1 Timothy 2:9 - Exposition

In like manner for in like manner also , A.V. and T.R.; braided for broided , A.V.; and gold for or gold , A.V.; raiment for array , A.V. The apostle here passes on to the duties of women as members of the congregation, and he places first modesty of demeanor and dress, the contrary to these being likely to prove a hurt and a hindrance to their fellow-worshippers. Adorn themselves in modest apparel. This is obviously the true construction, κοσμεῖν depending upon βούλομαι . There is a little doubt as to the exact meaning of καταστολή here, the only place where it occurs in the New Testament. Alford argues strongly in favor of the meaning "apparel." But it may also mean "steadiness" or "quietness" of demeanor; and then the phrase will be exactly parallel to 1 Peter 3:5 , "The incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit." And the meaning will be, "Let Christian women adorn themselves with a decent and well-ordered quietness of demeanor, in strict accordance with [or, 'together with'] shame-fastness and sobriety [ μετά , 'in strict accord with,' or 'together with'] not with braided hair," etc. A woman's true ornament is not the finery which sire gets from the milliner, but the chaste discretion which she has from the Spirit of God. Modest ( κόσμιος ); only found in the New Testament here and in 1 Timothy 3:2 , where it is rendered" of good behavior" in the A.V., and "modest" in the margin, "orderly" in the R.V. It is common in classical Greek in the sense of "welt-ordered," "welt-behaved." Shamefastness ( αἰδώς , bashfulness). So the edition of 1611; "shamefacedness" in the later editions is a corruption. Archbishop Trench compares "stead fast," "soothfast," "root fast," "master-fast," "footfast," "bedfast," with their substantives ('Synonyms of New Test.,' § 20.). Sobriety ( σωφροσύνη , as in 1 Timothy 3:15 , q . v .); soundness, health, purity, and integrity of mind. ἁπὸ τοῦ σώας τὰς φρένας ἔχειν (Chrysostom, 'Ap. Trench.'). Braided hair ( πλέγμασιν ); found only here in the New Testament, but used in Aquila and Theodotion, instead of the πλεκείς or πλακείς of the LXX ., in Isaiah 28:5 , for הרָיפִץְ , a "diadem," or "twined garland." In classical Greek πλέγματα are anything twined, tendrils of the vine, wickerwork, chaplets, etc. The corresponding word in 1 Peter 3:3 is ἐμπλοκὴ τριχῶν , "plaiting the hair." Costly raiment ( ἱματισμῷ πολυτελεῖ ). For ἱματισμὸς , comp. Luke 7:25 ; Luke 9:23 ; Acts 20:33 ; Psalms 45:10 , LXX .; etc., which show tinct the word is used κατ ἐξοχήν of any splendid garment (Schleusuer). πολυτελής , costly. St. Peter manifestly had this passage before him from the marked verbal coincidences, as well as close similarity of thought ( ἐμπλοκή χρύσιον κόσμος ἱμάτιον , πολυτελής ἀγαθοποιοῦσαι (compared with δι ἔργων ἀγαθῶν ), ἡσυχία ὑποταγή , (compared with ὑποτασσόμεναι ), ἁγαίαι γυναῖκες κ . τ . λ . (compared with ἐπαγγελλόμεναις θεοσέβειαν ). (See reference to St. Paul's Epistles in 2 Peter 3:15 .)