Modesty

1 Tim. 2:1-15 (ESV)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, [2] for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. [3] This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. [7] For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle ( I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

[8] I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; [9] likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, [10] but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. [11] Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. [12] I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. [13] For Adam was formed first, then Eve; [14] and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. [15] Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

A controversial text these days which is a comment on its own about our culture and its influence on the church.  One of the striking things about this text is Paul’s instruction to women to dress with modesty. It is striking because there is no long explanation regarding what is modest. Modesty today is a hard word to pin down. Tell someone to act or dress modestly and you just might end up in a conversation regarding what modesty is and how no one can tell someone else what is modest and what is not. But Paul does not need to go into great explanations here. He knows what he means and apparently, so did Timothy. No great explanations required.

Ah, but we have lost a good bit of that. Modesty is considered old fashioned; a by gone concept from a bygone age and good riddance too is quite often the attitude to it. But this verse is still in the Bible and it still applies and it is still relevant for women to consider.

Have a look at this article in Girls Gone Wise and pass it on to others who just could benefit from it.