Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 20

Paul tells Timothy what Men and Women should Do Part 2

1 Timothy 2:9 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; KJV

Paul now shifts his focus from the Christian man to the Christian woman and in so doing he is moved to first speak concerning their attire, that is, their clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion, and this occassion Paul wants to address is their appearance not only when they met together in Church, but more specifically their attitude, actions, and activities surrounding their making or purchasing their clothing, so he writes these instructions to Timothy to be passed on to the Women of God, "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;" (1 Timothy 2:9) (KJV). The Apostle Paul desires that the Women of Christ dress themselves so as not to draw undue or unwanted attention to themselves from men in the Church assembly that were not their husbands, so Paul declares to Timothy that their 'adorning' or dresses should be 'modest' apparel.

The English word 'modest' is translated by the Greek word kosmios which means (in its primary sense); orderly, that is, decorous: - of good behaviour, or becoming. In other words, Paul's desire was not have the Women of God dressed in such a way that the men in the Church would be more focused on their appearance causing the message or sermon to be lost by some. Also, Paul knew that if there were not guidelines on the apparel worn by women in the Church that it would eventually escalate into a competition among the women of who would be considered to be wearing the fanciest or the dressiest or the most elaborate or the most luxuriant clothing in the assembly and this too would take away from the message brought that day by the Pastor or Preacher. The English word 'shamefacedness' is translated by the Greek word aidos which means (as a negative particle) and (through the idea of downcast eyes); bashfulness, that is, (towards men), modesty or (towards God) awe: - reverence, godly fear, shamefacedness.

The English word 'sobriety' is translated by the Greek word sōphrosunē meaning soundness of mind, that is, (literally) sanity or (figuratively) self control: - soberness, sobriety. In other words, the Women of God (because of their reverence for God the Father) should dress themselves as not to draw attention to themselves from men in the Church and not with the attitude of competing with other women for best dressed as if they were in some sort of fashion competition. Note: "How Prophetic was this Apostle all those years ago when he first penned this letter to Brother Timothy, for as we fast forward from then to now, we see how over the years exactly what he was desiring to prevent has become a fixture in many Churches and Church orginizations for many centuries now, for in some assemblies it resembles a fashion show akin to the top models on the runways of their shows around the world."

When Paul writes here, not with 'broided hair', he must be referring to a hair style back then for women that was mostly attributed to the women of royalty, such as wives of kings or emperors or other rulers, but this I do not know for certain. The English phrase 'broided hair' is translated by one Greek word plegma used this one time only in the New Testament meaning simply a plait (of hair). Today and for many generations and centuries since this time, the plait or braided hair is considered a modest, yet beautiful hair style worn by many women around the world, those belonging to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and those who do not. The list here of not wearing gold, pearls, and costly array is Paul's way of directing the Women of God to present themselves modestly as he described above, that is, again apparel that will not draw attention to them and away from the Minister of God presenting his message from God to the children of God assembled together.

"Females in the East pay much more attention to the hair than is commonly done with us. It is plaited with great care, and arranged in various forms, according to the prevailing fashion, and often ornamented with spangles or with silver wire or tissue interwoven. The sense here is, that Christian females are not to imitate those of the world in their careful attention to the ornaments of the head. It cannot be supposed that the mere braiding of the hair is forbidden, but only that careful attention to the manner of doing it, and to the ornaments usually worn in it, which characterized worldly females. It is not to be supposed that all use of gold or pearls as articles of dress is here forbidden; but the idea is, that the Christian female is not to seek these as the adorning which she desires, or is not to imitate the world in these personal decorations. It may be a difficult question to settle how much ornament is allowable, and when the true line is passed. But though this cannot be settled by any exact rules, since much must depend on age, and on the relative rank in life, and the means which one may possess, yet there is one general rule which is applicable to all, and which might regulate all. It is, that the true line is passed when more is thought of this external adorning, than of the ornament of the heart. Any external decoration which occupies the mind more than the virtues of the heart, and which engrosses the time and attention more, we may be certain is wrong. The apparel should be such as not to attract attention; such as becomes our situation; such as will not be particularly singular; such as shall leave the impression that the heart is not fixed on it. It is a poor ambition to decorate a dying body with gold and pearls. It should not be forgotten that the body thus adorned will soon need other habiliments, and will occupy a position where gold and pearls would be a mockery. When the heart is right; when there is true and supreme love for religion, it is usually not difficult to regulate the subject of dress." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…