Women Adorned Modestly 1 Timothy 2:9

Paul the apostle was “ordained a preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles”. Because of this he was commissioned to instruct the church and young Timothy his “son in the faith” who was to be the pastor over the church located in Ephesus. Paul desired that “men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting”, and in chapter two and verse nine of his letter addressed to Timothy, Paul shares how women adorning themselves modestly is equally important where we read:

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

The verse begins, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;” Paul began with the words, “In like manner” which means “likewise or after the same way” “also” or “and, indeed and even” “that women” which refers to “women of any age, whether virgins, married, or widows” “adorn” which means “put in order, arrange, make ready and prepare” “themselves in modest” or “well arranged, seemly and well ordered” “apparel” which is the Greek word “katastolē” and literally means “lowering down or letting down” and refers to “a garment let down, dress or attire”. They were to wear this modest adornment “with shamefacedness” which means “a sense of shame or honour, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others and respect” “and sobriety” or “soundness of mind and self-control”.

The verse continues, “not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;” Paul went on to add, “not with broided hair” which means “what is woven, plaited, or twisted together like a web, plait, braid, net or basket” or “braided hair”. Paul added, “or gold” which refers to “precious things made of gold or golden ornaments” “or pearls” which means things made of pearls “or costly” meaning “precious, that which requires a great outlay, very costly, excellent, of surpassing value” “array” or “clothing and apparel”. The idea is that the women were not to be ostentatious, flaunty and showy with their outward dress and adornment.

As we think through these words of Paul, it is important to understand the background of his idea concerning women's adornment. The case in Ephesus, which was a wealthy port city, was for women to come to church with the idea of showing off their new wares. They braided their hair with trinkets of gold and pearls, and they wore the finest materials in their clothing. Church had become a showplace for women to demonstrate their wealth and ability to know the finer things in life. Paul knowing this told Timothy to address this issue because this behavior was more of a distraction and a spectacle for fleshly and carnal things rather than the things of God. People were not coming to church to worship the Lord, but were rather using church as a fashion runway. It is interesting to note that Paul gives this directive as an equal basis to prayer. He saw this aberration as an impediment to what the church was to be, and any distraction to the gospel of Jesus Christ was to be addressed. More than likely a good measure of what a woman should wear should be “what would she like to be wearing if Jesus were to enter the church and sit beside her?” Let each person who reads Paul's words determine what the Lord means by “with shamefacedness and sobriety”.

Next time Paul tells Timothy more about how women in the church should adorn themselves, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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