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Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved, Ron Wahlquist. All the articles on this website are the sole property of the writers, so we ask you not to use them without asking their permission.
The world system includes a selfish mindset. Projects are enthroned above people. We have forgotten how to nurture relationships. We are not called to merely put off the world's staining influence on our thinking and behavior. We must put something on, too. In this column I would like to attempt to offer a few suggestions on how to "put on" Christ-likeness. I hope to receive ideas from others to post also. A wise mother taught me that in conquering bad habits, sinful behavior, and tainted talk, repenting is essential, but along with emptying must come filling. We must replace the negative sinful man with good habits, right behavior, edifying speech etc. This column is offered to help us to practically and positively become untainted by the world.
We plan to update this column once a month, and welcome ideas from others to post, as well. Contact me here.
~ Christian Adornment?
~ Out at 18?
~ The Tale  of Two Thieves
~ Emergency Preparedness
~ Two Temples
~ "Wash On Monday..."
~ Frustration: Harmless Venting?
~ Parental Supervision Required
~ The Monster of Pride
~ Assign Good Works to Practice Godliness
~ Doing Without TV
~ Encouraging Love for Good Music
~ The Sabatoging Element
~ Build Self-Control & Creativity
~ Wrong Attitudes - Getting to the Heart of Your Child
~ Training Makes A Difference
~ Blanket Training Tips
~ The Power of Positive Praise
~ Keepers At Home Guard What Music Enters
~ What is the Music Saying?
~ Biblical Submission ~ Building Loyalty in Our Children
~ A Reminder to Guard Our Tongues
~ My Mother's Example as a Homemaker
~ A Provoked Spirit Reveals Pride
~ The Call to Not Grow Weary or Discouraged
~ Training Attentiveness
~ Graciousness vs. Peevishness
~ Organization for the Soul
~ Our Responsibility for Our Children's Health
~ First-Time Obedience - Why?
~ Link to 'Independent Mom' Article
~ The "I Need Me-Time" Myth
~ The Family Table
~ Delighting in Our Children
~ Testimony from the Life of a Missionary
~ Comforting Our Children as God Comforts Us
~ Classical Homeschooling
~ Keeping Our Children's Hearts
~ A Merry Heart
~ Fear vs. Faith
~ Poem from a Child's View
~ A New Year's Resolution
~ the Deception of Anger
Archived posts:
by Janet Wahlquist

There is much confusion over women's clothing and whether it is sinful or worldly to use jewelry, fine materials or braiding of the hair, etc.  The two verses which are most used to support an avoidance of adornment are 1 Peter 3:2-5 and Timothy.

The meaning of the two passages in question, can be taken two ways.  Because of logic and the specific words used, words which communicate specific ideas, they could really have only two possible interpretations. And one must be right to the exclusion of the other.

One, that Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit is establishing a new commandment, one completely new, never commanded or even inferred by any sentence in the Old Testament, and not mentioned by Jesus or other New Testament writings.  The command?  Women, not men too, are not to ever wear costly garments, gold, jewels, and must not braid their hair. All three aspects of outward adornment are forbidden.  Doing even one of these is sin.  Although women were free up until now to do these things (no negative commands and positive examples of godly women wearing jewelry, God and others lavishing beauty and ornaments on brides, etc. See verses attached) but now they are singled out as forbidden.  It is wrong now to dress this way.  Outward adorning is now out, whether in private or public.

The other way that these inspired words could be meant and understood is as an exhortation for women (who tend to  focus on outer appearance)  not to neglect their spiritual development and to put it as a higher priority than decorating themselves outwardly.  Examining the context of the passages, and the writing of the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments we see the consistency of this exhortation.  The writing everywhere around these verses agrees with the second interpretation.  In this second view, Paul is making a strong contrast between being concerned for the outward appearance at the expense of inner character development.  He is saying:  Let a woman's real decoration and apparel be godly spiritual virtues, not merely looking good on the outside. Like the men exhorted by Paul in the paragraph before, the women also should be focusing on inner, holy character. The words, "Likewise ye women", and "in like manner" which begins these verses alert us to this.  The men are not commanded in any way as far as vestments or jewelry or anything external, but are given instructions on prayer, etc...  In like manner, the women must cultivate the spiritual, also.   If there had been even one specific command for the men involving eschewing something material, fancy clothes, perhaps, or rings, BMWs, anything, one could infer that these adornments for women are also banned.   It's not there in either passage, although both have us looking back to the exhortations to men which come before.  A side note is that in 1 Peter, the address is to wives only but the Timothy passage addresses women more generally.
Also, as women are instructed to look on the inner and not the outer (or are forbidden the outer adorning, depending on the two interpretations), they are urged to look to the holy women of old for a demonstration of this in action.  Sarah is one example of the plural women who modeled this and obeyed this principle.  What are the holy women in the Old Testament up to?  We are told that Sarah had the meek and quiet spirit that we should focus on.  Although ornamentation and fine clothes were used by wealthy women like her, nowhere does the Bible mention her clothing, jewelry or hair style.  Her physical beauty is noted as enough to stun pagan rulers. Her godly trust and obedience shines forth as our beacon.

The Proverbs 31 woman, lifted up as the ideal wife for a godly king, is wearing silk and purple and she makes coverings of tapestry.  She is wearing expensive, elaborate outer adorning.  This is one of the praiseworthy characteristics which is listed. It is lifted up as our example.  It is part of the description of things which commend her to this would- be suitor.  Even with only this Old Testament. Verse, the interpretation that costly garments are forbidden in the New Testament takes on a schizophrenic slant.

Jewelry is often compared to something of great value, something very good in both Old Testament and New Testament.  The Israelites were to be separate from the sinful, ungodly habits of the pagans around them.  God himself gave them very specific laws to ensure this.  However, with such a great opportunity to command them not to use jewelry, braids, or fine clothing, nothing is said against such practices by God or the prophets. Lots of other rules are given like not wearing linen and wool woven together. The verses in 1 Timothy and 1 Peter are best interpreted to admonish women to not take too much care of the outer adorning at the expense of the inner, more important putting on of a meek and quiet spirit.  God created so much elaborate beauty and finery in His world, much which seems to have no other purpose than to please the eye. We reverence others by taking care of our appearance and being a joy to behold.  The heart motive is the key.  We are exhorted to adorn ourselves first and foremost with a meek and quiet spirit, more precious that gold to God.

Listed below are a some verses which show the favorable way gold, jewelry and fancy clothes are portrayed (by writers inspired by the same Holy Spirit).
Song 1:10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
Song 1:11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
Pr 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Ge 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
Ge 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

Ex 3:22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.
2Sa 1:24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
Es 8:15 And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
Ps 45:9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
Ps 45:13 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
Pr 25:12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Song 1:10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.
Song 1:11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.
Eze 16:13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Pr 11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
2Sa 13:18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.
Mt 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mt 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Isa 49:18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.