I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. (1 Timothy 2:8-10)
I wanted to take a bit of time to define a few words in this passage primarily for my own understanding, but as always, I like to share. The issue of nursing (in public) recently came up in a discussion and as you can imagine, things got a little heated (and I respectively bowed out). I later thought that some of these terms (in the First Timothy passage) needed to be reexamined as their meanings may or may not have been altered through the years. So, as best I could, I wanted to bring clarity (aka: definition) by peeking at the Father’s likely purpose.
Please (kindly) let me know what you think in the comment section below.
…He who receives correction is prudent. Proverbs 15:5
(*The following definitions are from Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary and the Blue Letter Bible (Strong’s) Lexicon and will hereon be identified as NWD and BLB).
Holy
NWD: Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy,when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.
Many would add: ‘Set apart,’ as for the Lord.
BLB: Undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious (Hosios in the Greek).
Modesty
NWD: That lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one’s own worth and importance. This temper when natural, springs in some measure from timidity, and in young and inexperienced persons, is allied to bashfulness and diffidence. In persons who have seen the world, and lost their natural timidity, modesty springs no less from principle than from feeling, and is manifested by retiring, unobtrusive manners, assuming less to itself than others are willing to yield, and conceding to others all due honor and respect, or even more than they expect or require.
Additionally: In females, modesty has the like character as in males; but the word is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor. A modesty-piece is a garment that covers the bosom.
BLB: well-arranged, seemly, modest (from the Greek: kosmios, where we get the word cosmos)
Propriety
NWD: Fitness; suitableness; appropriateness; consonance with established principles, rules or customs; justness; accuracy. Propriety of conduct, in a moral sense, consists in its conformity to the moral law; propriety of behavior, consists in conformity to the established rules of decorum; propriety in language, is correctness in the use of words and phrases, according to established usage, which constitutes the rule of speaking and writing.
BLB: (Shamefacedness in the KJV); A sense of shame or honour, modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect (Aidos in the Greek)
Moderation
NWD: The state of being moderate…restraint of violent passions or indulgence of appetite…Calmness of mind. Moderate: Reduced in violence, rigor or intensity; allayed; lessened; tempered; qualified.
BLB: (Sobriety in the KJV); soundness of mind; self-control.
Proper
NWD: Appropriate (suitable for the circumstances); to hasten (as in pressing forward).
BLB: (Becometh in the KJV); to stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent; to be becoming, seemly, fit (prepo in the Greek; where we get both the words proper and preparation).
This is Not My Opinion…
I’m absolutely sure somebody’s feathers will be ruffled, but nevertheless, God is conveying that He wants women to be extremely discrete in regard to how they present their bodies (and yes, I’m sure that the message applies to men as well) and I don’t see how any of us can get around the directive.
Modesty is not oppression for women, it is submission to God and if as justification we suggest that society has changed through the centuries, our Sovereign Lord would remind us that culture does not change the truth, it is the truth that will change the culture.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- What do these verses say about God?
- Why does God want His children to be modest?
- What changes do we need to make in ourselves?
Related articles
- Modesty Made Me Fat (2) [1] (etsop95.wordpress.com)
- Thoughts on Modesty (passionatechristianmarriage.wordpress.com)
- Muslim Women and Certain Sports (chasingparadisegalz.wordpress.com)
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