Fathers

1 Timothy 2

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I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 2:9

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

And if thou despise our judgments, hear the voice of Paul, with great earnestness forbidding these things, and then thou wilt perceive the absurdity of them. What then saith he? "Not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." Of what favor then canst thou be worthy; when, in spite of Paul's prohibiting the married woman to have costly clothing, thou extendest this effeminacy even to thy shoes, and hast no end of contrivances for the sake of this ridicule and reproach? …

Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 49 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

I wish, he says, that women too would lift up pure hands without wrath and deliberation, hands not defiled by robbery and greed. For when a wife compels her husband to procure for her precious stones and gold ornaments, and he steals from others, then she too, of course, is stealing. From women the apostle requires something greater, namely: to dress themselves properly, not elaborately; because the latter is considered indecent. By adornment he means such clothing as covers and conceals on all sides, and does not shamelessly expose. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Oecumenius

Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves in respectable clothing, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing, but, as be appropriate women who profess godliness, with good works. Likewise, I want the women. That is, I wish for them to raise their hands in holiness without anger or argument. Women require more than anything else to be adorned modestly. …

Commentary On 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Ambrose of Milan

In our prayers, too, modesty is most pleasing and gains us much grace from our God.… A noble thing, then, is modesty, which, though giving up its rights, seizing on nothing for itself, laying claim to nothing and in some ways somewhat retiring within the sphere of its own powers, yet is rich in the sight of God, in whose sight no one is rich. Richness is modesty, for it is the portion of God. Paul bids that prayer be offered up with modesty and sobriety. …

On the Duties of the Clergy 1.18.70 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, in like manner, women also, he instructs the women: first, in regard to prayer; second, as to doctrine, at let the women learn in silence. In regard to the first he does two things: first, he shows what is required of a woman praying; second, he explains what he had said, at not with plaited hair. In regard to the first it should be noted that all things required of men praying are required also of women; that is why he says, in like manner, women also. As if to say: let them observe all that I have said. …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗