On the other hand, some, finding something important in circumcision, were circumcised after their conversion to the faith. Therefore he says that this contributes nothing to the faith.
1 Cor. 7:19. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but everything is in the keeping of the commandments of God.
Everywhere, he says, together with faith the practice of virtue is required, while everything else is either of little or no importance at all.
1 Cor. 7:20-21. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be troubled; but if you can also become free, make use of the better option.
"In the calling in which he was called," that is, in whatever manner of life, and in whatever rank and condition you believed, in that remain; for by calling he means the bringing to faith. Were you a slave when you accepted the faith? Do not worry or be troubled; for slavery does not harm you at all, so that even if you could become free, "make better use of it," sacrifice yourself for the benefit of others.
1 Cor. 7:22. For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman; likewise the one who has been called as a free man is a slave of Christ.
A freedman is one who has been liberated from slavery. So he says: you who believed while in a state of slavery are a freedman of the Lord, for Christ has freed you both from sin and from that outward slavery, even though you are a slave. He who does not submit to passions, having a noble soul, is not a slave, even though he appears to be one. On the other hand, another was called to the faith as a free man; such a one is a slave of Christ. Therefore, if the name of slavery disturbs the slave, let him understand that he has become free in Christ, and this freedom is far more important than human freedom. Again, if the name of freedom puffs up the free man, let such a one understand that he is a slave of Christ and be humbled, considering that he is subject to such a Master and must please Him. Do you see the wisdom with which the apostle gives instruction to slaves and free men?
1 Cor. 7:23-24. You were bought with a dear price; do not become slaves of men. In whatever calling each was called, brethren, let each one remain in that before God.
He says this not to slaves alone, but also to free people, exhorting all Christians to do nothing for the sake of pleasing men and not to obey them if their commands are unlawful. This is what it means: having been bought by God, to become slaves of men. He is not urging slaves to fall away from their masters—no; this is clear from his subsequent words: "in whatever calling one was called," and so on, that is, if someone was called even in a state of slavery, let him remain in it. He added "before God" so that through obedience to lawless masters one would not fall away from God. He is concerned about both things, that is, on the one hand, that slaves not fall away from their masters under the pretext of obedience to God, and on the other, that by rendering excessive obedience to their masters, they not fall away from God.
1 Cor. 7:25. Concerning virginity, I have no commandment of the Lord, but I give counsel, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful to Him.
Above he occupied us with a conversation about chastity, and now he turns to a more important subject, namely virginity, and says that the Lord did not lay down a law and did not give a commandment concerning virginity, but only said: "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it" (Matt. 19:12). Therefore I too do not dare to prescribe anything regarding this subject; it is an important matter, but at the same time a dangerous one; however, I give my opinion, that is, my counsel, since I myself, by the mercy of God, have been deemed worthy to be faithful, that is, close to Him and one to whom mysteries can be entrusted.
1 Cor. 7:26. On account of the present distress, I consider it best that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
In my opinion, he says, it is best of all for a person to abstain from marriage on account of the inconveniences and unpleasantnesses connected with it, and not because marriage is impure.
1 Cor. 7:27-28. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a divorce. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. However, if you do marry, you have not sinned.
With the words "are you bound to a wife?" he showed that marriage, as a bond, brings with it troubles. By "divorce" he means not abstinence by mutual agreement, but divorce without sufficient cause; for if the spouses abstain by mutual agreement, then this is not divorce. Having said "do not seek a wife," lest they think he is commanding celibacy, he adds: "but if you do marry, you have not sinned." Notice, meanwhile, how imperceptibly he encourages virginity, calling marriage a bond, and virginity a release and freedom.
1 Cor. 7:28. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned.
By "virgin" here he means not one who is consecrated to God (for if such a one marries, she undoubtedly sins, since by this, besides her Bridegroom Christ, she introduces an adulterer to herself), but a still-unmarried maiden. So if such a one marries, she does not sin, because marriage contains nothing impure in itself.
1 Cor. 7:28. But such shall have tribulations in the flesh; and I spare you.
By "tribulations" he means the cares and sorrows connected with marriage. "And I," he continues, "feel sorry for you," as for children, and I wish that you were free and without sorrow. Marriage is a bond; and those who are under its yoke do not have authority over themselves, as was said above.
1 Cor. 7:29. I say to you, brethren: the time is already short.
Lest someone add to his words "will have troubles in the flesh" the thought "but also pleasure at the same time," he cuts off all hope of pleasure by pointing to the shortness of the time. For everything is hastening toward destruction, and the Kingdom of Christ has drawn near, and finally we must appear before Christ. Therefore, even if there is any pleasure in married life, it is unstable and short-lived.
1 Cor. 7:29-31. So that those who have wives should be as though they had none; and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as though they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as though they were not acquiring; and those who use this world, as though they were not using it.
If even those who have wives ought to be as though they have none, then what benefit is there in binding oneself in marriage and placing a burden upon oneself? What then does "as though not having" mean? It means: not clinging to marriage and a wife and not exhausting all one's cares upon them. In the same way, no one ought to be overly preoccupied with anything else either: neither with sorrowful circumstances, which he hinted at with the word "weeping," nor with joyful ones, which he indicated with the word "rejoicing," nor with transactions, which he expressed with the word "buying." And why, he says, enumerate this and that? Simply, those who make use of this world must not misuse it, that is, cling to it with all their zeal and attachment; for excessive use that goes beyond the bounds of what is proper is misuse.
1 Cor. 7:31. For the fashion of this world passes away.
That is, it passes away and is destroyed. Why then become attached to that which is destroyed? By the term "figure" he showed that the things of the present world only flash before the eyes, are exceedingly fleeting, and have nothing solid or substantial in them.