1 Timothy 2:9, 10 Women's Adornment

1 Timothy 2:9, 10 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

At this point Paul is dealing with public worship and one of his concerns regards how women dress in these meetings. I also want the women to dress modestly, he says with decency and propriety. Negatively, he singles out elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes as being inappropriate and unhelpful. A lack of modesty and decency in the way the women of a congregation dress can have quite an impact and needs to be considered carefully. Rather than concentrating on fashion or looking outwardly beautiful women should rather be concerned to do good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. Because Paul is a man these verses could sound a little harsh but this is not a blast against women and fashion but an encouragement to Timothy to do what he can to get the women in the congregation focussed on what really matters. Pastors need to deal with such issues with great sensitivity but directing the attention of women to passages like this one will be a great help as, if they are spiritual people, then they will be eager to take to heart what is said here about the true way to beauty.