Abundant Joy

“Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.”

These verses, which are just one sentence, start with the word “also,” so we know that it is a continuation of the last verse. Paul is now addressing the women of the church. He tells them that they are to dress modestly, with decency and good sense, and not be overly showy. Instead, they should be known for their good works. This should be pretty simple, but, being fallen humans, we have made it so much more complicated!

The first thing I want to look at is why Paul mentions elaborate hair styles, gold, and pearls. This may seem strange to our modern sensibilities, so it is important to look at the historical context. Ephesus was a major center of commerce and a very wealthy city. The women competed in both hair styles and dress. Walter L. Liefeld says this in his 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus commentary. “Wealthy Greco-Roman women often spent hours on their coiffure, weaving gems and precious stones into elaborately braided hair, announcing their wealth and status to all the world in so doing.” Paul wants the women in the church to have different priorities.

Some Christian traditions have taken this verse, and the verse in 1 Peter to the extreme. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, “Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, but rather what is inside the heart—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”  The Anabaptist groups such as the Amish, Mennonites, and Hutterites, to name but a few, dress in what is called “plain dress.” The Amish have been dressing in the same style of clothing for over three centuries. For the women, this consists of long dresses that cover the shoulders, upper arms, midriffs, and legs. The colors can vary by community but are neutral in color. These are made by hand and without buttons or zippers. According to the Wikipedia article on “plain dressed,” “It is intended to show acceptance of traditional gender roles, modesty, and readiness to work and serve, and preserve communal identity and separation from the ever-changing fashions of the world.”

Another group is the United Pentecostal Church (UPCI). They have basic guidelines for women such as no slacks, no makeup, no hemlines above the knee, hair must be uncut, and no jewelry (except for watches and wedding rings). These rules are just guidelines, and each church might have different rules depending on the pastor. There is an irony here, though, because a quick Google search on Pentecostal hair rules shows many images of women proudly displaying their beautiful long hair either as is, or in elaborate upswept styles. They are allowing their beauty to be displayed in their hair, which is what these verses warn against!

When groups place such extremes on what you can and cannot wear, problems result. I gave two examples where an authority other than the Bible has dictated what men and women are allowed to wear based on man-made rules. We are saved by grace, through nothing that we have done (see Ephesians 2:8-9). But sometimes we want a list of rules. We want a checklist to make sure we are doing it right. And there are leaders who are more than happy to make those rules for us! But Paul writes this in Philippians. “Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose” (2:12-13). So what does this mean? It might look different for each one of us. Cultures change. And with that, styles change. God may be working on something different for each one of us. There is no one list of rules that we can follow other than “modestly,” which translates to decent and orderly. We are aiming toward holiness. “But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).

When Paul is writing this letter to Timothy, he is giving these instructions for women and men so that their differences stand out, but in a way that attracts others to the faith. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, says, “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Remember, our goal is to bring people to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

While I argued against the fringe groups who have taken this verse to extremes, there is another group who has ignored this verse completely. There are women who have embraced the cultural ethos of our time and now feel the right to dress the way they want. I see women who say they are Christian, yet they do not dress in a way that is honoring to God. They want to hold on to their rights, while forgetting that they were bought with a price. Some are rebelling against the purity movement of the 90s, some are embracing the women’s rights movement that has dominated our culture for the last century, and some are rebelling against the authority of God. The verses in 1 Corinthians are about sexual purity, but they fit every part of our lives. “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body” (6:19-20).

The last part of the verse is what stands out for me. We are to be known for our good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God. As a Christian, I shouldn’t be known for what I wear, but for what I do. Was I kind to the person who helped me at the grocery store? Did I smile at someone who needed cheering up? Did I bring a meal to someone in need? It does not always have to be big. It might be offering a prayer or a helping hand. This is what we should be known for.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”  (Ephesians 2:10)

 “Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.” (1 Peter 2:12)

Grace be with you!