Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 111

the Law and the Prophets, who prophesied concerning the coming of Christ. For our Lord Jesus Christ sent us twelve, to teach all nations ; but he commanded not women to teach, nor to speak in the church unto the people. Let them rather receive instruction, and abstain from deeds of fornication, and be obedient, with fasting and prayer, to hear the word of Scripture. For there were with us His mother and sisters, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the sister of Lazarus, and Martha, and Salome, and others also ; yet these he commanded not to teach with us, and neither is it right that other women should teach. For if the man be the head of the woman, it is not right that the members should be greater than the head. It is not becoming, then, for the widows and virgins to walk up and down in the streets, or enter into public assemblies. And they who do after this manner are not widows or virgins, but become a stumbling-block to men : they who cleave not unto the Church, are idle and wanton, and seek other men's goods, and take men captive, and become seducers of others, and cause souls to fall ; and they who follow them are far from the Lord. And as to those who enter into the Church, and consider not the word of Scripture, neither listen to the word of exhortation, of those who do after this manner the Prophet Isaiah 111