1 Timothy 2:9-10

‘In the same way, that women adorn themselves in modest clothing (or ‘with a modest demeanour’), with modesty and sobriety, not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment, but (which is becoming to women professing godliness) through good works.’

In the same way as men are to ‘lift up holy hands’ when praying, so must women when praying also ensure that they are adorned with modesty, either with modest clothing, or with a modest demeanour (the word can mean either), as an indication of their dedication to God. The point is that in places of public worship especially they must avoid ostentation and seeking to be objects of admiration and of men’s attention. In the place where God is being worshipped this would be seeking to take attention away from God and would be the equivalent of idolatry and blasphemy. It would thus demonstrate a wayward heart.

It is equally true of a woman who comes to public worship scantily dressed, or deliberately revealing her feminine attractions. Rather women should be ‘dressed’ in good works (although even then not ostentatiously) as well as modest clothing. For this is what is becoming to those who profess to love and honour God. Being ‘dressed through good works’ is the equivalent of having holy hands. It means that they come to God as those seen through their lives to be dedicated to His will and desirous of pleasing Him. It demonstrates that their hearts are right. (Of course, we should remind ourselves that ‘holy hands’ will also have been doing good works).

Undoubtedly a major point in mind here is the danger of attracting worship to themselves rather than to God. But equally as important is the attitude of heart that it reveals. There is nothing God-like in ostentation. It depicts someone who is vain and thoughtless. Many poor women would be present in the worship meetings and would feel humiliation when they compared themselves with these women, because of their own poverty of dress and lack of ornaments. Thus to deliberately make a show of wealth would be both obnoxious and unkind. There is nothing holy about that.

However, the mention of good works gives the words a wider connection, and we should therefore also see this as a warning against ostentation and vanity in all aspects of life. The Christian woman should always be an example to her sex of sobriety and godliness. This does not, however, mean that she has to be dowdy. Carelessness of dress can be as bad a witness as being overdressed.