Godly Conduct & Modesty in Dress 1 Timothy 2:8-10

Considering the Alternatives... Some view immodesty as totally subjective or determined by the styles of the day But Bible condemns immodesty as sinful Is some level of undress “immodest”? If not, anything is proper If some level of undress is “immodest” by biblical standards, violation of limit is sin If sinful, principles to determine limit arise either from revelation or innate knowledge Can we know what constitutes this sin?

1 Timothy 2:8-10 “I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.”

1 Peter 3:1-6 1 In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives; 2 beholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; 4 but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

N.T. Words Involved In Study 1 Timothy 2:8-10 Holy Modest Shamefastness Sobriety Godliness 1 Peter 3:1-6 Chaste Fear Meek Quiet Holy

Cumulative Effect of Words If word “modest” used by itself, could be open to various interpretations If two or three words used in isolation, may still be difficult to make application However, when all of the words are used in conjunction with the historical context and biblical principles, a clear pattern for application exists That pattern differs from modern practice

Old Testament Principles & Definitions

Do We Consider O.T. Principles? Yes, 1 Peter 3 tells Christians to consider “after this manner aforetime” in clothing May show chaste behavior coupled with fear May show characteristics of harlot (Prov. 7:10) Example of Sarah predates the Law Learn from things “written aforetime” about definitions & basic concepts (Rom. 15:4) Some order set “from the beginning” (see use of Gen. 2 by Jesus in Matt. 19)

Set In Order From The Beginning Nakedness not shameful before sin (Gen. 2:25) When shame recognized in sin, man sought to cover nakedness (3:7) First clothing attempted was insufficient to cover nakedness (3:10) God’s covering “clothed them” (3:21) Note this must be seen as setting original order just as so with marriage

“Aprons” - Man’s 1st Attempt Hebrew: hagora - “girdle, belt, loincloth” Greek (LXX): peridzoma - a compound of “around” plus “life” A covering for “loins” (Jer. 13:1-4) Below hips and above waist uncovered Equivalent of modern shorts or miniskirt Completely naked before apron & still called “naked” by inspired record after apron

“Coats” or “Tunics” Hebrew: kuttonet - “a tunic… generally with sleeves, coming down to knees, rarely to the ankles” (Gesenius, 420; Harris, I:459; BDB, 509) Greek (LXX): chiton - garment covering shoulders to knees, sometimes longer (Gen. 37:3) Original ISBE (“Dress”) says chiton “resembled the Roman tunic, corresponding most nearly to our long shirt, reaching below the knee always, and, in case it was designed for dress occasions, reaching almost to the ground” (I.S.B.E., II:877). Later says chiton of peasantry was shorter like modern kamis or Syrian fellah which is to the knee.

Fred H. Wight Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, 91 “The tunic (inappropriately translated ‘coat’) was a shirt which was worn next to the skin. It was made of leather, hair-cloth, wool, linen, or in modern times, usually of cotton. The simplest form of it was without sleeves and reached to the knees or sometimes to the ankles. The well-to-do wore it with sleeves and extending to the ankles. Women as well as men wore it [see Cant. 5:3, A.R.V.], although there was no doubt a difference in style and pattern in what was worn by the two.”

What Is Defined As “Nakedness” In Old Testament Record ?

Words Used for “Nakedness” Hebrew: erya--"nakedness" (Harris, I:695) May refer to absolute or relative nakedness Greek: gumnos "Unclad, without clothing" (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon, 122); "unclothed" (Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 1:773); "naked" (Liddell and Scott, Greek-English Lexicon, 170). "Ill-clad" or "clad in the undergarment only" (Thayer, 122); "badly clothed" or "not fully clothed" (Kittel, 1:773-74); "in common language...lightly clad" (Liddell and Scott, 170). Examine passages showing each sense

Strict Sense of “Nakedness” Gen. 2:25“Both naked, the man and his wife” Gen. 3:7“They knew that they were naked” Gen. 9:21-23Ham saw father’s “nakedness” Job 1:21“Naked... out of my mother's womb” Mk. 14:51-52“Having linen cloth cast over naked” Lk. 8:27, 35“...wore no clothes...”

“Naked” = Not Fully Clothed 2 Sam. 6:14David in “a linen ephod” (also v. 20) Matt. 25:36“...naked, and ye clothed me” Jn. 21:7Peter “naked” without outer garment Acts 19:16“They fled out of that house naked” Acts 22:23“Cried out, and cast off their clothes” Jas. 2:15"If a brother or sister be naked...."

“Nakedness” With Moral Shame Nakedness as a moral shame found from Genesis (3:7) through Revelation ( 3:17; 16:15; 17:16) Gen. 3:10 Adam with apron hid because “naked” Ex. 20:26 No steps on altars “that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon” Ex. 28:42 “linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach” Isa. 47:2-3 “uncover the thigh… thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen.” Isa.20:4 “buttocks uncovered to the shame…” Ezek. 16:7-8 “naked and bare” with breasts shown

Summing Up The Bible’s Definition Of “Nakedness” Exposing any of the following rendered one “naked” in Bible terms: loins buttocks breasts thighs When God clothed Adam & Eve, all were covered These principles predated law & covenant Which can we leave uncovered & be godly?

“Nakedness” & “Thigh” Hebrew: yarek Used to denote that fully covered by priestly breeches (significance of min…ad construction) Same word used to signify “loins” as source of reproduction (Gen. 46:26; Exod. 1:5; etc.) If yarek is euphemistic reference to generative parts, does this not suggest thigh is private part? Could this euphemism be used if there was no problem seen with exposing the thigh? Can we be sure exposing the thigh is pure?

Principle Regarding Influence 1Thess. 5:21f“prove all things” Col. 3:17“do all in the name of the Lord” 1 Cor. 10:31“do all to the glory of God” 1 Pet. 2:11-15 work to glorify God Lk. 17:1-2 not to be a stumblingblock 1 Cor. 10:32 no offense, but profit 1 Pet. 3:15-17 live beyond reproach Matt. 5:13-16“let your light so shine that men...” Eph. 5:11 “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them”

What Can We Prove Right? Topless attire of some native tribes and other cultures worn without shame? Young men going shirtless in mixed company Modern swimwear which uncovers entire leg to hip and much of top and back? Plunging neckline which accentuates top? Tight-fitting garments which outline human form rather than concealing it? Miniskirts and shorts which leave almost all of the thighs exposed? If one or more are proper, why are not all?

Other Applications of Godliness Dress which is “modest” in amount covered, but failing to show respect (casual) Speech which fails to show priority & focus on spiritual things Attitude in worship which fails to show proper reverence Participation in entertainment that is coarse or suggestive Dating activity that tends towards immorality