"...that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works" (1 Timothy 2:8-9, KJV).

(A) Context

Paul is giving Timothy guidance now on how he (Timothy) is to manage the church at Ephesus.

Ephesus was a place famous for the temple of the Roman God Diana (Greek: Artemis) who was a mother goddess associated with fertility. In fact, the temple at Ephesus had priestesses engaged in prostitution as a form of worship.

Needless to say, the women of the day were dressed in such a way as to honor their god and draw attention to themselves for perhaps sexual purposes.

(B) Faith Lesson

Women desire to look nice - to be beautiful. It is a part of their make up. This is how God designed women and there is nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, men love it!

But, we see today, much time and millions of dollars being spent on beauty products, on parlor treatments, on clothes, on surgeries, on procedures, and even on Photoshop software designed to make a woman look beautiful, if not feel beautiful.

Paul does not say that a woman should not be concerned about her beauty. In fact, he tells women TO adorn themselves. He does however, say where she ought to focus: rather than focus on her exterior, she is encouraged to focus on pointing people to her God.

Rather than drawing excessive attention to her outward appearance, a woman can prepare herself in such a way as to honor God.

Finally, Paul says, rather than adorning themselves with exterior items, a Christian woman ought to adorn herself with good works.

(C) Life Application

What excites a man about you? Is it your appearance only or your inner woman as well?

What are you focusing on with regard to your beauty that may or may not be out of focus with what Paul urges?

How could you apply Proverbs 31:30 here?

How could we apply Proverbs 11:22 here?

Jerry is a bi-vocational, helping pastor-teacher, Christian life coach, TESOL trainer & manager, author, and freelance writer, with degrees in Christian education, teaching-English, business, theology, and divinity, currently residing in the Philippines. His interests include practical theology.