000 he said: “These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.”

The word translated “chaste” in that verse is the same word translated “virgin” here in 1Cor 7and everywhere else in the NT (parthenos). In fact, just about every major English translation of Rev 14:4 says that the 144,000 were men who remained virgins.

As I said, the Greek word for virgin is “parthenos.” The “Parthenon” was a temple in Athens to Athena. Now, naming the temple of an ancient Greek goddess “virgin” might seem as contradictory as Madonna singing the song “Like A Virgin.” But this temple was not used for prostitution like others were. It wasn’t even really used for worship. It primarily housed statues and served as a treasury for the cult of Athena.

In the 6th century, the Parthenon was taken over by Christians and became the “Church Of The Virgin Mary.”

Both John’s message in Revelation and Paul’s message here in 1 Corinthians sound a lot like Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:10-12 (which is also in the context of discussing divorce and remarriage) about men who were voluntarily eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom: “The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”

I’ll leave it to you to follow the biblical theme of male virginity further.

Back to Paul’s words to virgins: Again he acknowledges that this isn’t a topic Jesus spoke on directly. He asks us to rely on apostolic authority. He prefers that virgins remain virgins. He prefers that unmarried people remain unmarried.

And yet for all of these – just as he did for slaves – he gives an out. It’s not sinful to change your life situation, it’s simply not necessary and, in the case of single people, it maybe not even be a good idea!

V. 28 says that if unmarried people or virgins get married, they haven’t sinned. But he wants to save them from the troubles they may encounter.

Finally, v.29 advises people who are married to live as if they weren’t married.

What does he mean by this? Vv. 29-35 explain it. Those verses make Paul’s primary concern perfectly clear - that nothing distracts you from total surrender to God, that nothing deters you from following the course that God has laid out for you.

The earlier verses in this chapter also make it clear that Paul doesn’t want sexual temptation to get in the way of your devotion to God. So if sexual temptation is a problem, get married so that lust doesn’t distract you from God’s purpose. Just live as though you aren’t married – in the sense that your devotion is completely to God.

1 COR 7:36 But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 38 So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better. 39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Again, neither marrying nor not marrying is a sin, and marriage is primarily for the purpose of controlling sexual desire. But no one should become divorced (v.39).

If you become a widow, you may marry again if you marry a believer. But remaining single is better. You will be “happier” (Greek, μακάριος “more blessed”) if you do, he says.