Biblical Modesty | Biblical Womanhood and Homemaking

I am amazed by the similarities in the following verses:

1 Peter 3 in the KJB

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, which is in the sight of God of great price.

And then 1 Timothy 2:9-10 in the KJB which says, 

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; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

So in both the earthly prophetic program with Israel as well as the heavenly program with the Body of Christ, women are told to:

• Not worry themselves with expensive and immodest modern hairstyles. At that time really fancy braids in the hair was popular and a way to attract a lot of attention to their physical appearance.  

• Not be wearing really expensive jewelry. I personally think it's fine to wear more simple, modest jewelry and if your husband gifts you with some more expensive jewelry, I think it would be okay to wear it on special occasions just for him, but that's just my personal opinion. We each have to decide for ourselves what we think is right based upon our own understanding of God's word rightly divided. 

• Not wear expensive and revealing clothing. We need to focus more on having "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 

If you just look at the stark differences between what the typical ancient Greece or Roman pagan women wore, verses what ancient Christian women wore you will see the difference between what modest and immodest is.

 Of course through the ages, the styles have changed. So we have to really decide for ourselves what we believe to modest verses what is immodest today.

There's also the other extreme where some believers only ever talk about their "modest appearance" and they go to extremes with it, in competition over "who's the most modest woman". This is legalism and is having a "form of godliness" (2 Tim 3:5). 

We need to be careful as believers to not put ourselves or others under the law, but at the same time we need to remember that the things that Paul wrote to us ARE the commandments of the Lord. The only way to OBEY these scriptures is to read them, meditate upon them (really think over the verses) and then yeild ourselves to obey them. This is NOT legalism, but is allowing Christ and His word to live in and through you. So many churches and groups get caught up in trying to control one another and this is bondage. 

Let's look at the verses again. 

1 Timothy 2:9-10 KJB  

9 In like manner also, [previous to this verse, Paul was admonishing the men to also live holy lives for the sake of the gospel] that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, [well, just think over what is modest? Paul gives a few examples of modesty...] with shamefacedness [if you ever felt like something you were wearing caused you or someone else to blush, then it's NOT modest) and sobriety; [this sobriety is about keeping God and His word in mind. What's our purpose as believers? To live for ourselves and our flesh? Or to live godly so that others might be saved?] not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [these are just a few practical suggestions that Paul has - don't be focused on the outer appearance, rather focus more on allowing Christ to live in and through you] 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. [Again, allowing Christ to live in and through you].

Makeup isn't mentioned by Peter or Paul but I personally think it's fine to wear it in modesty. However, it is important to note that the only time that makeup is mentioned in scripture, that I could find, was in reference to Jezebel! So, that makes you pause and think!

2 Kings 9:30

30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

Makeup was also used primarily by ancient pagan cultures for idol worship and for superstitious reasons (eyeliner was used by Egyptians, men and women, because they believed it protected them from evil). In modern times, makeup can also be really expensive and become like an idol for some women. In heaven we won't need makeup because we will have glorious bodies but also we won't have the sin nature to cause us to worry about such things! Not all women wear makeup just to attract men, we sometimes wear makeup so that we "look our best" in a culture that is always focused on how we look. I've even heard some Christian women say that wearing makeup is godly because it helps you present yourself at your best for others and then I've heard other Christian women say that makeup is ungodly and sinful. Again, we each need to decide for ourselves what we think is right based upon our own understanding of God's word rightly divided and not just based upon what others say. 

Women should also dress like women. Deuteronomy 22:5

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." 

Yes, this is from the "Old Testament" but its still applicable today (just like we shouldn't practice witchcraft, incest, adultery and other things mentioned in Deuteronomy). In modern times this should be especially true for believers considering how much confusion there is today over genders! Also, Satan is a "transgender". He is a Cherubim who has "transformed himself into an angel of light"! Cherubim and angels are two completely different creatures! He pretends to be an angel of light when he's actually a fallen cherubim!

I also believe that its important for us to be clean, well-groomed and smelling well as this is considered polite as well as healthy. 

Also, modest dress is important for evangelism, even towards an unbelieving husband. We win people over by allowing Christ to live in and through us as believers, not by dressing seductively or by any other fleshly efforts. 

1 Peter 3 says 

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; [a silent evangelism by allowing Christ to live in and through you as a believer] 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. [Notice it doesn't say that you will win your husband over to Christ by always dressing really seductively! All that will do is please his flesh! We have to keep their soul in mind! You don't have to be frumpy either, just modest] 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, 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: 6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

Paul said in 1 Tim 2:4, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." God wants for all people to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. We have free will choice in whether or not to believe the gospel. Believers are to always keep the soul salvation of unbelievers in mind. This even includes us making mature decisions about how to dress as women, and how to conduct ourselves, that would help lead people to Christ instead of just drawing attention to our physical appearance.

Then, we are told what we SHOULD be more focused on instead of focusing on looking worldly (or putting ourselves under law to try and be "super modest") and this is important to really understand, which is:

• Having a meek and quiet spirit. 

• Living godly, and doing good works (Christ living in and through us). 

So, instead of being overly focused on the latest fashion trends, makeup, dieting and beauty products, (or focused on trying really hard to look modest, which is just legalism) we ought to be more concerned with living godly - getting sound grace doctrine in our inner man, believing it and obeying it. When we do this, Christ is living in and through us. With Christ living in and through us, unbelievers and fellow believers can see Christ living in and through us by us obeying the word and speaking sound doctrine, instead of them only noticing us for our physical appearance, our latest fashionable clothing, our jewelry, etc. It's also a way to not cause a brother in Christ to stumble. 

Romans 14:13

"...that no man put a stumblingblock or

 an occasion to fall in his brother's way."

If you are walking around church or anywhere else half-naked, you are putting a stumblingblock in your brothers way! But also, if you are all about the latest fashion trends and overly focused on diet, fashion and beauty culture it could be a stumblingblock for a fellow sister in Christ because she might start to think that she also needs to be more fashionable etc instead of being more focused on God and His word and setting our affection more on things above rather than on worldly things. 

Colossians 3:2 says,

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

We are also teaching angels. What do I mean?

1 Corinthians 11:10 says,

“For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”

1st Corinthians 11 is speaking about order in the church, especially during the time when believers had the sign gifts. The woman was to cover her head while praying and prophesying, keep silent in the church and obey her husband in all things. One reason is because the angels (both holy and unholy though the unholy angels are angry about what God is doing in and through the believers, while the holy angels rejoice about it!) are learning from believers today about the "manifold wisdom of God " (Eph 3:9-11) by observing Christ living in and through us. That is a whole other long study, but the point is that our conversation and Christ living in and through us effects not only the people around us, but the angels who watch us.

Here also are a few more verses regarding modesty and godly living to think over:

Proverbs 31:30 - Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 11:22 - As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.