Does 'not to touch a woman' mean believers should stop shaking hands or embracing women?
No. The phrase means a man should not become physically involved with a woman in a way that excites sexual senses, not that believers must avoid ordinary contact such as shaking hands or embracing women. In fact, the early church practiced the holy kiss, an embrace similar to Middle Eastern custom.
Les explains that Paul is correcting a misinterpretation by the Corinthians, who had come out of an immoral, idolatrous pagan background and were confused about marriage. When Paul says it is good for a man not to touch a woman, he is not forbidding marriage or ordinary involvement. Rather, in light of chapter 6, believers—men and women—must be careful in their contact with people of the opposite sex in everyday experiences. Les says the Greek means a man should not get physically involved with a woman to excite the sexual senses. This certainly does not abolish shaking hands with women; even the early church 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.