Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
CHAPTER 2
draw along with them the other evils which I have mentioned, and arise from ambition or from want of chastity as their source.
10 Which becometh women; for undoubtedly the dress of a virtuous and godly woman must differ from that of a strumpet. What he has laid down are marks of distinction; and if piety must be testified by works, this profession ought also to be visible in chaste and becoming dress.
1 Timothy 2:11-15
1 Timothy 2:11-15 11. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 11. Mulier in quiete discat, cum omni subjectione. 12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
12. Docere autem muliere non permitto, neque auctoritatem sibi sumere in virum, sed quietam esse.
13. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 13. Adam enim creatus fuit prior, deinde Eva. 14. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
14. Et Adam no fuit deceptus; sed mulier decepta transgressionis rea fuit. 15. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
15. Servabitur autem per generationem, si manserit in fide, et caritate, et sanctificatione, cum temperantia.
11 Let a woman learn in quietness. After having spoken of dress, he now adds with what modesty women ought to conduct themselves in the holy assembly. And first he bids them learn quietly; for quietness means silence, that they may not take upon them to speak in public. This he immediately explains more clearly, by forbidding them to teach.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach. Not that he takes from them the charge of instructing their family, but only excludes them from the office of teaching, which God has committed to men only. On this subject we have explained our views in the exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. 943 If any one bring forward, by way of objection, Deborah (Judges 4:4) and others of the same class, of whom we read that they were at one time appointed by the command of God to govern the people, the answer is easy. Extraordinary acts done by God do not overturn the ordinary rules of government, by which he intended that we should be bound. Accordingly, if women at one time held the office of prophets and teachers, and that too when they were supernaturally called to it by the Spirit of God, He who is above all law might do this; but, being a peculiar case, 944 this is not opposed to the constant and ordinary system of
943See Commentary on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians, vol. 1, p. 467. 944"Pource que e'est un cas particulier et extraordinaire." — "Because it is a peculiar and