Your confusion stems from your failure to realize that women should not go around naked ... Of course you realize that, but Peter and Paul's point is that women should not only be concerned with outward appearance but also with the heart. There is an absolute necessity for outward adorning. But women should not be only concerned about outward adorning. There is nothing wrong with women wearing gold. But study the first century context and you will see what the point is. What is being condemned is a style of dress that draws undue attention to their outward appearance and compromises or questions their godliness. Gold and hairstyles does not have to do this; it may if not used appropriately.Originally posted by timothy 1769:
1 Peter 3
Submission to Husbands
Serving and Suffering for God's Glory
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- 4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
What is the textual basis for adding "merely" above to the Word of God? I'm so confused by the contradiction it introduces!
1 Timothy 2
9in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,
Should women wear gold or not? The only thing my mind of limited intelligence can come up with in that the NKJV translation must have been tainted by some evil force (shudder). Either feminism or that strange spooky symbol on the front cover.
Today, we have a breed of people who focus on outward adorning to an unhealthy and unbiblical point. They insist that women wear no pants. That is an undue concern with outward adorning. We have even had people suggest dishonesty by saying that when you wear shorts, you should make them look like a dress so nobody really knows you are wearing shorts. These people need to drop this obsession with outward appearance since it is a direct violation of the Scripture. The rule of Scripture is modesty and appropriateness.
There is no confusion here.
[ September 25, 2003, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: Pastor Larry ]