1 Timothy 2:9-10

The context requires that we understand these directions as to women, in relation to

their deportment in public worship, though the rules will hold good on other occasions
also.
in modest apparel in seemly guise [Ellicott]. The adjectie means properly.
orderly, decorous, !ecoming" the noun in secular writings means conduct, bearing. #ut
here apparel. $omen are apt to loe %ine dress" and at Ephesus the riches o% some
&'Ti()*'+, would lead them to dress luxuriously. The Greek in Tit(-*. is a more general
term meaning deportment.
shamefacedness Trench spells this word according to its true deriation,
shame%astness &that which is made %ast !y an honora!le shame," as stead%astness
&compare 'Ti(-*'', 'Ti(-*'-,.
sobriety sel%/restraint [0l%ord]. 1a!itual inner sel%/goernment [Trench]. 2 pre%er
Ellicott3s translation, so!er/mindedness* the well/!alanced state o% mind arising %rom
ha!itual sel%/restraint.
with Greek, in.
braided hair literally, plaits, that is, plaited hair* pro!a!ly with the gold and
pearls intertwined &'4e(.*.,. 5uch gaud is characteristic o% the spiritual harlot
&6e('+*7,.
JFB
1Ti_2:9, 1Ti_2:10.The attire and deportment of women in the Christian
assemblies.
The apostle continues his directions in relation to pu!lic prayer. 89i:ewise,8 he says, in
e%%ect, 8let women when they pray !e modestly adorned.8
. T!"# $%%$#"& $'( ("%)#T*"'T. 89i:ewise also that women adorn
themseles in modest apparel, with shame%astness and so!riety" not with !raided hair, and
gold, and pearls, and costly raiment.8
1. The injunction refers specially to the dress of women in the Christian assemblies, which
ought not to be showy or conspicuous, calculated either to swell the heart o% the wearer
with pride, or to attract the eyes o% others in %orget%ulness o% the solemnity o% pu!lic
worship.
2. While adornment is expressly allowed, according to age and station, to the exclusion o%
anything sloenly, there must !e nothing in the attire or deportment inconsistent with
modesty, sel%/restraint, or ;hristian simplicity. There must !e no excessie care !estowed
upon the adjustment o% the hair, and no adornment with gold, or pearls, or costly array
inconsistent with the attire preiously recommended. 4laiting the hair may !e the most
conenient way o% arranging it, and wearing ornaments is no more sin%ul in itsel% than
wearing apparel. The injunction is that women should not see: such adornments as would
either endanger piety or draw away their a%%ections %rom higher things.
. T!" T#+" $()#'*"'T ), -)*"'. 8#ut &which !ecometh women pro%essing
godliness, through good wor:s.8
1. Religion is external as well as internal. There is the %orm which must !e clothed with
the power o% godliness" religion must not !e secret, !ut mani%est to the world. There%ore
women must pro%ess the ;hristian name, and ta:e part in the worship o% the ;hurch.
2. There must be a harmony between the profession of godliness and those deeds of
mercy and piety which, <orcas/li:e, show the true disciple o% =esus.
.. The highest distinction of women does not spring from dress or decoration, !ut %rom
the luster that is thrown round their character !y wor:s o% goodness. They will thus 8adorn
the doctrine o% >od our 5aior8 &Tit(-*'?,.T.;.
The Complete Pulpit Comentary.
1 Timothy 2:9
n li/e manner that women &hosautos gunaikas,. Boulomai must !e repeated
%rom 'Ti(-*@, inoled in hosautos &old ader!, as in 6om(@*-),. 4arry insists that
proseuchomenas &when they pray, must !e supplied also. >rammatically that is possi!le
&9oc:,, !ut it is hardly consonant with 'Ti(-*''/'A &$hite,.
$dorn themsel0es &kosmein heautas,. 4resent actie in%initie a%ter boulomai
understood. Bld word %rom kosmos &arrangement, ornament, order, world,. 5ee note on
9u:(-'*A and note on Tit(-*'?. 5ee note on ';o(''*A. %or 4aul3s discussion o% women3s
dress in pu!lic worship.
n modest apparel &en katastolei kosmioi,. Katastole is a late word &a letting
down, katastello, o% demeanour or dress, arrangement o% dress,. Bnly here in C.T.
Kosmios is old adjectie %rom kosmos and means well/arranged, !ecoming. $. 1. hae
ader! in margin &kosmios,.
-ith shamefastness &meta aidous,. Bld word %or shame, reerence, in C.T. only
here and 1e!('-*-@.
1obriety &sophrosunes,. Bld word, in C.T. only here, 'Ti(-*'A, and 0ct(-)*'A &4aul
also,.
'ot with braided hair &me en plegmasin,. Bld word %rom pleko, to plait, to
!raid, %or nets, !as:ets, here only in C.T. ;%. '4e(.*' &emplokes,.
$nd 2old &en chrusioi,. 9ocatie case with en repeated. 5ome D55. read chrusoi.
#oth used %or gold ornaments.
)r pearls &e margaritais,. 5ee note on Dat(+*) %or this word.
)r costly raiment &e himatismoi polutelei,. Himatismos a common
oin!"#$%#$&' word %rom himatizo, to clothe. Poluteles, old word %rom polus and telos
&great price,. 5ee Dar('7*..
RWP
1 Timothy 2:9
that: '4e(.*./A
with shamefacedness: 4ro(+*'?" 2sa(.*')" Tit(-*./A
not: >en(-7*A." Exo(.A*--/-." -Ei(F*.?" Est(A*'" 4sa(7A*'./'7, 4sa('7F*7" 4ro(.'*--"
2sa(.*'@/-7, 2sa()'*7" =er(-*.-, =er(7*.?" EGe(')*F/')" Dat()*-@" Dat()*-F, Dat(''*@
broided: or, plaited, '4e(.*.
TSK
1 Timothy 2:9
n li/e manner 34
The writerHs thought is still running upon the pu!lic assem!lies %or worship.
$dorn themsel0es 3 4
adorn,
o
4. B% %emale adornment, '4e(.*A" 6e(-'*-. 2n Dat(-A*+, o%
trimming the lamps. Irom order, so that the primary meaning is to arrange.
B%ten in lxx and ;lass. 4rominent in the writerHs mind is the attire o% women in church
assem!lies. 4aul treats this su!ject ';o(''*A %%.
n modest apparel 3 4
C.T.
o
. Bnce in lxx, 2sa()'*.. Bpinions di%%er as to the meaning. 5ome
apparel, others guise or deportment ( demeanour, Tit(-*.. There seems, on
the whole, to !e no su%%icient reason %or departing %rom the rendering o% 0.J. and 6e.
modest, seemly, 4ast
o
. Cote the word / play, .
-ith shamefacedness and sobriety 3 4
C.T. & in 1e!('-*-@ is an incorrect reading,. 2n earlier >ree:, as in
1omer, it sometimes !lends with the sense o% shame, though used also o% the
%eeling o% respect%ul timidity in the presence o% superiors, or o% penitent respect toward one
who has !een wronged &see 1omer, )l. i. -.,. 1ence it is connected in 1omer with military
discipline &)l. . A.',. 2t is the %eeling o% a suppliant or an un%ortunate in the presence o%
those %rom whom he see:s aid" o% a younger man toward an older and wiser one. 2t is a
%eeling !ased upon the sense o% de%iciency, in%eriority, or unworthiness. Bn the other hand,
it is the %eeling o% a superior in position or %ortune which goes out to an un%ortunate. 5ee
1omer, )l. xxi. -?@" *d. xi. .@@" 5oph. *ed. Col. -7+. 2n the 0ttic period, a distinction
was recognised !etween and + representing a respect%ul and
reerent attitude toward another, while was the sense o% shame on account o%
wrong doing. Thus, one is respectful to his %ather, !ut is ashamed
!ecause he has !een drun:. Trench &,.T. -ynon. K xix., remar:s that is the no!ler
word and implies the no!ler motie. 2n it is inoled an innate moral repugnance to the
doing o% the dishonora!le act, which moral repugnance scarcely or not at all exists in the
. 9et the man who is restrained !y alone !e insured against the outward
disgrace which he %ears his act will entail, and he will re%rain %rom it no longer. The 0.J.
shamefacedness is a corruption o% the old English shamefastness. 5o ;haucer*
5chame%ast chastite.
night.s T. #/01.
5ha:espeare*
HTis a !lushing shame%ast spirit that mutinies in a manHs !osom.
Richard ))). i. 2.
2t is one o% a large class o% words, as stead%ast, sooth%ast, root%ast, master%ast, hand%ast,
!ed%ast, etc. -hamefaced changes and destroys the original %orce o% the word, which was
bound or made fast by an honora!le shame. sobrietys
o
4. Bnce in 0cts,
0ct(-)*-A. The :indred er! to be of sound mind, 6om('-*./A" -;o(A*'."
Tit(-*). 5eeral representaties o% this %amily o% words appear in the 4astorals, and with
the exception o% and , nowhere else in C.T. 5uch are
to be soberminded &Tit(-*7," discipline &-Ti('*+,"
soberly &Tit(-*'-," soberminded &'Ti(.*-,. The word is
compounded o% or ! safe, sound, and mind. 2t signi%ies entire command o%
the passions and desires" a sel%/control which holds the rein oer these. 5o 0ristotle &Rhet.
i. F,* The irtue !y which we hold ourseles toward the pleasures o% the !ody as. the law
enjoins. ;omp. 7 Dacc. '*.'. Euripides calls it the %airest gi%t o% the gods &3ed. ).-,.
That it appears so rarely in C.T. is, as Trench remar:s, not !ecause more alue was
attached to it in heathen ethics than in ;hristian morality, !ut !ecause it is ta:en up and
trans%ormed into a condition yet higher still, in which a man does not command himsel%,
which is well, !ut, which is !etter still, is commanded !y >od. The words with
shamefastness and sobriety may either !e ta:en directly with adorn themsel4es, or !etter
perhaps, as indicating moral qualities accompanying &" with, the modest apparel. 9et
them adorn themseles in modest apparel, haing along with this shame%astness and
so!ermindedness.
-ith broidered hair 3 !"4
9it. with plaitings. C.T.
o
. 6end. with braided hair. 5roidered is a !lunder owing to a
con%usion with broided, the older %orm o% braided. 5o ;haucer*
1ir yelow heer was !royded in a tresse,
#ihinde hir !a:, a yerde long, 2 gesse.
night.s T. 6/2% f
Costly array 3#$ 4
Ceither word in 4aul. #, signi%ies clothing in general. $% costly
occurs only three times in C.T.
VWS
1 Timothy 2:9-10
'Ti(-*F/'?. &% ...] 0%ter spea:ing o% the men, 4aul turns to the
women, and gies some precepts regarding their !ehaiour in church assem!lies.
0s to the construction, it is o!ious that the erse depends on ' in 'Ti(-*@.
5eeral expositors, howeer, connect it not only with ', !ut also with '
()* 2 will that the men pray L so also the women" they then ta:e what
%ollows* ..., as corresponding to ( ..., 'Ti(-*@,
and as de%ining more precisely the manner in which the women are to pray. The in%initie
, howeer, is against this construction. <e $ette, indeed, thin:s that it is added to
the in%initie () !y asyndeton" !ut although the connection o% se4eral
in%inities with one another asyndetically %requently occurs &'Ti(A*'7, 'Ti()*'@" Tit(.*'/
-,, there is no example o% two in%inities !eing thus connected.
[F@]
1o%mann is %orced to
assume that is a consequence dependent on

"
!ut how can sel%/adorning !e considered a consequence o% modesty and good senseM
Though sometimes the in%initie does stand connected in such loose %ashion with what
precedes, it would !e di%%icult to %ind an instance o% such a connection as 1o%mann here
assumes.
0gainst that construction there is also this point* since in 'Ti(-*@ () means
prayer made !y the men aloud in the church, here in 'Ti(-*F it would hae to !e ta:en in a
wea:ened sense" and it is so rendered !y de $ette and 1o%mann* ta:ing part in prayer.
0ccording to this, the erse cannot !e dependent on ' (), !ut on
' alone, so that ... merely states how the women are to adorn
themseles &so, too, 4litt,. <e $ette, indeed, thin:s that o!jection may !e made to this
construction !ecause the a%%irmatie . ... is %ollowed not only !y a negatie

(. ..., !ut also !y a second a%%irmatie in 'Ti(-*'?. This accumulation o% clauses,
howeer, cannot !e urged, since we hae a similar accumulation in 'Ti(-*''/'-. Cor is the
particle an argument against us, since it stands in other places where the same
predicates are not used &comp. 'Ti(.*@" Tit(-*.,. may !e used whereer the
mem!ers to !e connected contain something not exactly ali:e, !ut o% a :indred nature, as
is the case here with % L & and L .
[FF]

Cothing is to ta:e place in the church, neither among the men nor among the women,
which can hurt its spiritual dignity.
] may, according to >ree: usage, denote
sedateness o% nature.
['??]
1ence it is that some expositors &de $ette among others, ta:e it
here as equialent to habitus, &Tit(-*.," !ut it neer occurs in that sense. The
words that %ollow*

(*& L (%, show that the word is to !e

understood o% clothing. True, it does not originally mean this, !ut the letting down, e.g., o%
the (' &4lutarch, 7ericl. A,. This meaning, howeer, might easily pass into that o%
the garment hanging down, and then %urther, into that o% clothing in general. This is
the explanation gien here !y most expositors &also !y 4litt and 1o%mann" an BosterGee
translates it* !earing, !ut explains it a%terwards* N %,. 5ome ta:e it
quite generally" others, again, understand it o% the garment eneloping the whole !ody
&;hrysostom* ( () (*% ,

(*&,. This last

explanation has no su%%icient support in the etymology, nor in the ordinary usage.
] does not mean delicately &9uther,, !ut modestly, honourably &comp.
'Ti(.*-," !eyond these passages, it is not %ound in the C. T.

] The outward modesty which ma:es itsel% :nown in the

dress, is to !e accompanied !y inward purity and chastity, since the %ormer would
otherwise !e o% no account. $hile denotes the inward shrin:ing %rom eerything
immodest, expresses the control o% the desires"

()% &9uther,* with modesty and propriety.
['?']
2t is to !e noted that &apart %rom 0ct(-)*-A *
, in opposition to , occurs only here and in
'Ti(-*'A, and that all words :indred to it &except in 6om('-*., opposed to
in -;o(A*'., denoting the opposite o% the ecstatic state" also in
Dar(A*'A" 9u:(@*.A" '4e(7*+,, such as , ,
, , are %ound only in the 4astoral Epistles.
...] 2nstead o% , we hae
[] &2sa(.*-7 * +,-./0 12 , in '4e(.*., which is particularly to !e compared with this
passage" it denotes the arti%icial plaits o% hair &;lemens 0lex. 7aedag. iii. ''* ((

,.

%] The diides the ornament into two parts, (*& !elonging to the
!ody itsel%, and what %ollows !eing the things put on the !ody. 2n '4e(.*., we hae
() % &comp. 6e('+*7,.
2t is wrong to connect % with the preious (*&. as a hendiadys %or (*&
&1einrichs,.
&] The gems are not named in 4eter, and instead o%

(%
we hae there % " the adjectie (% &Datt.*

, is
contrasted with .
3 (*( ...] Dost expositors &among them $egscheider, Ilatt, 1eydenreich,
9eo, de $ette, $iesinger, an BosterGee, also $iner, p. '7F, note ' [E. T. p. '+'], re%er 3
& &) to , and ta:e (*( L )*' as a parenthesis.
['?-]
#ut
there are three points against this, iG., that the ornament o% the women is already named
in ..., that the preposition does not suit with &which is
construed preiously with ,, and that good wor:s would !e unsuita!ly descri!ed as
ornament here, where he is spea:ing o% the conduct o% the women in the assem!lies o% the
church, unless we ar!itrarily limit the general idea to o%%erings %or the poor, as is done !y
1eydenreich and an BosterGee. Theodoret rightly joins 3 &. &. with the immediately
preceding (&&. )'. &*' (&&*),

3 &
," so, too, Becumenius, 9uther, ;alin, etc." and among more recent names,
Dac:, Datthies, and 4litt. The comma !e%ore , which is %ound in the editions, must
there%ore !e deleted. 1o%mann connects the words with what %ollows, ta:ing in the
sense o% accompanying" !ut neer has such a simple copulatie meaning.
['?.]
The relatie stands here either %or , %or which Datthies appeals, !ut wrongly,
to 6om()*-'" 6om('?*'7" or more pro!a!ly %or )3 . 5o %ar as the meaning goes, the
arious reading &), Eph(A*., is correct. 1o%mann wishes to re%er to
% in such a way that the latter is mentioned as a thing L seemly %or women. The
interening , howeer, mani%estly ma:es this construction impossi!le.
(&&* )*'] (&&*) usually means in the C. T. promise.
Datthies accordingly renders the word here !y gie in%ormation, show" so, too, 9uther*
who therein mani%est !lessedness. #ut it is more correct here to ta:e the word in the
sense in which profiteri artem is used, so that )*' is regarded as an art or a
handicra%t. <e $ette rightly says* who ma:e pro%ession o% !lessedness" so, too, 'Ti()*-'"
comp. Oenophon, 3emor. i. -. +*

(&& &2gnatius, ad 8phes. chap. '7*

( (&& ,.
)*'] only here in the C. T. &9OO. >en(-?*''" more %requently in the 0pocrypha"
)', =oh(F*.'" 9OO. Exo('@*-',, is equialent to *'.
3 & &)] must not !e limited to wor:s o% !eneolence alone. The addition o%
these words is %ully explained !y a comparison with -Ti(.*A. ;alin gies the connection
with the preceding words rightly* si operi!us testanda est pietas, in estitu etiam casto
apparere haec pro%essio de!et.
[F@] $iesinger unites the with the (), and de%ends it with the
remar:, that i% instead o% the asyndeton o% the in%initie we had the
participle, there could hae !een no dou!t regarding it. Then he as:s* 1ae we not
elsewhere examples enough o% a similar change o% constructionM To this we must
answer, Co, unless similar !e ta:en in too wide a sense.
[FF] 2t is necessary there%ore to do, as an BosterGee does, supply the participle
(%* with &% !ecause o% the .
['??] 2n this sense the word is %ound, e.g. in 0rrian &8pict. ii. '?,, joined with
and .2n the passage o% =osephus, 5. 9. ii. @. 7 *

'% (&&%* (, which is

commonly quoted as a proo% o% the meaning clothing, the meaning is dou!t%ul.
5almasius explains it* sedatus animus et remissus, elato et super!o tumentique
oppositus, in contrast with &, er. @" !ut in that case the added adjectie
is super%luous.
['?'] The two words are also placed together elsewhere as %eminine irtues. 5ee
6aphelius, who quotes, among others, the passage %rom Epictetus &8nchir. chap.
)-,* mulieres in ornatu spem collocant omnem" quare operae pretium est, dare
operam, ut sentiant, si!i non o! aliud honorem ha!eri, ),

. 0lthough in the Cyropaedia &#oo: iii., the two

words are thus distinguished* &sc. ;yrus,

%*%,

&,

, the distinction cannot !e regarded as always

alid.0ristotle &Rhet. i. F, explains in the %ollowing %ashion*
, 3 (

%,
.
['?-] Jan BosterGee explains it as a causal periphrasis to show why precisely this
ornament is extolled !y the apostle.
['?.] 1o%mann thus paraphrases the thought* They are to do what is good, and to
learn in still seclusion. The %ormer is that which is to !e accompanied !y the latter.
1e appeals to -;o(-*7. 1e does not proe, howeer, that that passage justi%ies such
a paraphrase. The relation !etween writing and tears is o!iously quite di%%erent
%rom that !etween learning in stillness and good wor:s.
!. *eyer
1 Timothy 2:9
n li/e manner also - That is, he wills or commands what %ollows, as he had
commanded what went !e%ore.
That women adorn themsel0es - &% 4 . The
apostle seems to re%er here to di%%erent parts o% the >recian and 6oman dress. The ,
stola, seems to hae !een originally ery simple. 2t was a long piece o% cloth, dou!led in the
middle, and sewed up on !oth sides, leaing room only %or the arms" at the top, a piece was
cut out, or a slit made, through which the head passed. 2t hung down to the %eet, !oth
!e%ore and !ehind, and was girded with the Gona round the !ody, just under the !reasts. 2t
was sometimes made with, sometimes without, sleees" and, that it might sit the !etter, it
was gathered on each shoulder with a !and or !uc:le. 5ome o% the >ree: women wore
them open on each side, %rom the !ottom up a!oe the :nee, so as to discoer a part o% the
thigh. These were termed , showers &discoerers, o% the thigh" !ut it was, in
general, only young girls or immodest women who wore them thus.
The seems to hae !een the same as the pallium or mantle, which, !eing
made nearly in the %orm o% the stola, hung down to the waist, !oth in !ac: and %ront, was
gathered on the shoulder with a !and or !uc:le, had a hole or slit at top %or the head to
pass through, and hung loosely oer the stola, without !eing con%ined !y the Gona or girdle.
6epresentations o% these dresses may !e seen in 9ens3 ;ostume des 4euples de l30ntiquitP,
%ig. '', '-, '., and '). 0 more modest and !ecoming dress than the >recian was neer
inented" it was, in a great measure, reied in England a!out the year '@?A, and in it,
simplicity, decency, and elegance were united" !ut it soon gae place to another mode, in
which %rippery and nonsense once more preailed. 2t was too rational to last long" and too
much li:e religious simplicity to !e su%%ered in a land o% shadows, and a world o% painted
outsides.
-ith shamefacedness and sobriety - The stola, catastola, girdle, etc., though simple
in themseles, were o%ten highly ornamented !oth with gold and precious stones" and, !oth
among the >recian and 6oman women, the hair was o%ten crisped and curled in the most
ariegated and complex manner. To this the apostle alludes when he says* 5
(&6 %6 &6 7 (%8 Cot with plaited hair,
or gold, or pearls, or costly raiment. The costly raiment might re%er to the materials out o%
which the raiment was made, and to the wor:manship" the gold and pearls, to the
ornaments on the raiment.
$ith shame/%acedness or modesty, %. This would lead them to aoid eery
thing un!ecoming or meretricious in the mode or %ashion o% their dress.
$ith so!riety, %. Doderation would lead them to aoid all
unnecessary expense. They might %ollow the custom or costume o% the country as to the
dress itsel%, %or nothing was eer more !ecoming than the >recian stola, catastola, and
Gona" !ut they must not imitate the extraagance o% those who, through impurity or
littleness o% mind, dec:ed themseles merely to attract the eye o% admiration, or set in lying
action the tongue o% %lattery. $oman has !een inidiously de%ined* 0n animal %ond o%
dress. 1ow long will they permit themseles to !e thus degradedM
Those !eauti%ul lines o% 1omer, in which he spea:s o% the death o% Euphor!us, who was
slain !y Denelaus, show how anciently the >recians plaited and adorned their hair* /
9% 3 ( 3 % %)3 8
:%( (6 ' %3 (3 %.
97 7 % 6 ; <,
$ )3 7 % &% .
)l. x4ii., 4er. 2%.
$ide through the nec: appears the ghastly wound"
4rone sin:s the warrior, and his arms re!ound.
The shining circlets o% his golden hair,
$hich e3en the >races might !e proud to wear,
2nstarr3d with gems and gold !estrew the shore,
$ith dust dishonor3d, and de%orm3d with gore.
7ope.
Br thus, more literally* /
5ounding he %ell" loud rang his !atter3d arms.
1is loc:s, which e3en the >races might hae own3d,
#lood sullied, and his ringlets wound a!out
$ith twine o% gold and siler, swept the dust.
Cowper.
The extraagance to which the >recian and 0siatic women went in their ornaments
might well !e a reason %or the apostle3s command.
Eyp:e, howeer, denies that any particular article o% dress is intended here, and says that
is to !e understood as coming %rom , to restrain, repress" and
he re%ers it to that goernment o% the mind, or moderation which women should exercise
oer their dress and demeanour in general, and eery thing that may %all under the
o!seration o% the senses. 0ll this, undou!tedly, the apostle had in iew.
$hen either women or men spend much time, cost, and attention on decorating their
persons, it a%%ords a pain%ul proo% that within there is little excellence, and that they are
endeaoring to supply the want o% mind and moral good !y the %ee!le and silly aids o% dress
and ornament. $ere religion out o% the question, common sense would say in all these
things* #e decent" !ut !e moderate and modest.
Clarc/
1 Timothy 2:9
n li/e manner also - That is, with the same propriety" with the same regard to what
religion demands. The apostle had stated particularly the duty o% men in pu!lic worship
'Ti(-*@, and he now proceeds to state the duty o% women. 0ll the directions here eidently
re%er to the proper manner o% conducting pu!lic worship, and not to priate duties" and the
o!ject here is to state the way in which he would hae the di%%erent sexes appear. 1e had
said that he would hae prayers o%%ered %or all people &'Ti(-*' %%,, and that in o%%ering such
petitions he would hae the men on whom deoled the duty o% conducting pu!lic
deotion, do it with holy hands, and without any intermingling o% passion, and with entire
%reedom %rom the spirit o% contention. 2n re%erence to the duty o% %emales in attendance on
pu!lic worship, he says that he would hae them appear in apparel suita!le to the place
and the occasion / adorned not a%ter the manner o% the world, !ut with the Geal and loe in
the cause o% the 6edeemer which !ecame ;hristians. 1e would not hae a woman !ecome
a pu!lic teacher 'Ti(-*'-, !ut would wish her eer to occupy the place in society %or which
she was designed 'Ti(-*'', and to which she had shown that she was adapted" 'Ti(-*'./'7.
The direction in 'Ti(-*F/'-, there%ore, is to !e understood particularly o% the proper
deportment o% %emales in the duties o% pu!lic worship. 0t the same time, the principles laid
down are dou!tless such as were intended to apply to them in the other situations in li%e,
%or i% modest apparel is appropriate in the sanctuary, it is appropriate eerywhere. 2% what
is here prohi!ited in dress is wrong there, it would !e di%%icult to show that it is right
elsewhere.
That women adorn themsel0es - The words 2 will are to !e understood here as
repeated %rom 'Ti(-*@. The apostle !y the use o% the word adorn & =>?@ABC,,
shows that he is not opposed to ornament or adorning, proided it !e o% the right :ind. The
world, as >od has made it, is %ull o% !eauty, and he has shown in each %lower that he is not
opposed to true ornament. There are multitudes o% things which, so %ar as we can see,
appear to !e designed %or mere ornament, or are made merely !ecause they are !eauti%ul.
6eligion does not %or!id true adorning. 2t di%%ers %rom the world only on the question what
is true ornament, or what it !ecomes us, all things considered, to do in the situation in
which we are placed, the character which we sustain, the duties which we hae to per%orm,
and the pro%ession which we ma:e. 2t may !e that there are ornaments in heaen which
would !e anything !ut appropriate %or the condition o% a poor, lost, dying sinner on earth.
n modest apparel - The word here rendered modest & =>?@B>?,, properly
relates to ornament, or decoration, and means that which is well/ordered, decorous,
!ecoming. 2t does not, properly, mean modest in the sense o% !eing opposed to that which
is immodest, or which tends to excite improper passions and desires, !ut that which is
!ecoming or appropriate. The apostle does not positiely speci%y what this would !e, !ut he
mentions somethings which are to !e excluded %rom it, and which, in his iew, are
inconsistent with the true adorning o% ;hristian %emales / !roidered hair, gold, pearls,
costly array. The sense here is, that the apparel o% %emales should !e such as !ecomes
them, or is appropriate to them. The word here used & =>?@B>?,, shows that
there should !e due attention that it may !e truly neat, %it, decorous. There is no religion in
a negligent mode o% apparel, or in inattention to personal appearance / anymore than there
is in wearing gold and pearls" and a %emale may as truly iolate the precepts o% her religion
!y neglecting her personal appearance as !y excessie attention to it. The true idea here is,
that her attention to her appearance should !e such that she will !e o%%ensie to no class o%
persons" such as to show that her mind is supremely %ixed on higher and more important
things, and such as to inter%ere with no duty which she owes, and no good which she can
do, either !y spending her time needlessly in personal adorning, or !y laishing that
money %or dress which might do good to others, or !y neglecting the proprieties o% her
station, and ma:ing hersel% o%%ensie to others.
-ith shamefacedness - $ith modesty o% appearance and manner / an eminent
%emale irtue, whether in the sanctuary or at home.
$nd sobriety - The word here used means, properly, sanity" then so!er/mindedness,
moderation o% the desires and passions. 2t is opposed to all that is %riolous, and to all
undue excitement o% the passions. The idea is, that in their apparel and deportment they
should not entrench on the strictest decorum. <oddridge.
'ot with broidered hair - Dargin, plaited. Iemales in the East pay much more
attention to the hair than is commonly done with us. 2t is plaited with great care, and
arranged in arious %orms, according to the preailing %ashion, and o%ten ornamented with
spangles or with siler wire or tissue interwoen" see the notes on 2sa(.*-7. The sense here
is, that ;hristian %emales are not to imitate those o% the world in their care%ul attention to
the ornaments o% the head. 2t cannot !e supposed that the mere !raiding o% the hair is
%or!idden, !ut only that care%ul attention to the manner o% doing it, and to the ornaments
usually worn in it, which characteriGed worldly %emales.
)r 2old, or pearls - 2t is not to !e supposed that all use o% gold or pearls as articles o%
dress is here %or!idden" !ut the idea is, that the ;hristian %emale is not to see: these as the
adorning which she desires, or is not to imitate the world in these personal decorations. 2t
may !e a di%%icult question to settle how much ornament is allowa!le, and when the true
line is passed. #ut though this cannot !e settled !y any exact rules, since much must
depend on age, and on the relatie ran: in li%e, and the means which one may possess, yet
there is one general rule which is applica!le to all, and which might regulate all. 2t is, that
the true line is passed when more is thought o% this external adorning, than o% the
ornament o% the heart. 0ny external decoration which occupies the mind more than the
irtues o% the heart, and which engrosses the time and attention more, we may !e certain is
wrong. The apparel should !e such as not to attract attention" such as !ecomes our
situation" such as will not !e particularly singular" such as shall leae the impression that
the heart is not %ixed on it. 2t is a poor am!ition to decorate a dying !ody with gold and
pearls. 2t should not !e %orgotten that the !ody thus adorned will soon need other
ha!iliments, and will occupy a position where gold and pearls would !e a moc:ery. $hen
the heart is right" when there is true and supreme loe %or religion, it is usually not di%%icult
to regulate the su!ject o% dress.
Costly array - Expensie dress. This is %or!idden / %or it is %oolish, and the money thus
employed may !e much more pro%ita!ly used in doing good. ;ostly array includes that
which can !e ill a%%orded, and that which is inconsistent with the %eeling that the principle
ornament is that o% the heart.
5$#'"1