Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 7:26

"I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is." — 1 Corinthians 7:26 (ASV)

I suppose. I think; I give the following advice.

For the present distress. In the present state of trial. The word distress, anagkhn, necessity, denotes calamity, persecution, trial, or similar afflictions. See Luke 21:23. The word rendered present, (enestwsan), denotes that which urges on, or that which at that time presses on or afflicts. Here it is implied:

1. That at that time they were subject to trials so severe as to make the advice he was about to give proper; and
2. That he by no means meant that this should be a permanent arrangement in the church, and therefore it cannot be urged as an argument for the monastic system.

What the urgent distress of this time was is not certainly known. If the epistle was written about A.D. 59 (see the Introduction), it was in the time of Nero, and he had probably already begun to oppress and persecute Christians. In any case, it is evident that the Christians at Corinth were subject to some trials that made the cares of married life undesirable.

It is good for a man so to be. The emphasis here is on the word so (outwv); that is, it is best for a man to conduct [himself] in the following manner, with the word so referring to the advice that follows. "I advise that he conduct [himself] in the following manner, namely." Most commentators suppose that it means 'as he is' (that is, unmarried), but the interpretation proposed above best suits the connection. The advice given is in the following verses.