1 Timothy 5:9 Douay-Rheims

Let a widow be chosen of no less than threescore years of age, who hath been the wife of one husband.

Tertullian

c. A.D. 150–220 Patristic

So far as we can, let us love the opportunity of continence. As soon as it offers itself, let us resolve to accept it, so that what one may not have had the strength to follow in matrimony one may now follow in widowhood. Continence in widowhood transcends the command that has previously been necessary for marriage. How detrimental to faith, how obstructive to holiness, second marriages are. The discipline of the church and the prescription of the apostle also declare this, when he does not permit men twice married to preside over a church. The same is true when he would not grant a widow admittance into an order unless she had been "the wife of one man."

Source details
A.D. 220 · on 1Tim 5:9 (TO HIS WIFE 1.7)

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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