People are often identified by the
clothes they wear. In the Bible clothing identified people as being
widows, harlots, kings, rich men, men, women and wedding guests. Today,
just by looking at a person's attire, we can identify doctors, nurses,
policemen, firemen, soldiers, football players, ballet dancers, and
homeless people. In
1 Timothy 2:9-10,
the apostle Paul instructs women to dress in a way which "befits women
making a claim to godliness" (NASB). Certainly it would not be fitting
or proper for a soldier to dress in the attire of a bum or for a
policeman to dress as a doctor. Likewise, it is improper for the godly
to dress in clothing which is characteristic of the ungodly.
When Paul instructs us to wear "modest
apparel" (1
Timothy 2:9), he is in effect
commanding us to dress in a way which is proper for godly individuals.
Webster's 7th New Collegiate Dictionary defines the word "modest" as
"observing the proprieties of dress." It defines "propriety" as "the
quality or state of being proper." But what is proper for those who are
godly? The inspired apostle himself gives us the answer. "Modest
apparel" for the person who is godly is apparel that can be worn "with
shamefacedness and sobriety"
(1 Timothy 2:9).
The phrase "with shamefacedness" refers
to the fact that a sense of shame is to be demonstrated by our attire.
A godly man or woman will dress in a way which shows an appreciation for
the fact that God considers nakedness to be shameful
(cf. Revelation
3:18). Realizing that God still
considered Adam and Eve to be naked even after they had partially
clothed themselves with aprons made of fig leaves
(Genesis 3:7-10,
21), the godly are not satisfied
with being partially clothed. But rather, godly men and women dress in
clothes which are designed to cover, not reveal. Now ask yourself, "Are
short shorts, short skirts, halter tops, sun dresses and bathing suits
designed to cover or reveal?" Surely a person cannot wear such clothing
in public "with shamefacedness."
What about the word "sobriety" as it
occurs in 1
Timothy 2:9? Both W.E. Vine in
his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, and R.C. Trench in his
book Synonyms of the New Testament, agree that "sobriety" refers to
"that habitual inner self government with its constant rein on all the
passions and desires which would hinder the temptation to these from
arising." So, godly people dress in a way which hinders temptation. If
you profess to be godly, ask yourself, "Are my clothes designed to
incite lust or hinder it?" "Do they cause others to stumble, or do they
prevent such stumbling?" Often people attempt to justify their clothing
by making a claim like the following: "My clothes wouldn't MAKE anyone
lust!" But the question is, "Do your clothes HINDER anyone from
lusting?"
Those who are interested in conforming
to the will of God will be concerned about whether or not they dress in
a way that is proper for godly people to dress. Do your clothes
identify you as being godly?
"Godliness is profitable for all
things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to
come" (1
Timothy 4:8b).
Other
Articles by Steve Klein
Gullibility
Are You Attached?
The Spirit of the Sadducees
