Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin matter, for one that is cold 1693 will never be qualified for this office. Let them, however, in the mean time, take care, not to pursue their own interest rather than that of Christ, that they may not intrude themselves into his place, lest while they give themselves out as his paranymphs, 1694 they turn out to be in reality adulterers, by alluring the bride to love themselves.
To present you as a chaste virgin. We are married to Christ, on no other condition than that we bring virginity as our dowry, and preserve it entire, so as to be free from all corruption. Hence it is the duty of ministers of the gospel to purify our souls, that they may be chaste virgins to Christ; otherwise they accomplish nothing. Now we may understand it as meaning, that they individually present themselves as chaste virgins to Christ, or that the minister presents the whole of the people, and brings them forward into Christ's presence. I approve rather of the second interpretation. Hence I have given a different rendering from Erasmus. 1695
3. But I fear He begins to explain, what is the nature of that virginity of which he has made mention — our cleaving to Christ alone, sincerely, with our whole heart. God, indeed, everywhere requires from us, that we be joined with him in body and in spirit, and he warns us that he is a jealous God, (Exodus 20:5,) to avenge with the utmost severity the wrong done to him, in the event of any one's drawing back from him. This connection, however, is accomplished in Christ, as Paul teaches in Ephesians, (Ephesians 5:25, 27.) He points out, however, at present the means of it — when we remain in the pure simplicity of the gospel, for, as in contracting marriages among men, there are written contracts 1696 drawn out, so the spiritual connection between us and the Son of God is confirmed by the gospel, as a kind of written contract. 1697 Let us maintain the fidelity, love, and obedience, that have been there promised by us; he will be faithful to us on his part.
Now Paul says that he is concerned, that the minds of the Corinthians may not be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ Paul, it is true, says in Greek {εἰς} {Χριστόν}, which Erasmus renders towards Christ, 1698 but the Old Interpreter has come nearer, in my opinion, to Paul's intention, 1699
1693"Quiconque est froid et lasche;" — "Whoever is cold and indolent." 1694"Paranymphos;" — "Friends of the bridegroom." The reader will find the office and duties of paranymph detailed at considerable length by Dr. Adam Clarke, when commenting on John 3:29 — Ed.
1695The rendering of Erasmus, as stated by Beza, (who, like Calvin, disapproves of it,) is "ut exhiberctis;" — "that ye may present." — Ed.
1696Tabuloe — Juvenal makes use of this term in the same sense: "Signatae tabuloe;" — "The marriage contract is signed." — (Juv. 2 119.) See also Juv. 9:75. — Ed.
1697"Est conferme et establi par l'Euangile, comme par vn instrument authentique;" — "Is confirmed and established by the gospel, as by an authentic instrument."
1698Beza, while, like Calvin, he views the expression {εἰς} {τὸν} {Χριστόν}, as meaning ``in Christ,'' makes mention of the rendering of Erasmus, adding a note of explanation, ``Quoe erat erga Christum, nempe quia pure ac simpliciter illi obtemperabatis;'' --- ``Which was towards Christ; that is, inasmuch as you obeyed him in purity and simplicity.'' Cranmer (1539) renders as follows: ``Euen so youre wyttes shuld be corrupte from the singlenes that ye had toward Christ. --- Ed.
1699The rendering of the Vulgate is the same as that adopted by Calvin, "A simplicitate quae est in Christo;" — "From the simplicity which is in Christ." — Ed.