A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the Epistle to the Colossians. And translated…

18 Wives be subject to your own husbands, as is comely in the Lord. 19 Husbands love your wives: and be not bitter against them. 20 Children obey your parents in all things. for this pleaseth the Lord. 21 Fathers provoke not your Children, least they be dismayed. 22 Servants obey in all points those which according to the flesh are your Masters: not with giving obedience before their eyes, as seeking to please men, but in simplicity of the heart, as you which fear God. 23 And whatsoever you shall do, do it from the hart, as unto the Lord, and not unto men: 24 Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive a reward of inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ. ⟨p. 75⟩25 But he that shall do unjustly, shall bear the reward of his iniquity: and there is no accepting of persons.

18 Wiues be subiect to your own husbands, as is comly in the Lord. 19 Husbands loue your wiues: and be not bitter against them. 20 Children obay your parents in all thinges. for this pleseth the Lord. 21 Fathers prouoke not your Children, least they bee dismayed. 22 Seruauntes obay in all poyntes those which according to the fleshe are your Maysters: not with giuing obedience before their eyes, as seeking to please men, but in simplicitie of the harte, as you whiche feare God. 23 And whatsoeuer you shall doe, doe it from the hart, as vnto the Lord, and not vnto men: 24 Knowing that of the Lord you shal receaue a reward of inheritance, for ye serue the Lord Christ. ⟨p. 75⟩25 But hee that shall doe vniustly, shall beare the rewarde of his iniquitie: and there is no accepting of persons.

18 Wives. &c.) Now follow particular duties, as they call them, which depend of every ones vocation: in handling of which it were superfluous to bestow many words: because I have already in the Epistle to the Ephesians spoken almost as much as was needful. Yet in this place I will briefly add such things as are properly agreeable to the opening of the present place. He commandeth women that they be subject. This is plain: but that which followeth is doubtful, [that is] as is comely in the Lord. For some do thus construe it, Be ye subject in the Lord as is comely. Yet I do rather otherwise construe it, [that is] As is comely in the Lord, that is, according to the institution of the Lord: that he may confirm the subjection of women by the authority of the Lord. Of the husbands he requireth love, and that they be not bitter: because it is dangerous least they abuse their authority & rule in becoming tyrants.