1 Timothy 2:9

b. With orderly array and deportment of women, 1 Timothy 2:9-15 .

9. The apostle is still enjoining the orderly conducting of public worship, the manner of men’s prayer, and the style of women’s dress and deportment in the religious assembly. All this must be read with clear reference to what we have said in 1 Corinthians 11:0 of the women of that age and clime.

In like manner Supply I will from 1 Timothy 2:8.

Modest apparel Ellicott renders it, “in seemly guise,” inasmuch as the Greek word includes not only the apparel but the whole presentation.

Shamefacedness The old word in the earlier editions of the English Bible was “shamefastness,” analogous to steadfastness, which in later editions has become the present unfortunate word, “shamefacedness,” for modesty.

Sobriety The calm reserve of feminine self-respect.

Braided hair Rather, hair-braids.

Gold Which was often woven into the hair-braids.

Costly array The ordinary form of female extravagance. And this is counterbalanced usually by half a dozen forms of male extravagance, such as ardent spirits, cigars, blooded horses, etc. The precepts of the apostle are good for all ages, and especially the present days of “fast” living. They are based in pure taste and sound reason. Pure simplicity of taste ever becomes the Christian. Yet it can hardly be said that the articles here specified are placed under positive prohibition. The principle of modest dress and deportment is stated under a mention of specific articles. And here, as in 1 Peter 3:3, the articles are not so much specifically forbidden, as counsel given that it is not in these that our claims to the respect of others should consist. And as it is the sacred congregation that the apostle here is regulating, he powerfully dissuades the making the sanctuary, not a place of devout worship, but of fashionable display.