Sadly, Paul’s words to the Corinthians are also taken out of context by people trying to justify un-Christlike attitudes. Here Paul’s intent is not to argue that Christians who own slaves should not free them. These eight verses are examples intended to reenforce the point that he has just made about divorce: It is best to remain in the condition that we were in when we came to faith. J. Paul Sampley writes, “Paul does not require believers to leave their social setting. As we shall see shortly, this is partly a function of Paul’s conviction that the end of the ages is near and, therefore, there is no need of altering social structures, but it also reflects his profound belief that the gospel can be fully lived whatever one is or whatever one’s circumstances (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7).” (NIB, Vol. 10, 880)

Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is faithful. Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

In v27, Paul repeats again his overarching message of this chapter. “Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.” Remain in the condition that you are in presently. As previously stated in the quote from J. Paul Sampley, Paul recommended that each Corinthian should stay in the state that they were in when they came to faith in Jesus Christ as a proof that the gospel is effective no matter the circumstance. Also as we see here, Paul states that a Christian who seeks a change in his or her status only invites distraction. It is the apostle’s opinion that life is already difficult enough for the Christian; why add more trouble to it in the time that remains? 

We learn here that Paul believed that to expend effort trying to change our status—whatever it may be—would be wasted since the end was near. He suggests here that the Corinthians begin the process of distancing themselves from worldly cares. Status no longer matters nor does condition or circumstance. “For this world in its current form in passing away.” But some might ask if this still holds true today, since Paul was apparently mistaken about the timeline. My answer is a good old non-committed maybe. It depends on what Paul means in the ending of verse 31.

If Paul means to tell the Corinthians that they needn’t worry about status and circumstance because the judgement is imminent, there may be some room to question this teaching, since the apostle’s advice was shared nearly two millennia ago and there has been no “passing away.” The end is nigh; sell your possessions and look skyward toward heaven. I hear Bill Murray’s repeated slogan in Stripes: “It just doesn’t matter. It just doesn’t matter.” But if the literal end of all things doesn’t happen or is not near, how can we even consider living as Paul advises in v29-31? The Shakers heeded this advice, and today there remains a single active Shaker community in the United States. But perhaps Paul means something different.

“For this world in its current form is passing away.” Later in 2 Corinthians Paul declares that “in Christ there is a new creation. The old had passed away, and, see, the new has come.” If Paul is not talking about the final judgement being near, what is he? Earlier in his letter to the Galatians, Paul informs the congregation that he “no longer lives, but it is Christ who lives [within him].” And it is this very same idea that he may be communicating to the Corinthians—that in Christ the faithful must reevaluate and engage the world in a different way. Believers must begin to see themselves through different eyes. In fact, this theme is repeated in Paul’s later letter to the Romans, who must stop living into their old identities and into Christ’s. For Paul, the new world, the kingdom of God is not something that will come but something that already has in Christ—although it is not yet completely visible. In fact, Paul will soon state to the Corinthians that, “now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6:2, NJV)

If the kingdom of God has been inaugurated, then the Corinthians are bound to seeing that it is made real or made known. Paul believes that the Christian who keeps part of his or her mind on the world’s concerns will have a more difficult time pleasing the Lord—or carrying out His will—since, “his interests are divided.” Remember, this is Paul’s teaching and not the Lord’s by his own admission. However, this does not mean that we must ignore it. On the contrary, his observation is correct. Who among us has never been distracted from what we know should be done by things that, to quote Bill Murray again, “Just [don’t] matter”? Paul actually tells us this in the very next passage: that since this teaching is not from the Lord, it is for each of us to decide how best to “please the Lord” and submit to His will. Paul just argues that his way is “more excellent”.