Fathers

1 Timothy 2

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I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony in its own times, to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting. In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety, not just with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing, but with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness. Let a woman learn in quietness with full submission. But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience; but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

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What the Fathers say

1 Timothy 2:15

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Shall not women then be saved? Yes, by means of children. For it is not of Eve that he says, "If they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." What faith? what charity? what holiness with sobriety? It is as if he had said, "Ye women, be not cast down, because your sex has incurred blame. God has granted you another opportunity of salvation, by the bringing up of children, so that you are saved, not only by yourselves, but by others." See how many questions are involved in this matter. …

Homily on 1 Timothy 9 ↗

Gregory of Nyssa

We know too that the flesh is subject to death because of sin, but the Spirit of God is both incorruptible, and life-giving, and deathless. As at our physical birth there comes into the world with us a potentiality of being again turned to dust, plainly the Spirit also imparts a life-giving potentiality to the children begotten by Himself. What lesson, then, results from these remarks? …

On Virginity 14 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Who? Eve? No, but woman, that is, the female sex. Do not despair, he says, O women: God has given you a means of salvation — childbearing, that is, the good upbringing of those born; for one must not only give birth, but also raise them. And this is true childbearing, otherwise it is not childbearing but child-corruption. So then, what about virgins? What about widows? Have they utterly perished? …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, yet she shall be saved, he answers a tacit question, because someone might say that if the woman is not for the man, and sin stems from her, she is harmful to men. But if something is not for someone, but is harmful to him, it should be destroyed. Therefore, the woman should not be saved. The answer is that salvation is of two kinds: temporal, which is common also to brutes, and eternal, which is proper to man: my salvation shall be forever (Isa 51:8). …

Commentary on 1 Timothy ↗

Bonaventure

That conjugal chastity is to be approved according to the evangelical law is shown by authority, as follows. 1 Timothy 2, it is said of woman: She shall be saved through the bearing of children, if she shall have continued in faith and love with sanctification: but in the conjugal act there is the bearing of children, and that is consonant with the law of God: therefore the conjugal act is consonant with the law of God.

Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 3 ↗