Summary - 1 Corinthians 7:28

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you (KJV)

Then: Cut and dried. Paul finishes his statement about betrothed couples. Always concerned with the spiritual, obedience to the Lord, he emphasizes that no sin is involved when one marries or doesn't marry. Paul's only concern is to spare believers temporal, earthly troubles.

Now: Commentators point to the persecutions by Nero. Believers killed in the sports arenas, driven from their homes, and struggling to find enough food, could at least be spared the emotional concerns for children and spouses. Persecution in the modern world is marching westward. The havoc caused from religious, physical torture and death does not change from age to age. Fellow believers are suffering. If Christians in the West become more aware of their situations, they can help with survival needs and sometimes with easing of political situations.

1 Corinthians 7:27

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife (KJV)

Then: Clear advice for those who are betrothed. What should the never-been-married, the about-to-be married, the long-term betrothed do? Keep the contract or break it? "Stay as you are," says Paul. What about members of a broken betrothal? Same thing. "Stay as you are." This verse is primarily addressed to men, but commentators believe the question originated from women's concerns as to their end-time freedoms and service. Another wrinkle came from Corinthian Christians who were influenced by ascetic beliefs. They believed no one should ever marry. Not an ascetic, Paul had to affirm his personal choice of celibacy, yet uphold the Lord's direction - "Be fruitful and multiply" (Fee, p. 323). Fee's explanation (p. 333) brings out the apostle's pastoral concerns. It is not a sin to marry, but life would be hard for the newly married. (See distress in previous verse).

Now: At first, Paul's advice does not seem useful to a world where marriage betrothals are no longer contracts between parents. Instead they are agreements between two responsible individuals. In actuality, it is very similar. If a fiancé accepts Christ, but the fiancée does not (or vice versa) both need to consider how that will affect the marriage. They would do well to wait until the other becomes a believer. Many become believers at a young age. What is the Lord's call on their lives? Will the two together be able to manage life's - distracting problems of survival - food, clothing, and shelter? The answers are individual, not universal. Paul's further question, "Will the Lord return in our time or is he delaying so that more have opportunity to know Truth?" also impacts the individual's call from the Lord. Maybe being single is the right choice, but for every youth and for some adults "Stay as you are" may not be his plan. Discovering what is right requires the use of judgement - as discussed under verse 7:25.

Extra source: The First Epistle to the Corinthians by Gordon D. Fee (Eerdman's 1987) online http://books.google.com/books?id=XlBp10nUTXAC&dq=Gordon+Fee+Bible+commentator&printsec=frontcover&source=in&hl=en&ei=SwLNSu3nA4v6Mf2XlDo&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12#v=onepage&q=&f=false

1 Corinthians 7:26

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be KJV

Then: Paul abandons his short break from marital issues. The Corinthians have had time for the overall precept to sink in, yet he shows it again. "Stay as you are - unmarried" because that's where you were when first called and your service there is worthy. Being single and being celibate frees one to focus on the Lord's kingdom. Then as he returns to other aspects of marriage, the Corinthians stand on solid ground, more ready to hear and understand exceptions.

Now: Matthew Henry believes first-century Christians needed strength in order to endure their never-ending persecutions. Being single allowed for that - giving more time to consider and trust Paul's knowledge and apostolic authority. Hayes (p. 127) brings up a second reason. Paul believed that the time of the end was near. Believers had very little time left to teach Christ and bring lost souls into the kingdom. When one is married, individuals have less dedicated time for evangelism. N. T. Wright adds another bit of information. The Roman world was experiencing a time of famine. That kind of distress would make it quite difficult for anyone to change social status and begin supporting a wife. Although the concept of Christ's imminent return has stretched across 2000 years, These three points continue to be concerns for anyone holding a Christian world view and thinking about marriage.

Extra Source: Commentary on the Whole Bible (Acts to Revelation) by Matthew Henry, online see http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc6.iCor.viii.html
First Corinthians by Richard B. Hayes (John Knox Press, 1997) on line at http://books.google.com/books?id=M_PC0PAs3VYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Corinthians+and+Hays&source=bl&ots=7aeR1egDEE&sig=izrkRudbkn01ObeyAn0mRa4mn7Y&hl=en&ei=IxBaS6PsKsXp8Qbqr4D8BA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false