Is the biblical passage stating that women are to dress simply meant to be taken literally? How literally?

[Anonymous]

It’s where God says that women aren’t to dress in expensive, or nice clothes or have any adornments. They’re to dress modestly and respectfully and to focus on inner beauty.

Updates

+1 y

I’m referring to the Christian faith in this case.

[tremendousfern]

That's from 1 Timothy chapter 2. I would read the introduction to 1 Timothy that adds context that it's from Paul writing to Timothy about recommendations for a church that has been having some problems and talking about the value of discipline for immoral people.

"Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient"

I think with that context, the specific recommendations that Paul gives to Timothy about no braided hair or jewelry is given for that specific time and location. The main takeaway for all women is to dress modestly and respectfully and you're allowed to interpret that based on your conscious and how you feel you would best please God.

Romans 14 also talks about letting your conscious be your guide in matters that aren't perfectly clear from the Bible. The important thing is that whatever you wear, it is with a clear conscious that you are honoring God by wearing it.

[strateguy632]

you refer to first Timothy 2:9 "women should adorn themselves respectably, with modesty, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or COSTLY garments". your 6 details match 3.

not she must dress "simply" nor forbidden "nice clothes nor any adornments" as you wrote those 3 that is rule for amish! not bible.

1, not obligated simple.

2, expensive n gold, sin. costly forbade, but anything else is fine.

3, "nice clothes" fine, not forbid "any adornments" unless gold jewelry.

4, "modestly and respectfully" yes. matched "respectably modesty" so yes nice! including wedding band can be gold but luxury jewelry is sin.

[jshm2]

Nope. It's how it's translated, but in the original Hebrew/Greek text it isn't actually saying that at all.

Back in those days it was prostitutes who would "dull up" at all times. They had to attract customers after all.

When you look at female royals in old art, you notice they are never "fully adorned" either. Adornment and styles meant a different thing back then. If you were "rich" then you would be stupid to show it all too. But for people at the "bottom" they had to try and imitate what they thought was "class".

[andreasderjuengere]

God never said that. Think of "Eve" :)
The biblical text you refer to was the opinion of one specific author/contributor.
I won't bother to look up which one this was, but I'd not be surprised if it's from "Paul" ... who must have been a notoric wise-arse and manipulator (in my eyes).

[strateguy632]

yes paul chose as apostle!

[strateguy632]

yes paul, *chosen as apostle!

[strateguy632]

about eve? of all lady, you say eve proves fancy clothes? they were naked! until the "leather robes" in chapter 3.

[andreasderjuengere]

strateguy, you had misread something :)
Of course Eve was naked, and God was ok with it.

[John_And_Elijah]

Moderation is key. A woman must dress modest 9 times out of 10. If you want to look extra sexy every now and then for your husband during a night out, that's fine.

[HelpfulWoman]

XD imagine thinking god gives a shit about it, and thinking that a book made by men is something to aspire to XD

[EmmaMary]

It's all complete and utter Bollox.

[strateguy632]

all? just half.

[jahaims]

It's all made up so interpret it however your imagination sees fit.