Commentary on the Epistles to the Corinthians John Calvin
John Calvin preferred to marriage, otherwise than under the exception which was a little before expressed. For if power be wanting on the part of the daughter, 451 the father acts an exceedingly bad part if he endeavors to keep her back from marriage, and would be no longer a father to her, but a cruel tyrant. The sum of the whole discussion amounts to this — that celibacy is better than marriage, because it has more liberty, so that persons can serve God with greater freedom; but at the same time, that no necessity ought to be imposed, so as to make it unlawful for individuals to marry, if they think proper; and farther, that marriage itself is a remedy appointed by God for our infirmity, 452 which all ought to use that are not endowed with the gift of continency. Every person of sound judgment will join with me in acknowledging and confessing, that the whole of Paul's doctrine on this point is comprehended in these three articles.
1 Corinthians 7:39-40
1 Corinthians 7:39-40 39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
39. Muller alligata est Legi, quamdiu maritus ejus vivit: si auterm dormierit maritus ejus, libera est, ut cui vult nubat, modo in Domino.
40. But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
40. Beatior vero est, si sic maneat, secundum meam sententiam: existimo autem, me quoque Spiritum Dei habere.
39. The wife is bound He had previously spoken indiscriminately of husbands and wives, but as wives, on account of the modesty of their sex, might seem to have less liberty, he has thought it necessary to give in addition some special directions in reference to them. He now, therefore, teaches that women are not less at liberty than men to marry a second time, on their becoming widows. 453 We have already mentioned above, that those who desired a second marriage were branded with the reproach of intemperance, and that, with the view of putting some kind of slight upon them, those who had been contented with being once married, were wont to be presented with the "chaplet of chastity." Nay more, this first opinion had, in course of time, become prevalent among Christians; for second marriages had no blessing pronounced upon them, and some Councils prohibited the clergy from being present on such occasions. The Apostle here condemns tyranny of that sort, and declares, that no hindrance ought to be thrown in the way of widows' marrying, if they think proper.
451"Car quand la puissance defaudra a la fille de s'abstenir de mariage;" — "For when the daughter has not power to abstain from marriage."
452"Pour subuenir a nostre infirmite;" — "To help our infirmity." 453"Apres auoir perdu lears premiers maris;" — "After having lost their first husbands."