Thomas Aquinas, on Titus 2:3

“The aged women, in like manner, in holy attire, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teaching well:”

“Then, he shows how the aged women are to be instructed: first, how they are to be instructed in regard to their life; second, in their doctrine. In regard to the first he does three things: first, he shows how they are to be instructed as to their attire; second, as to food; third, as to speech. In regard to the first he says, in holy attire, i.e., not in wanton and loud dresses; and this is becoming for every woman: do not let yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of robes (1 Pet 3:3); women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire (1 Tim 2:9). But old women in particular should observe this, because it is expected that young women will adorn themselves modestly for their husband's sake: and this modesty should be manifest in every movement of their body: a man's attire and open-mouthed laughter, and a man's manner of walking, show what he is (Sir 19:30). In regard to the second he says, not false accusers. For two faults are glaring in the aged: one is common to everyone who is old, namely, that they are suspicious, because they have witnessed many evils, which they presume will be true of others. The other is true particularly of women, namely, that they are jealous. But both these faults are found in an old woman: for by reason of her age she is suspicious, and by reason of her sex she is jealous: there is grief of heart and sorrow when a wife is envious of a rival, and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all (Sir 26:6). Consequently, he says, not false accusers. In regard to food he says, not slaves to much wine; and of the men he says, be sober. And he says, not slaves to much, because sometimes they use it to warm themselves. In regard to doctrine he says, teaching well. But this does not seem to agree with 1 Corinthians: the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate (1 Cor 14:34); or with 1 Timothy: let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness. I permit no woman to teach (1 Tim 2:11). I answer that public teaching of the people is forbidden to women; but private teaching within the family is permitted to them: the words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him (Prov 31:1); when I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, she taught me and said to me, let your heart hold fast my words and keep my commandments, and live (Prov 4:3). And he says well, that they may teach the young women to be wise. This he says to the old women rather than to the old men, because the former sometimes teach the old wives' fables instead of useful facts, and also because they are with the children and the family more than the men are.”

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