John Calvin Commentary 2 Corinthians 11:2

"For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you [as] a pure virgin to Christ." — 2 Corinthians 11:2 (ASV)

For I am jealous. Note why it is that he acts the fool, for jealousy hurries a man headlong, as it were. “Do not demand that I should show the calm disposition of a man who is at ease and not excited by any emotion, for that utmost vehemence of jealousy, with which I am inflamed for you, does not allow me to be at ease.”

However, as there are two kinds of jealousy—one springs from self-love and is of a wicked and perverse nature, while the other is cherished by us on God’s behalf—he indicates the nature of his zeal. For many are zealous for themselves, not for God. That, on the other hand, is the only pious and right zeal that looks to God, so that He may not be defrauded of the honors that rightly belong to Him.

For I have united you to one man. He proves that his zeal was of this nature from the purpose of his preaching, for its aim was to join them to Christ in marriage and keep them in connection with Him. Here, however, he gives us through his own example a vivid picture of a good minister, for One alone is the Bridegroom of the Church—the Son of God.

All ministers are the friends of the Bridegroom, as the Baptist declares concerning himself (John 3:29). Therefore, all ought to be concerned that the fidelity of this sacred marriage remain unimpaired and inviolable. This they cannot do unless they are motivated by the dispositions of the Bridegroom, so that each of them may be as concerned for the purity of the Church as a husband is for the chastity of his wife.

Away then with coldness and indolence in this matter, for one who is cold will never be qualified for this office. Let them, however, meanwhile, take care not to pursue their own interest rather than that of Christ, so that they do not intrude into His place, lest while they present themselves as His attendants, they actually turn out to be adulterers by alluring the bride to love themselves.

To present you as a chaste virgin. We are married to Christ on the sole condition that we bring virginity as our dowry and preserve it entire, so that we are free from all corruption. Therefore, it is the duty of ministers of the gospel to purify our souls, that they may be chaste virgins to Christ; otherwise, they accomplish nothing. Now, this can be understood to mean that individuals present themselves as chaste virgins to Christ, or that the minister presents all the people and brings them into Christ’s presence. I prefer the second interpretation. Therefore, I have provided a different rendering from Erasmus.