Mind of the Church

The mind of the Church, faithfully rendered into English

Library / Commentaries and Disputations on Genesis, Volume I

Book Four — the creation of the first human beings

QUESTION II. Whether in the state of innocence there would have been an equal number of women and of men

LatineEnglish

QUESTION II. Whether in the state of innocence there would have been an equal number of women and of men.1

QVAESTIO II. An in statu innocentiae fuisset par numerus foeminarum atque marium.

SCIENDVM autem est fecisse Deum à principio in humana natura vnum marem & vnam foeminam: quod in aliis animalibus non est factum, cuiuslibet enim speciei animalium multi mares & multae foeminae creati sunt: in homine autem originem speciei in duobus constituit, imò verò in vno duntaxat Adam, nam ex ipso posteà facta est Eua; idque factum est ob singularem hominis dignitatem, & ad conciliandum inter homines maiorem concordiam & charitatem, omnibus ex vno parente procreatis. Quemadmodum igitur ab initio Deus fecit vnum marem & vnam foeminam, ita deinceps in statu innocentiae pari numero foeminae ac mares multiplicati fuissent: tot igitur fuissent mares quot foeminae. Quin opinio est quorundam, tunc qualibet generatione ac partu geminam prolem, foemineam scilicet ac masculinam, editum iri. Nec difficile est huius rei rationem afferre fidémque astruere. In illo enim statu innocentiae nullus coelibem [vitam...]
But it must be known that God made at the beginning, in human nature, one male and one female: which was not done in the other animals, for of each species of animals many males and many females were created; but in man He constituted the origin of the species in two — nay rather in Adam alone, for from him Eve was afterward made; and this was done for the singular dignity of man, and to conciliate a greater concord and charity among men, all being procreated from one parent. As, therefore, God from the beginning made one male and one female, so afterward in the state of innocence women and men would have been multiplied in equal number: there would, therefore, have been as many males as females. Indeed, it is the opinion of some that then, at every generation and birth, a twin offspring — namely a female and a masculine one — would be brought forth. Nor is it difficult to bring a reason for this thing and to build up belief. For in that state of innocence no one would have led a celibate [life...] [continues]2
[...nullus coelibem vitam] egisset, omnésque idoneo tempore iuncti fuissent matrimonio: nullus praeterea fuisset sterilis aut infoecundus, nec vlla fieret maris & foeminae nisi per legitimum matrimonium coniunctio; denique sicut ab initio vnius viri vna fuit vxor, ita deinceps in illo statu innocentiae ad exemplum & imitationem primi coniugij, nec vnius vxoris plures mariti, nec vnius mariti plures vxores fuissent. Ex his concluditur & conficitur quod suprà diximus, parem tunc fore numerum virorum ac mulierum. Si enim plures fuissent viri quàm foemi-[nae...]
[...no one would have led a celibate life], and all at a fitting time would have been joined in matrimony; no one, moreover, would have been sterile or unfruitful, nor would any union of male and female come about except through legitimate matrimony; finally, just as from the beginning of one man there was one wife, so afterward in that state of innocence, after the example and imitation of the first marriage, neither would there be several husbands of one wife, nor several wives of one husband. From these things is concluded and established what we said above, that the number of men and of women would then be equal. For if there had been more men than wo[men...] [continues]3
[...Si enim plures fuissent viri quàm foemi]nae, aut contrà foeminae quàm viri, necesse fuisset aliquos expertes esse matrimonij, aut vnum pluribus in matrimonio copulari.
[...For if there had been more men than wo]men, or contrariwise more women than men, it would have been necessary that some be without matrimony, or that one be joined to several in matrimony.4

Translator’s notes

  1. Second question of the disputation. ↩
  2. Decorated initial 'S.' Man uniquely originated from one pair (rather, from Adam alone), for his dignity and the race's concord. So in innocence the sexes would multiply in equal numbers (some hold each birth would be male/female twins). Reasons follow: no celibacy... ↩
  3. In innocence: no celibates, all married in due time; none sterile; no union outside marriage; one wife per husband (no polygamy/polyandry, imitating the first marriage). Hence equal numbers of the sexes. Marginal gloss: 'In statu innocentiae, parem futurum mariú atque foeminarum numerum.' ↩
  4. The proof completed: unequal numbers would force either celibacy or polygamy/polyandry — both excluded in innocence; therefore the numbers would be equal. ↩