625"Comme a son but principal;" — "As to its chief aim." (continued)
CHAPTER 3
20. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
20. Filii, obedite parentibus vestris per omnia: hoc enim placet Domino. 21. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. 21. Patres, ne provocetis liberos vestros, ne deiiciantur animis. 22. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
22. Servi, obedite per omnia iis, qui secundum carnem sunt domini: non exhibitis ad oculum obsequiis, tanquam hominibus placere studentes, sed in simplicitate cordis, ut qui timeatis Deum.
23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 23. Et quicquid feceritis, ex animo facite, tanquam Domino, et non hominibus:
24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
24. Scientes quod a Domino recipietis mercedem hereditatis, nam Domino Christo servitis.
25. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
25. Qui autem iniuste egerit, mercedem reportabit suae iniquitatis: et non est personarum acceptio. (Deuteronomy 10:17.)
18 Wives, be subject. Now follow particular duties, as they are called, 627 which depend on the calling of individuals. In handling these it were superfluous to take up many words, inasmuch as I have already stated in the Epistle to the Ephesians 628 almost everything that was necessary. Here I shall only add briefly such things as are more particularly suited to an exposition of the passage before us.
He commands wives to be subject. This is clear, but what follows is of doubtful signification --- as it is fit in the Lord. For some connect it thus --- ``Be subject in the Lord, as it is fit.'' I, however, view it rather differently, --- As it is fit in the Lord, that is, according to the appointment of the Lord, so that he confirms the subjection of wives by the authority of God. He requires love on the part of husbands, and that they be not bitter, because there is a danger lest they should abuse their authority in the way of tyranny.
20 Children, obey your parents. He enjoins it upon children to obey their parents, 629 without any exception. But what if parents 630 should feel disposed to constrain them to anything that is unlawful; will they in that case, too, obey without any reservation? Now it were worse than unreasonable, that the, authority of men should prevail at the expense of neglecting God. I answer, 627"Les enseignemens concernans le deuoir particulier d'vn chacun;" — "Instructions relating to the particular duty of each individual."
628I believe Calvin is referring to his commentary on Ephesians 5:21-6:9, — v.41 p. 317. — fj.
629"Leurs peres et meres;" — "Their fathers and mothers." 630"Les peres ou les meres;" — "Fathers or mothers."