Does 'it is good for a man not to touch a woman' mean believers should not get married?
No. Paul clarifies that 'it is good for a man not to touch a woman' does not mean believers should avoid marriage. Instead, it means a man should not become physically involved with a woman to excite sexual senses. Believers must be careful in everyday contact with the opposite sex.
Les explains that Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, is writing to the congregation in the wicked city of Corinth. These believers had come out of an abject, immoral, idolatrous background, and they were hung up on the marriage relationship that was now Biblical compared to paganism. In paganism under idolatry, marriage did not amount to much; it was just a place to propagate the family, and pagans knew nothing of moral integrity or fidelity in marriage. They were going off the deep end, asking whether it was right to marry. Paul warns them not to misinterpret: when he says it is good for a man not to touch a woman, he is not saying they should not get involved and get married. Rather, in light of chapter 6, believers—men as well as women—have to be careful in their contact with people of the opposite sex in everyday experiences. The Greek indicates a man should not get physically involved with a woman to excite the sexual senses. It is certainly not banning shaking hands with women; the early church even granted the holy kiss, where they would embrace, much like Middle Easterners still do.
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
More Questions
What did Paul mean when he said it is good for a man not to touch a woman?
Les teaches that Paul's statement 'it's good for a man not to get involved' refers to sexual instincts and means not to touch a woman, so as to avoid fornication or falling into immoral activity.
Why did Paul say it is good for a man not to touch a woman in 1 Corinthians 7?
Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7 that 'it is good for a man not to touch a woman' was likely because he knew the freshly converted Gentile believers would soon face intense persecution from the Roman Empire.