The Great Commentary (Mossman/Cobb English)

Follow after charity Pursue it eagerly so as to obtain it, just as a huntsman pursues a wild animal. Desire spiritual gifts . These are, S. Chrysostom says, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not His graces, as, eg., the gift of tongues or of healing, and the others referred to in chap. xi. S. Paul bids them desire these, try to obtain them, especially by prayer, not from any desire for superiority but from charity, that they may profit others and the Church at large by means of those gifts. But rather that ye may prophesy . Viz., that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ye may teach, say, or sing such things as may stir up the devotion of others. This has just been seen to be the force of “ prophecy.”

He that speaheth in a tongue , &c. S. Augustine (de Gen. ad Litt. lib. xil), Primasius, and Cajetan read the nominative in the last clause of this verse, “Howbeit the Spirit speaketh mysteries.” The meaning then would be : The Holy Spirit speaks of hidden mysteries in the Holy Scriptures, which cannot be under SUPERIORITY OF PROPHECY 34 3 stood, except some prophet or doctor interpret them. But this meaning is foreign to the context, and this reading is not supported by the Greek or Latin copies

But he that prophesieth speakcth unto men to . . . comfort This is what I said before, that to prophesy means here to speak words which edify, exhort, and comfort others. Hence, to prophesy is better than to speak in unknown tongues, which no one understands, and from which no one can receive instruction, edification, or comfort

And even things without life % &c. That tongues profit nothing unless they are understood can be seen, even from a com- ‘ parison drawn from inanimate things ; for a pipe or harp are of no use unless they give a distinct sound. Unless a man knows what is played he will take no pleasure in the sounds, nor will he be induced to dance to the music

So likewise ye . . . how shall it be known what is spoken? For the tongue is the stamp, the image, the index, and messenger of the mind. As Aristotle says (Peri Hermen . lib. ii.), “ words are signs of the feelings which lie concealed in the soul.” Hence Socrates used to determine the mind and character of any one from his voice, and would say, “Speak, young man, that I may see you.” But this cannot be if the language of the speaker is unknown to the hearer

There are ) it may be , so many kinds of voices in the world and none of them is without signification . As a matter of fact, or for example, there are many different languages : no nation is without its language, no language without its meaning. Others, as (Ecumenius, refer the none to the instrument, and say that no pipe or harp but has its proper sound ; others, more generally, no object is without its voice. As Ausonius sings to Paulinus : — “No creature silent is, nor winged bird, Nor beast that walks the earth, nor hissing snake s The cymbals smitten sound, the stage when struck By dancers* feet, the drum its echo gives. ” The best meaning, however, is that no tongue is void of meaning

Let Mm that speaketh . . . pray that he may interpret S. Paul is here speaking of public prayer, in which one man, even though a layman, inspired by the Holy Spirit, would offer up prayer in an audible voice before all, the others listening, and joining their prayers to his. This is the meaning, as appears from the following verses. But Chrysostom, Ambrose, and Anselm explain it thus: Let him pray that he may receive the gift of the interpretation of tongues, so as to make his own prayer intelligible to others

For if I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth. (1.) My spirit is refreshed; (2.) according to S. Chrysostom, the gift of the Holy Spirit which is in me prayeth, makes me pray and utter my prayer in public. (3.) Theophylact and Erasmus, following S. Basil, understand breath by spirit ; in other words, My voice, produced by the vital and vocal breath, prays ; but my mind is unfruitful, because it does not understand the meaning of the words uttered. Primasius, too, says that the word “ spirit ” here is to be understood of prayers uttered sometimes while the mind is thinking of something else. But the first is the true sense, and best fits in with what follows. S. Thomas, commenting on this clause, gives three other meanings, but they are not those in the Apostle’s mind. But my understanding is unfruitful S. Chrysostom, Theophylact, Ambrose, S. Thomas, and Cajetan think that the Apostle is speaking here of those who had received the gift of tongues, but who, like Balaam’s ass, did not understand what they said, or at all events did not enter into the mysteries contained in their words. S. Augustine says the same (de Gen . ad Litt '. lib. xii. c. 8 and 9), and it is gathered 346 FIRST EPISTLE TO THE from ver. 28. For these prayed without fruit in such tongues; for, though their spirit fed on God in pious devotion, yet their mind was not fed on any understanding of the words of the prayer. But I say that the Greek vovs here is the same as “ meaning.” It is so rendered in the Latin in ver. 19, and in chap. ii. 16, and in Rev. xvii. 9, where we read, “Here is the meaning ” (of the vision of the beast) u which hath wisdom.” S. Paul makes the same distinction between the tongue and the mind, or the letter and the spirit, which is so common amongst rhetoricians. “ Sense ” or meaning here is passive understanding, that by which I am understood by all — not active, by which I understand things. This “mind,” or signification of tongues, is without fruit, because no one takes it in, and no one is aroused to devotion. This is the natural meaning, and S. Basil seems to hold it (in Reg, Brev . Interrog, 278). Secondly, (Ecumenius and Theodoret give an explanation which is not improbable: My mind, or my aim and object, is without fruit, not on the part of the speaker but the hearer, whom the speaker strives to excite to piety. It is certain, from vers. 14, 16, and 19, that S. Paul is speaking of fruit on the side of the hearers ; for he is speaking of the prayers and spiritual songs which some of the laity composed under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and uttered in public, or sang in the church at the time of their spiritual feasts, for the comfort, instruction, or exhortation of the people. He wishes them to be said in the vulgar tongue, so as to be understood by all ; otherwise, he says, they would be fruitless. You will perhaps say that the Mass and Canonical Hours ought then to be said now in the vulgar tongue. I deny that this follows, for the Apostle is speaking of the prayers which any lay person might compose for the edification or quickening of the people, not of the public Divine offices, which the clergy now perform with the approbation, not to say at the command, and in the name of the whole Church, to worship and praise God with a solemn and uniform majesty in Latin. For if the vernacular tongue were used, it would come to pass (1.) that the uneducated would not understand Divine mysteries, or rather they would misunderstand them, and accept PRAYER IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE 347 heretical opinions ; (2.) the language would have to vary with the countries, or even with the cities. Although all the Germans speak the same language, yet each province has a different idiom: the Westphalians have one, the Swiss another, the Hessians another, and so on. And so if the Divine office were said in the vernacular, in such a difference of dialects division would arise, and sacred things would be ridiculed and despised. You will urge, secondly, perhaps that the people do not understand Latin : what fruit then have they from the Latin Mass? I answer, (1.) They participate in the sacrifice and also the sacrament if they wish to ; (2.) in all the prayers which the priest offers for all men, and especially for those present ; (3.) they are inflamed by the decent rites and ceremonies to devotion and elevation of their souls to God in private prayer, especially since parish priests are bound, by the Council of Trent (sess. xxii. c. 8), to explain the service to the people in their sermons. See Bellarmine ( de Verbo . Dei. lib. ii. c. 16)

I will pray with the spirit , and I will pray with the understanding also. I will pray with sense and meaning, intelligibly, so that others may understand me. S. Paul alludes to Ps. xlvii. 7, where the same double meaning of understanding on the part of speaker and hearer is found

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit , &c. To bless here is to praise God with heart and mouth. S. Thomas understands it of the public blessing of the people ; so also do Primasius, Haymo, and Salmeron, the latter of whom strives by many arguments to prove that the Apostle is speaking here of the sacrifice of the Mass, in which the priest blesses God rather than the people ; for the two Greek words for “blessing” and “giving thanks,” used indifferently by the Evangelists and S. Paul in their accounts of the institution of the Eucharist, are used here, and seem to point to the Mass. It hence derives its names of the “ Blessing ” and the “ Eucharist,” or giving of thanks. Add to this that in all the liturgies of the Mass, including those of S. James, S. Clement, S. Basil, and S. Chrysostom, after the consecration of the bread and wine, the people are wont to answer “ Amen ! ” The Apostle, then, seems to 348 FIRST EPISTLE TO THE mean here that public blessings, prayers, and Masses should not be celebrated in the church in an utterly unknown tongue, but that among the Greeks Greek should be used, among the Hebrews Hebrew, and among the Latins Latin ; for these languages are for the most part understood by all who are of each race respectively. If it is impossible to use one language which is understood by all the different peoples who hear the same Mass, then one which is the best known should be selected, such as Latin among us, so that many “ in the room of the unlearned ” may answer “ Amen ! ” as the Apostle requires. But that the Apostle is not speaking of the solemn blessing in the Mass, but of any other uttered by some private member, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, in hymn or psalm or prayer, appears (i.) from the Greek particle (oi else, which, in its meaning of because , gives the cause of the preceding verse. The singular, used in “ thy giving of thanks,” points also to the private and personal devotion of each of the faithful. (2.) It appears from the drift of the whole chapter, and especially from the conclusion, stated in ver. 26, “ Let all things be done to edifying.” (3.) It appears again from ver. 31, where he says : “ Ye may all prophesy one by one ; ” and from ver. 29 : “ Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge ; ” but it was of any one’s fresh and private blessing or prophecy that they were to judge; for the common prayer and liturgy of the whole Church, having been approved of by the whole Church, ought not to be subjected to examination for judgment. All this will better appear from the next paragraph. The unlearned. Gagneius, following Severian, says the unlearned is the catechumen. Primasius says he is a neophyte. Chrysostom, Ephrem, Theophylact, S. Thomas, and others give the best meaning, viz., one untaught, unlettered, and with no knowledge of tongues. S. Thomas, Primasius, and Haymo take the “ unlearned” hereto be the minister who at Divine service says “ Amen 1” for the people at the end of the Collects. These Fathers say that S. Paul means that at all events the minister at the Mass and other sacred rites should PRAYER IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE 349 be able to understand the priest, or him who offers up prayer in public, in any other language than the vernacular, and should be able to respond, “ Amen ! ” This is good and fitting teaching, but not necessarily the one uppermost in the mind of the Apostle. But the " unlearned ” here denotes, not some minister of the sacred rites, but any one of the laity. The Greek gives us, “he who sits among the unlearned ” that is, is himself unlearned. Prophets and teachers used to sit in one place, the lay people in another. This is the explanation given by Chrysostom and Theophylact Justin {Apol. 2) says that the whole of the laity, and consequently any individual of it, was wont to answer “Amen ! ” Hence S. Jerome, towards the end of his commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, says that the people used to answer “ Amen ! ” with a noise like thunder. A minister now says it for the people, so as to prevent a confused murmuring. The Apostle is speaking here, we must notice once more, of the extempore prayer of the individual, uttered for the purpose of edifying, and which might possibly contain some doctrinal error, as is hinted in ver. 29. He directs that in such prayers the vulgar be used, so that the people may not answer “ Amen ! ” to a prayer in an unknown tongue which is meaningless, absurd, or heretical. He is not speaking of prayers approved by the Church, which for that very reason are free from error, to which a single minister makes reply, and to which the people can add private prayers of their own. Moreover, the Council of Trent orders that sometimes, instead of the sermon, these prayers be explained to the people. Again, it is lawful to pray in a language not understood by the person who prays, if you are certain that the prayers are good ones, as, eg, when nuns say the Canonical Hours in Latin. In the same way the laity, when the priest offers up prayers in Latin, can pray with him, and add the intention of seeking that the priest may obtain for himself and all the people what he asks in the name of the Church in the beautiful prayers provided. And even if they do not understand them, and get no nourishment for their understanding from the meaning of the prayers, yet they reap the fruit of devotion 3 SO FIRST EPISTLE TO TIIE to God, and of reverence towards the prayers ; nay, they merit and obtain more than those who understand them if they pray with more humility, piety, and fervour. S. Jordanes, when asked whether such prayers as these of nuns were pleasing to God, well replied : “Just as a jewel in the hand of a peasant who knows not its value is worth as much as if it were in the hand of a goldsmith or jeweller who knew its value , so too prayers in the mouth of one who does not understand them are worth as much as if they were uttered by one who knew their meaning” A petition presented to a kin^- by an ignorant peasant would obtain as much consideration as one presented by a learned man ; for it is written : “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise;” and again, “If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (S. Matt xxi. 16 ; S. Lukexix. 40). In the same way, in the “ Lives of the Fathers,” Abbot Pastor is related to have said to one who complained to him, that though he prayed he felt no contrition, because he knew not the meaning of the words that he used : “ Do you none the less persevere in prayer , for like as a charmer sings words which the snake hears but understands not, and yet is subdued and tamed by them , so when we use words whose meaning we know not, the devils hear them and understand them, and are terrified and driven away” Cf. S. Thomas and Cajetan. The case is different with the Lord’s Prayer, which every one ought to learn and intelligently use in the vernacular, that he may know exactly what he should ask of God, as has been often laid down in synods. Cajetan, on the other hand, gathers from this passage that it is better for organs, and musical instruments generally, to be excluded from church services, in order that the Hours and the Masses may be sung so as to be understood, and so that the people may be able to answer " Amen I ” But the practice of the Church is against this, which makes use of organs and other musical instruments in Divine service, as David did, to stir up the devotion of the people, who just as little understand the Latin language. The Church does this for three reasons : (1.) as we join in praising God, not only in spirit but also in body, so we should praise Him, not only PRAYER IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE 351 with the best music of the voice, but also of instruments ; for every spirit, every creature, every instrument ought to praise Him whose due never can be reached. (2.) To arouse the listeners, and especially the uneducated, to religious fervour, as David and Elisha were enkindled by psalms and harps, and as Saul was stirred up by music to give God praise. (3.) That the beauty, solemnity, and majesty of Divine service may be the greater. Prudentius, in his Apotheosis , written against the Jews, and the Faculty of Paris, in its decree (tit xix. prop. 6), explain this verse thus : When St. Paul says that in the church he would rather speak five words with his understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue, he is speaking of sermons addressed to the people, in which a flow of words void of thought is useless. He says nothing about Church canticles, which are governed by another law.” Nevertheless, we must in these matters guard against lightness, as the Council of Trent bids. Hence S. Augustine {Horn, in Ps. xxxiii.) says that pipes and organs used in theatres had been rejected by the Church, because the heathen used them then for lust in the theatres, and for banquets, and at their sacrifices. But, following the example and injunctions of David, we may use organs and other musical instruments, if it be done with piety, soberness, and gravity (cf. Ps. cl.). S. John, too (Rev. v. 8, and xiv. 2), heard in heaven, where all are perfected, harps, though of course more solemn and Divine than ours on earth. Amen , . Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodoret have translated this faithfully or truly ; the Septuagint, so be it “Amen ” signifies truly or even firmly. It is not the expression of an oath, but of one who affirms or confirms. It is used as an affirmation when it is put at the beginning of a sentence, as, e.g, “Amen, Amen, I say unto you.” And in this sense S. Augustine (in Joan, Tract . 41) calls “ Amen ” the oath of Christ, because Christ’s oath was not strictly an oath but a simple affirmation. It is a mark of confirmation when put at the end of a prayer, or it signifies the consent of the hearer ; it sometimes marks an assertion and agreement, sometimes a wish. It stands for agreement in Deut xxvii., where the people are bidden to answer 352 FIRST EPISTLE TO THE “Amen” in token that they were willing to accept the blessings for keeping the law and the curses for breaking it. But in a prayer, as, e.g, in the Lord’s Prayer, it merely denotes a wish that what is sought for in the prayer may be obtained. The Rabbinical writers say that there are two “ Amens,” one perfect and the other imperfect in three ways : (i.) that of a pupil, when “Amen” is said, not as though the prayer is understood, but it is left to the direction of another to dictate it, as it were ; (2.) when the “ Amen ” is said before the end of the prayer it is called “surreptitious,” (3.) and “divided” when the answer is given by one who is not thinking of the prayer, because he is occupied with something else

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than ye all The Latin rendering is, " I speak with the tongues of you all,” which suggests the question, What could be S. Paul’s meaning in this, since there was but one tongue in Greece, and at Corinth in particular, viz., Greek ? Haymo’s answer is that he refers to the different dialects of Greek. A better answer would be, that foreigners and merchants of all nations flocked to Corinth as a great emporium, just as to-day, at Antwerp, Venice, or Paris, we find the commerce and language of the French, Italians, and English, and other nations, and that S. Paul is therefore referring to the different languages to be heard in the streets of Corinth. But Ephrem, Chrysostom, Jerome {ad Hedibiam and others support the rendering of the text. All the tongues that you speak and more I speak : I do not extol, I do not condemn the gift of tongues, for I use it myself, but I do not use it, as you do, for ostentation, but to edification

Yet in the church I had rather speaks &c. A very few words spoken so as to be understood are better than a multitude of foreign words not understood by the hearer. Notice (1.) that understanding is to be taken here passively, and denotes the meaning by which I and my speech are understood; hence he adds, “that I might teach others also.” For there is a contrast between the meaning, and the foreign tongue understood by no one. See note to ver. 14. But (2.) Anslem takes it of the active understanding, that by which I myself understand what I say, Digitized by v^,ooQle . CHILDREN IN MALICE 353 and so can better explain it to others. (3.) Chrysostom says that it means with judgment — that he would rather speak and teach with tact and judgment, so that the hearers, no matter how rude and uncultured they might be, might take in and retain what he said. But the first sense is the best, and most to the point

In the law. Viz., Isa. xxviii. 1 1. As Chrysostom remarks, the law is sometimes used to denote, not merely the Pentateuch, but also the Prophets and the whole of the Old Testament. It is written , With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people . This is a difficult passage, and to understand it we must explain the passage in Isaiah cited by the Apostle. The prophet’s meaning in vers. 9 and 10 is, that God is wont to teach knowledge and wisdom to those who have left childish delights and an ' immature age, and are men with the capacity for knowledge; but these Jews, who (ver. 7) take delight in the pleasures of wine and in VOL. i. z 354 first epistle to the corintiiians, c. xiv. drunkenness, are like children — do not take solid food — and are consequently unfitted for doctrine and true wisdom. Filled with wine, they scoff at me and at other prophets who denounce to them punishments from heaven for their drunkenness and other sins, and they say: “Precept must be upon precept, line upon line . . . here a little and there a little.” S. Jerome and Hay mo point out that in this passage there is an ironical play upon words. Isaiah and other prophets were often saying, “Thussaith,”or, “Thus ordereth the Lord.” Hence thejews,when drunken over their cups, would repeat in derision, “ Order and order again ” (precept upon precept), “ Expect and expect again” (line upon line). It was as if they had said : “The prophets are always dinning into our ears, ‘Thus saith the Lord/ and are always threatening or promising things which never come to pass, bidding us expect here a little and there a little, and nothing comes of it ail.” The same is oftentimes the experience of preachers, that the wicked ridicule, repeat, and sneer at their sermons and threatenings. Rabbi David, Rabbi Abraham, and after them Vatablus, Isidorus, Clarius, Pagninus, and Forterius give a very cold rendering to this verse (io) — “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little.” The meaning then is : “ These Jews are taught roughly and gradually line upon line, just as boys are taught their alphabet.” But the following verses show that the prophet had in his mind scoffers and mockers, not untaught boys, for the punishments threatened are against scomers. S. Paul renders the sense of Isaiah and not the exact words : he applies the passage of Isaiah to the gift of tongues bestowed on the Apostles, who spoke with other tongues, not to scoff but to edify. The sense then is: God, speaking by Isaiah, says : “My exhortation to repentance, given by Isaiah and other prophets, seemed to you, O Jews, troublesome and ridiculous, just as if I had spoken to you with inarticulate sounds or in a foreign tongue ; hence you imitate what seem to you the meaningless sounds of the prophets, and you repeat in mockery their words. Wherefore, by the Chaldeans, who seem to you stammerers and lispers, will I punish you, that they, as the ministers of My righteousness, may restrain your unbelief by the TONGUES AS A SIGN 355 strange sounds of their foreign tongue, and may ridicule you as their captives, and in their language mock and condemn your Hebrew words ; and they shall serve as a type of the Apostles, whom in the time of Christ I will send to reprove your equal unbelief then, by the gift of unknown tongues, and they shall seem to you as men that lisp or speak indistinctly, and they shall be scoffed at by you and the wise of this world as foolish preachers of the Cross of Christ.” The literal meaning of Isaiah refers to his own time, and to the Chaldeans who were to overthrow Jerusalem; the allegorical refers to the gift of tongues given to the Apostles for a sign, not to the faithful, but to unbelievers, of the malediction with which God punishes the incredulous, not of the benediction with which He teaches His own servants. This verse of S. Paul shows the sense of Isaiah. Cf. S. Jerome and Cyril on Isa. xxviii

Wherefore tongues are for a sign . . . to them that believe not Viz,, to the unbelieving Jews, both here and in Isaiah xxviii, rather than to the Gentiles. This sign must therefore not be used by the faithful for vain glory. Prophesying serveth not for them that believe not , but for them which believe . The teaching of the word of God and exhortation are a sign of the blessing with which God trains up His servants, and stirs them up to every good work (see ver. 3). Sign here is not the same as “ miracle,” for the Chaldeans worked no miracle when in their own tongue they chided the Jews but sign stands for a symbol, and mark of reproof, teaching, and exhortation. But understand what has been said of the believing and unbelieving, as applying to them primarily and principally; for in a secondary sense tongues serve for a sign to the faithful, and prophecy to the unbelievers. Cf. vers. 23 and 25. Vers. 23, 24. — If therefore the whole church, . . . he is judged of alt If all speak together confusedly and noisily, they will seem to be mad; but if all teach the faith from the Scriptures and other authorities, and preach of the way to lead a right life, the outsider will be convinced of, and reproved for, his unbelief and evil life, by all the teachers and preachers. 356 FIRST EPISTLE TO THE

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest. Out of the gift of discerning of spirits, or because God directs the tongue of the prophet, i.e., the preacher, the most hidden sins of his heart will be described and reproved, and the man will think that the preacher speaks as a prophet to him in particular. It is evident from this that this was a common occurrence ; it is also evident that these teachers and preachers were, strictly speaking, real prophets. There is a parallel case in the life of S. Augustine by Possidonius (c, 15), where it is said that on one occasion S. Augustine left the subject that he had decided to speak on, and discoursed on Manichaeism. This led to the conversion of a certain Manichaean, who chanced to be present, as S. Augustine afterwards learnt He believed it to be due to the direct guidance of God. Hence (de Doci. Christ, lib. iv. c. 15) he says that prayer should always be offered to God before preaching, that He would direct the mind and tongue of the preacher suitably to the capacity and disposition of the audience. Others, however, understand “ the secrets of his heart ” to mean the sins which the unbeliever or unlearned has, but which he does not know to be sins, e.g., when he does not know that idolatry and fornication are sinful. He will learn this when he hears the prophet discoursing about them, and condemning them as sinful. But the first meaning is the best

If any man speak in an unknown tongue. ... let one interpret. This verse depends on the foregoing clause, “Let all things be done to edifying.” If any one sing, or teach, or speak with a tongue, let all be done to edifying, so that, eg., if tongues are used, then let only two, or at the most three, in each assembly speak, and that in their turns, so that there may be no confusion ; and let one interpret, so that the hearers may understand what is said

Let the prophets speak two or three, viz., their prophecies or revealed truths, or intuitions or exhortations inspired into them by God. See what was said at the beginning of the chapter. And let the other judge . Let the other prophets, not the people, RULES FOR DIVINE SERVICE 359 judge by the gift they have whether what the prophet or teacher says is prophecy indeed, that is sound and wholesome doctrine, or not; for it does not belong to the laity to judge of the doctrines of religion, as heretics infer from this verse. It would be as absurd and foolish for the people to judge of prophecies, prophets, teachers, and pastors as for a scholar to judge his teacher, a sheep its shepherd, and a soldier his commander

If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace . Let him rise and speak ; let the first cease and sit down. S. Ambrose says : “ This is a custom of the synagogue which S. Paul borrows and enjoins on us. The elders in dignity sit in their chairs while discoursing , those next to them sit on lower seats , the last on mats spread on the pavement. If anything happens to be revealed to these last, he bids that they be listened to : they are not to be despised , for they are members of the sa?ne body.”

For ye may all prophesy . . . and all may be comforted. All the prophets can exhort in their turn, if only the method and order laid down above be observed, and so all can receive exhortation and consolation. The word for “ may be comforted ” occurs again in 2 Cor. i. 6. Some take it as active, when the meaning becomes, “that all may learn when they hear, and may teach when they speak and exhort”

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. The prophets can, when they wish, restrain the spirit of prophecy, and keep silence, and give place to other prophets; they are not forced to speak by an irresistible impulse, like heathen fanatics ; for, as S. Thomas says, the spirit or gift of prophecy is not a habit, but is partly an inspiration, or impartation of light and truth, by which God illuminates the prophet’s mind in regard to facts that are future, hidden, or Divine; it is partly a force or impulse by which God touches the heart and impels it to prophesy, while preserving the freedom of the will. So Jonah and Jeremiah restrained themselves on occasion, as did Moses (Exod. iv. 30). S. Chrysostom’s explanation is different The gift of prophecy, he says, which the prophet has is subject to the judgment of the College of Prophets ; but the first 360 FIRST EPISTLE TO THE sense is more to the context ; for S. Paul is giving the reason why the prophets ought in turn to give way to each other and be silent, viz., because the prophetical spirit was under their control

For God is not the author of confusion . He does not compel these or those to prophesy at the same time, to make a noise and disturb each other, and so cause such a confusion as is commonly found in uproarious crowds

Let women keep silence in the churches *. Ambrose, and after him Anselm, say that even the prophetesses are to keep silence : (1.) Because it is against the order of nature and of the Law, in Gen. iii. 16, for women, who have been made subject to men, to speak in their presence. (2.) Because it is opposed to the modesty and humility which befits them. (3.) Because man is endowed with better judgment, reason, discursive power, and discretion than woman. (4. ) She is rightly bidden, says S. Anselm, to keep silence, because when she spoke it was to persuade man to sin (Gen. iii. 6). (5.) To curb her loquacity, for, as it is said, “ when two women quarrel it is like the beating of two cymbals or the clanging of two bells.” This might readily enough happen in the church if they were allowed to teach. About this silence enjoined on women, see notes on 1 Tim. ii. 9. How much is it then against the command of S. Paul, against all law, right, and seemliness, for a woman to be the head of a church ! Tropologically woman stands for passion and lust, man for reason. Let the first then be silent and obey the reason. Cf. S. Chrysostom (. Horn . 37 in Morali. ). Aristotle (de Nat . Animal lib. ix. c. 1) says : “ Woman is more pitiful and more inclined to tears than man ; also more envious , more ready to complain , to utter curses , and to revenge ; she is besides more anxious and desponding than man, more pert and untruthful and more easily deceived?

And if they will learn anything , let them ask their husbands at home . Hence Primasius says that men ought to be well taught enough to teach their wives in matters of faith. But what if they are themselves untaught, as is often the case ? Who, then, is to teach the woman ? Primasius answers that they have preachers, confessors, and teachers to instruct them. Again, it is better for THE SUBJECTION OF WOMEN 361 them to be ignorant of some things that are not essentials than to ask and learn about them in public, to their own shame and the scandal of the Church. You may say that it is recorded in S. Luke ii. 38 that Anna the prophetess spoke in the Temple to all concerning Christ. The answer is that she spoke to all in private, and one by one, not in a church assembly, nor in the Temple properly so called, for neither man nor woman, but the priests alone, were allowed to enter the Temple at Jerusalem. Anna, then, spoke to the women singly in the court of the women ; for, as Josephus says, the women had a court distinct from the men’s court. You may say again, “ Nuns sing in their churches.” I answer that theirs is not a church in the sense of being an assembly of the faithful, but merely a choir of nuns. The Apostle does not forbid women to speak or sing among women, but he forbids it in the common assembly only, where both men and women meet. In this Cajetan agrees. Moreover, S. Paul does not allude to such public speaking as is sanctioned by authority, but that particular and individual speech which consists in teaching, exhorting, and asking questions. Add to this that he is speaking of married women only, for he orders such to keep silence in the church and be subject to their husbands, and ask them at home what they want to know

Let all things be done decently and in order . Like S. Ignatius (Epp. ad Philipp . et Tars.), S. Paul had a great care for good order in the Church, especially in things indifferent, both because this order is beautiful and decent in itself, and because it prevents confusion and disturbance, and also because it greatly edifies others, even unbelievers. See notes on Col. ii. 5. CHAPTER XV 3 By Christs resurrection , 12 he proveth the necessity of our resurrection , against all such as deny the resurrection of the body . 21 The fruity 35 and manner thereof 51 and of the changing of them , that shall be found alive at the last day . M OREOVER, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand ; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures ; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures : 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve : 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once ; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that he was seen of James ; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am : and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; but I laboured more abundantly than they all : yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 1 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead ? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen : 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God ; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ : whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised : 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain ; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable, 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 363 364 FIRST EPISTLE TO THE For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order : Christ the firstfruits ; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then comet h the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under Aim, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all ? why are they then baptized for the dead ? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me if the dead rise not ? let us eat and drink ; for to-morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived : evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not ; for some have not the knowledge of God ; I speak this to your shame. 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up ? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die : 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh : but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial : but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars : for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption ; it is raised in incorruption : 43 It is sown in dishonour ; it is raised in glory : it is sown in weakness ; it is raised in power : 44 It is sown a natural body ; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is w'ritten, The first man Adam was made a living soul ; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural ; and afterward that which is spiritual SYNOPSIS 365 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy : the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy : and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery ; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump : for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ? 56 The sting of death is sin ; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER He proves the resurrection of the dead against the false teachers who denied it : — i. From the fact of Christ’s resurrection. Thus (ver. 12) he gives the bearing of it on our resurrection. ii He proves the resurrection by the authority of those who are baptized for the dead (ver. 29). iiL He declares what the body will be like in the resurrection (ver. 35), and then names the four endowments of the glorified body (ver. 42). iv. He shows that we shall all rise again, but shall not all be changed, and that in the resurrection which shall take place, in a moment, when the trumpet shall sound, death will be completely swallowed up (ver. 51)