In like manner also, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety;
Just like
Paul commanded men to pray a certain way, he now likewise commands women to
adorn themselves with modest clothing. And not just modest apparel, but with
shamefacedness (bashfully; with excessive modesty—Webster’s 1828) and sobriety
(serious mindedness). Simply put, Paul is teaching that God desires women to
not only be modest in clothing—that is incredibly important as representatives
of Christ and His message!—but also modest and wise. She is to be sober minded,
that is, level headed and wise. Likewise, the godly woman is to be bashful
(sheepish, properly having a downcast look; hence very modest/excessively
modest—Webster’s 1828). She is bashful in the since that she does not draw
men’s attention to herself through seductive clothing; rather, out of her
excessive modesty, honorable men are attracted to her character and inner
beauty which has been magnified by her careful attention to honor the Lord.
not with broided
hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
In
Paul’s day, braided hair was the sign of a prostitute. And so he instructs
women not to braid their hair to identify it. Now, this may not be the sign of
a prostitute today, yet we should heed the Words of Scripture and not blow them
off as related to a cultural issue that has no relevance to us. In addition,
not adorned with gold, pearls, and costly jewels or ornaments. Paul again here
is emphasizing that the godly woman is to put her focus on the Lord and be
serious minded and excessively minded, not caught up in fashion and style, but
focused on the Lord. Now, I am not advocating the extreme of not taking care of
oneself at all such as never combing the hair or bathing, but rather, I am
advocating the serious attention to continue readjusting one’s focus to the
Lord and not on one’s body and “attractiveness” like the world emphasizes for
women to do. All the way back in the Bible times, the world screamed for women
to make themselves appear sexy and pleasant to the eyes. But the Bible nowhere
mentions that for the godly woman. Yes, there is the Song of Solomon, but that
is exclusively within the context of married love.
10 But (which becometh women
professing godliness) with good works.
Instead of pursuing styles and sensual attractiveness, Paul exhorts that women
are to adorn themselves with good works. If you turn over to 1 Peter 3, you
will see that godly women who quietly live out their faith and are rich in good
works will win their husbands over to the Faith—at least that is the model that
the Bible gives us and it is true. The notion of being a nagging wife who
constantly screams the Bible at her husband is not found in Scripture, but
rather quiet servanthood modeling Christ’s humility.
1 Tim 2:9-10 (KJV)
