1 Timothy 2:8-10 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9 In like manner also, that women ADORN themselves in modest APPAREL, with shamefacedness and sobriety [ATTITUDE]; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

In this lesson we will deal with the primary problem areas with holiness for WOMEN:

1.    Adornment (adorn themselves … with … not with)

2.    Apparel (modest apparel)

3.    Attitude (shamefacedness and sobriety) 

This is not to say that women never have problems with inner holiness, or that men never have problems with outer holiness. These are TENDENCIES ONLY, because of the distinct natures the sexes were created with. For both women and men, holiness begins on the inside and must be demonstrated on the outside. 

PROBLEM AREA #1 – ADORNMENT

  • ADORN means “to beautify or decorate with ornaments.” The Greek word is “kosmeo,” from which we derive our English word “cosmetics.” It comes from the root word “kosmos,” which is translated as “world,” but also has the meaning “order, arrangement or decoration.” Thus, just as the attractive and orderly arrangement of the stars “adorns” the world, so humans can “adorn” themselves. But the Apostles make it clear that the way some women often desire to adorn themselves is in direct opposition to the way God desires for them to adorn themselves!
  • Our text is one of two very clear passages in the New Testament that deal with “adornment” and “apparel” for Christian women. Both Paul and Peter express similar admonitions; thus, the “standards” of the first-century Apostolics become clear to us through even a casual study. Christianity was born into the Roman world of luxury and decadence, and in this context, Apostolics were called to live their faith.
  • 1 Peter 3:1-5 1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward ADORNING of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of APPAREL; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit [ATTITUDE], which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 

ADORNMENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

  • JEWELRY WAS ORIGINALLY A BLESSING FROM GOD. Abraham was wealthy in silver and gold (Genesis 13:2), and God even instructed Israel to take the jewelry of the Egyptians on the night they were freed from bondage (Exodus 3:22, 11:2). This was God’s blessing on Israel, for it would give them “currency” with which to survive on their journey. Until this time, jewelry was viewed positively because of its practical function. However, a disturbing trend was developing among God’s people, as they began using their ornaments to express pride and even sensuality. This development helps us to understand why in the Old Testament God began calling His people to repentance by removing their ornaments.
  • The situation came to a crisis point in Exodus 32-33 while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. Tired of waiting for Moses and anxious to have a visible god, the Israelites brought their ornaments to Aaron, who used them to make a molten calf in imitation of the gods of Egypt (Exodus 32:3-4). ISRAEL HAD TURNED INTO IDOLS THE MOST VALUABLE TEMPORAL GIFTS GOD HAD GIVEN THEM!
  • When Moses went up again to the mountain to plead with God to forgive their sin, God reassured Moses that He would keep His covenant to bring Israel to the land of Canaan, but He Himself would not go with them! If He were to appear among them in their rebellious state, His direct presence would mean their complete destruction (Exodus 33:2-3). When Israel learned that God would no longer guide them with His personal presence, they deeply repented of their sin and took off their jewelry (Exodus 33:4).  In response, God offered to reconsider His action toward them, but He requested that they prove the depth of their repentance by permanently removing their ornaments (Exodus 33:5).
  • When God instructed Moses to take up a freewill offering for the construction of the Tabernacle, at the top of the long list of suggested items was GOLD. God was not forcing it from the Israelites, but the suggestion is conspicuous! They must have taken the hint, because they “brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold” to the Lord (Exodus 35:22). Israel also freely dedicated to the Lord the spoils of their future military victories, “what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets” (Numbers 31:50).
  • The Bible does not condemn all jewelry. Men such as Judah (Gen. 38:18), Joseph (Gen. 41:42), Mordecai (Est. 8:2), Saul (2 Sam. 1:10), and Daniel (Dan. 5:29) wore jewelry. However, in each case, the jewelry had a FUNCTIONAL USE. Signet rings were used to transact business; crowns, chains, and bands were used to convey legal authority.  The high priest’s breastplate of precious stones had a similar function in Israel’s worship (Exo. 28:17-38). Jewelry also had a functional use as a wedding token in Bible times (Gen. 24:47, Isa. 61:10, Jer. 2:32).
  • Because the Bible does not condemn these various types of “functional” jewelry in the Old Testament, we also maintain a balanced position by making allowance for a minimal amount of “functional” jewelry (such as wedding rings, wristwatches, hair clips, etc.), while maintaining God’s desired prohibition on jewelry for the sole purpose of adornment. 

ADORNMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

  • The apostolic admonitions of Peter and Paul are even more explicit than Old Testament commands. The New Testament repeatedly contrasts the INNER ADORNING of a meek and quiet spirit with the OUTER ADORNING of the body by elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls and costly attire. These are not TWO MODES of the SAME lifestyle, but TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES!
  • Both Peter and Paul expect women to adorn themselves, so long as it is in a proper fashion. God does not condemn natural ornaments! God could have designed all fruits and vegetables to be green, but He created them in a variety of colors so that they would give us not only food but also beauty. God does not expect us to be drab or colorless in appearance, but He does expect godly adornment!
  • There must be a consistency between the inward life and the outward appearance of a Christian! To pretend to come humbly before God while we are adorned in a way, we know He does not like is hypocrisy!
  • There is no longer a negative connotation associated with jewelry or makeup in our culture, but we seek to please God rather than man. Society’s acceptance of any practice does not change the way God views it or the spiritual reasons for its prohibition. Makeup and non-essential jewelry still possess the ability to highlight sensuality, encourage pride, affect the wearer and the observer, and teach a distorted value. 

PROBLEM AREA #2 – APPAREL

  • Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
  • 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
  • Does it matter how we appear on the outside if God looks at the heart? ABSOLUTELY! Man DOES look on the outward appearance.
  • Some people dress to be admired, pleasing themselves. Other people dress to be accepted, pleasing others. Christians, however, dress to glorify God.
  • To dress modestly implies that clothing must provide sufficient covering for the body so that others are not encouraged to be tempted.
  • Modesty must conform to GOD’S opinion, not YOUR opinion! 

MANKIND’S FIRST CLOTHING

  • At first Adam and Eve were “clothed in innocence,” but after sin came their nakedness became a shame and danger to them. They were now separated from God’s glory, which had been their covering. “And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” - Genesis 2:25.
  • They tried to cover their nakedness by sewing together fig leaves to make an APRON. The Hebrew word HAGORA means “girdle, belt, loincloth, apron, loin-covering.” This is a garment covering the pubic region and hips and is MAN’S IDEA OF MODEST APPAREL.
  • Genesis 3:7, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” However, Adam and Eve still knew they were “naked” in God’s sight! Genesis 3:10, “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
  • Since their covering was not acceptable to God, He used animal skins to make them a COAT. The Hebrew word KUTTONET means “a tunic with sleeves, coming down to the knees, sometimes to the ankles.” This is a garment with sleeves, covering from the shoulders at least to the knees, and is GOD’S IDEA OF MODEST APPAREL. It dates to Adam and Eve! Genesis 3:21, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”
  • Nakedness was covered from the beginning by God to defeat the temptation it created. It is associated with sexual impulses and desires, so much so that to “see” or “uncover” nakedness is a Biblical euphemism for “sexual intercourse” (Leviticus 20:17). Nakedness as a moral shame is found from Genesis (3:7) through Revelation (16:15).
  • Since God doesn’t change, the principles of modest apparel have not changed either!   

GENDER DISTINCTION IN THE BIBLE

  • Historically, men and women have worn robes for the major part of human history. However, the most important gender distinction was not simply in WHAT they wore, but in HOW they wore it.  There were MALE and FEMALE ways of utilizing their clothing.
  • Firstly, the priests wore “breeches” under their robes in Bible times. This word does not occur very often in Scripture, but in every case it is men’s apparel (Exodus 28:42, Exodus 39:28, Leviticus 6:10, Leviticus 16:4, Ezekiel 44:18) – women were not allowed to wear “breeches.” According to Hebrew lexicons, “breeches” means “trousers that extend below the knee.” The later English word “britches” developed from this term, as did our modern concept of “pants.” Women in Bible times did not wear “crotched garments” (pants) because of God’s disapproval. Thus, pants were worn exclusively by men for the first 5900 years of human history. Only in our century has women’s apparel suddenly become “impractical” for women to wear!
  • Secondly, men in Bible times were permitted to “gird up their loins” while women were not. A man could transform his robe into a closer- fitting, less cumbersome garment by bringing the back hem of his robe between his legs and tucking it into his waistband (girdle). This created a trouser-like effect, and was a distinctively masculine appearance. For women to “gird up their loins” like a man was considered grossly immodest by God and by Biblicalsociety.
  • Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. God associated Job’s acceptance of manly responsibility with the state of his apparel! But that is perhaps not so remarkable when we consider the modern association of responsibility with the question of “who wears the pants in this family!”

  • ANY GARMENT THAT SHOWS A SEPARATION OF THE LEGS ABOVE THE KNEE IS IMMODEST APPAREL FOR A GODLY WOMAN. GOD DOES NOT APPROVE OF IT!

 AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD

  • Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
  • Notice that the commands are different for men and women. A man must not “put on a woman’s garment,” that is the feminine attire itself with its distinctive styling. That is enough of a command for him, because adorning is not his particular problem area. However, the instructions are more strict for a woman (because she is tempted more in this area).  She is not even to wear “that which pertaineth unto a man.” Pertain means “relate, have reference to, be appropriate for.” It’s Latin root word means “to reach toward.” In other words, SHE MUST NOT ALLOW HER FEMININE APPAREL TO “REACH TOWARD” OR EVEN SLIGHTLY RESEMBLE A MAN’S CLOTHING OR HIS MASCULINE BEARING.
  • The word “abomination” occurs over 40 times in the Pentateuch. Its root meaning is “disgusting, filthy, loathsome or abhorrent.” While there  were certain things that were merely an abomination “to Israel” (Leviticus 11:10) under the ceremonial law, other things were an abomination “unto the Lord” under the moral law. Wearing apparel like that of the opposite sex is an abomination unto the Lord! 

APOSTOLIC ADMONITIONS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

  • The word “apparel,” as used by Paul in 1 Timothy 2:8-10, comes from the Greek word “katastole” which means “a long flowing garment.” This word reflects a style of garment the Greeks called “katastola” which was loose-fitting (“flowing”) and covered from the neck to the knees (“long”). Paul requires the same type of garment God required in Genesis 3!
  • The garment of a woman should cover her thigh and knee. It does not have to be longer; if Paul wanted to specify an ankle-length garment, he would have used the Greek word “poderes” (as in Revelation 1:13).
  • PANTS are not a modest garment for a woman, because even though they are past the knee (“long”) they are not a “flowing” garment. They also “gird up the loins” (separate the legs above the knee), so they are only appropriate for a man to wear.
  • TIGHT garments of any type are also not modest because they are not “flowing” garments.
  • Paul also teaches us that a woman’s clothing should follow the principles of “shamefacedness” and “sobriety,” that is, she is responsible to dress so that she does not “turn the eyes, the mind or the attention” to the form of her body. 

 PROBLEM AREA #3 – ATTITUDE

  • Attitude is an inward feeling expressed by outward behavior. That is why an attitude can be “seen” without a word being said!
  • THE ATTITUDE OF MANY TODAY IS, “HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO DO TO BE SAVED?” THE ATTITUDE OF A CHRISTIAN IS, “HOW MUCH CAN I DO TO PLEASE MY SAVIOR?” IF YOU LIVE BY THAT ATTITUDE, YOU WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH HOLINESS!
  • Notice in these examples the emphasis that the Bible places on a woman’s ATTITUDE. She is to be …

1.    MEEK: 1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

o   The New Testament definition of meekness is very intriguing. It comes from the Greek word, praotes, (prah-oo’-tace) which means ‘mildness’ (a gentle, soothing disposition), and by implication, humility.

o   The word, praotes, has been defined as ‘an inwrought grace of the soul, that temper of spirit in which we accept God’s dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting.  This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by God for the chastening and purifying of His elect.’  (I Timothy 2:23-25, Titus 3:1-6, Hebrews 12:1-3).

o   In studying this term, you will find that it refers to the behavior of a domesticated animal. That, of course, is not stating that we are animals, but that there is something in the behavior of a domesticated animal that defines meekness. Animals can be strong and uncontrollable. But when they become domesticated, they do not lose their strength, but rather they learn to control it.

o   Therefore, the New Testament teaching refers to a meek and mild spirit that we are to manifest when interacting with people. When meekness is manifested in our lives, we do not lose our strength, but we learn to control it. 

2.    SUBMITTED: Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

    • The Biblical requirements for a woman’s attitude are not because she is INFERIOR to man, but simply because of God’s ORDER of creation. 

“BUT I’M NOT CONVICTED ABOUT HOLINESS STANDARDS.”

    • Your lack of conviction does not give you permission to ignore or rebel against the Bible. You must ask yourself, “What is the final authority for how I live? My feelings and convictions? Or the Bible?” Feelings are deceptive, but the Holy Ghost will never lead you contrary to the Bible.
    • Some say that their lifestyle is okay because it is COMMON, COMFORTABLE and CONVENIENT. But these concepts have absolutely nothing to do with a Biblical relationship with God!
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