Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 14:40

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Then, as in brief summary, setting all things right, he adds the words, "Let all things be done decently and in order." Again giving a blow to them who chose to behave themselves unseemly without cause, and to incur the imputation of madness; and who keep not their proper rank. For nothing doth so build up as good order, as peace, as love; even as their contraries tend to pull down. And not only in things spiritual, but also in all others one may observe this. …

Homily on 1 Corinthians 37 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

As if correcting everything at once — both what pertained to those speaking in tongues, and what pertained to women speaking in church, and in general everything that was happening among them in a disorderly manner. All things will be done decently and in order when those speaking in tongues speak with interpretation and not like those who are possessed, when prophets yield to one another, and when women keep silent.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

The positions laid down by him were, that prophesying was to be preferred to speaking with tongues; that these gifts should not be exercised in a disorderly manner, as if the spirit of prophecy compelled them to speak even against their will; that women should keep silence in the Church; and that all things should be done decently and in order. While treating of these things he says: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know the things which I write to you, for they are the commands of the Lord. …

Letter 169, To Evodius ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Secondly, he urges them to adopt the correct method, when he says: but all things should be done decently, namely, that when one is speaking, the others should be silent, and that women should not speak in the church, and so on: "Let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day" (Rom 13:13). …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗