(1) Content
2:9 Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control.
(NET) While v. 8 singles out anger and disputing as unhealthy male tendencies, vv. 9–10 balance off this instruction with mention of a female tendency: unhealthy concern with bodily appearance. Just as in v. 8 Paul was not accusing all men of being hotheads, so here he is not accusing every woman of being vain...It takes only a few strategically positioned angry men or glamour-obsessed women to set an unhealthy tone for a much larger group.
(NET) While v. 8 singles out anger and disputing as unhealthy male tendencies, vv. 9–10 balance off this instruction with mention of a female tendency: unhealthy concern with bodily appearance. Just as in v. 8 Paul was not accusing all men of being hotheads, so here he is not accusing every woman of being vain...It takes only a few strategically positioned angry men or glamour-obsessed women to set an unhealthy tone for a much larger group.
Reflection:
Just as we dont want to have brothers in the church to be angry and having disputes, we ourselves should not be overly obsessive about our appearance.
(2) Repeated words:
"suitable apparel" v.9, "good deeds, as is proper for women..." v.10
Reflection: In other words, there is some suitable apparel and some which is not so suitable. More importantly, we need to adorn ourselves not with clothings but with our good deeds. What is suitable to do for someone who claims to fear God?
(3) What is the suitable dress?
v.9a Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control.
Suitable=(BDB) pertaining to being appropriate for winning approval, appropriate
modesty=(BDB) This term expresses the opposite of considering or treating something in a common or ordinary manner; a respect for convention.
self-control=(BDB) practice of prudence, good judgment, moderation, self-control as exercise of care and intelligence appropriate to circumstances
Note, Paul did not comment on what style of dress is suitable and what style is not. What does the dress express about you? Are you just following the trend or are you exercising modesty? Are you exercising care and good judgment or do you not care about that and dress whatever you like?
(4) What is an unsuitable dress?
v.9b Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing,
(NAC) The prohibition against “braided hair” or expensive jewelry or clothing prohibits a gaudy, showy display, not normal attention to neatness and good taste. Paul perhaps referred to a style in which “women … wore their hair in enormously elaborate arrangements with braids and curls interwoven or piled high like towers and decorated with gems and/or gold and/or pearls.” At best such a style demonstrates pride and self-centeredness and should not be the concern of Christian women (cf. 1 Pet 3:3). The fact that some Christian women could afford gold or pearls indicates that the Ephesian church had some members of substantial wealth (cf. 1 Cor 1:26–28). Acceptable standards of modesty will vary with place and generation, but Paul wanted the women to cultivate the fear of God rather than vanity.
Reflection:
Reflection:
Perhaps we can afford more expensive clothes now than when we were young. However, money is not to be used to satisfy our ego. And we shall not show off in front of the needy people. Take in consideration that the church has both rich and poor brothers and sisters.
Audrey
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