I Timothy 2:9-10 “9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”
Biblical Principles for Our Appearance
Your heart is more important than your appearance. The Bible commands us to not emphasize or focus on our physical appearance (the “outward man”: see 2 Corinthians 4:16; 10:7), but instead to be more concerned with our “inner” person (see 1 Peter 3:1-6). This is illustrated in the fascinating note about the construction of the tabernacle, where many pious women gave up their personal mirrors to make the brass laver for the service of God in the tabernacle (Exodus 38:8; see also 35:22). Whereas the world is infatuated with looks and beauty, the Bible declares that “beauty is vain” (Proverbs 31:30). The vanity of beauty is due to the fact that it is merely temporary (Isaiah 40:6-7; Psalm 103:14-16)––beauty doesn’t last forever––and also because beauty is superficial (Proverbs 11:22; Isaiah 3:16-26; see also the beautiful yet wicked characters of Jezebel: 1 Kings 18-21; 2 Kings 9, see v.30; the great whore, Revelation 17:4)––beauty doesn’t necessarily reflect one’s character. God has often used people of despised appearance to do a great work for him (e.g., the young David: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; the short Zacchaeus, Luke 19:1-9). The Bible typically gives little descriptions of appearance compared to worldly books and stories (e.g., the descriptions of the virtuous woman have more to do with what she does rather than how she looks: Proverbs 31:10-31).
1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
God cares about our appearance. God gives commands on how we should look as Christians (see 1 Corinthians 11:1-16; 1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-4), and gave directives to the Israelites concerning their appearance (e.g., no tattoos, Leviticus 19:28) and apparel (e.g., Deuteronomy 22:5, 11). Though how we appear to others is not the most important part of our life, it is nevertheless important. God knows and cares about every aspect of our life (Psalm 139:1-6; Matthew 10:30), and everything we do should be done in the name of Jesus Christ to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31).
Matthew 23:26 “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
Clothing Christians Should Wear
A Christian’s Clothing Should COVER THEIR NAKEDNESS
When God created Adam and Eve, “they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). However, after their fall into sin, they received a moral consciousness of their nakedness with a resulting feeling of shame (Genesis 3:7).
Mankind’s “naked” region spans “from the loins even unto the thighs” (Exodus 28:40-43; see also Isaiah 47:1-3). Our clothing must fully cover this area of our body for us to not be considered by God to be naked.
Nakedness is often associated with shame throughout scripture (Exodus 32:25; Isaiah 20:4; 47:3; Nahum 3:5; Revelation 3:18; 16:15), and it is connected to various vices (e.g., negligence: Genesis 9:20-27; cowardice: Mark 14:51-52; hypocrisy: 1 Samuel 19:18-24).
Someone’s being made naked is a sign/indication of desolation and destruction (see Deuteronomy 28:48; Ezekiel 16:7-8, 22, 39; 23:29; Hosea 2:3; Revelation 17:16; 1 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 11:27; see also Job 1:21; Ecclesiastes 5:15). Occasionally when possessed by demons, people would publicly strip off their clothes (Luke 8:27), showing that public nakedness could be demonic (either actually, by possession, or influentially, by deception).
A Christian’s Clothing Should BE MODEST
Modesty is a combination behavior of decency and moderation. The essence of modesty is that one does not draw attention to themselves:
- Modest clothing is non-attention-drawing: putting the focus on God, not yourself: Adam and Eve covered their nakedness (Genesis 3:7), but God clothed them modestly (Genesis 3:21).
- Modest clothing is non-self-defining: not obsessive, time-consuming, or the focus of your thoughts (Luke 12:23; see also 2 Corinthians 5:10-13).
- Modest clothing is non-self-glorifying: rather, it is God-glorifying (1 Corinthians 6:20; 10:31).
What clothing we put on should be appropriate for a saint to wear (Romans 16:2; Ephesians 5:3), because we have a holy and a high calling (2 Timothy 1:9; Philippians 3:14) to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3). Just like we are supposed to “put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:24) and to “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27; Romans 13:14), we should also pay attention to what kind of clothes we are “putting on.” Your clothing is a testimony to Christ and his gospel (see Philippians 1:27; Titus 2:11-13). Various modesty principles should govern what we wear (from 1 Timothy 2:9):
- Modesty is shamefacedness––“with shamefacedness”; not vain, attention-seeking, or proud.
Revealing clothing which shows the body or suggests the body to potential observers is immodest (see Proverbs 7:10; Jeremiah 3:3; see also Proverbs 31:25). Neither men nor women should wear external clothing (e.g., a shirt, trousers, or dress) which too tightly clings to them, revealing far too many aspects of their physique, or such clothing which does not cover a significant enough portion of their body (e.g., their chest). Jesus wore loose clothing on earth and in heaven which totally covered his body (Revelation 1:13), and believers will wear loose clothing in heaven of like craft (Revelation 6:11). Our clothing should not be a temptation to others (Romans 14:13, 21; 1 Corinthians 8:9).
- Modesty is sobriety––“and sobriety”; not to please others or be trendy.
God expects us to be “sober” and “grave” in our behavior (see Titus 2:2, 4, 6, 12). We should wear clothing which has a functional purpose (Isaiah 23:17-18), like for covering ourselves (Exodus 28:42) or for warming ourselves (see Haggai 1:6). We should avoid clothing that brands and associates us with the world (Romans 12:1-2; John 17:15-16; James 4:4). It is interesting that when the queen of Sheba came to Solomon’s kingdom, one of the things that impressed her was the “apparel” of his ministers (1 Kings 10:4-5). Those who dress in a childish and/or non-serious manner are immodest. Examples include:
- Appearances which have elaborate or strange designs: designed holes in trousers; unnatural hair colors and patterns.
- Appearances which require constant attention: ungirded trousers; certain intricate dresses.
- Appearances which are ostentatious: flamboyant colors, non-gender specific colors.
- Modesty is simplicity––“not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls”; not over-complicated, showy, or self-centered.
Our clothing can be stylish, but it should not be showy (Ezekiel 16:10). Jesus appeared physically as a normal person on earth (Isaiah 53:1-2), and did not attract specific praise for how he dressed. A common immodest practice in terms of simplicity is when a woman applies to themselves cosmetics, which are unnatural, showy, and whorish (see 2 Kings 9:30; Jeremiah 4:30; Ezekiel 23:40; see also Proverbs 6:25). Most forms of makeup, if not all, are strikingly immodest.
- Modesty is non-pricey––“costly array”; inexpensive and cost-efficient clothing.
An immodest person dresses in a covetous manner (Acts 20:33; see also Luke 12:15; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:10), wearing unnecessarily expensive accoutrements (e.g., rings, necklaces) and pricey clothing.
A Christian’s Clothing Should HAVE A GENDER DIFFERENCE
According to Deuteronomy 22:5, there must be an observable difference between men’s and women’s clothing. All cross-dressing is forbidden by this text, and God does not change
(Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; Psalm 102:27; cf. Hebrews 1:12). Cross-dressing is an abomination to God, not merely the culture, and interestingly, cross-dressers are described as being themselves an abomination. Men are supposed to wear trousers and shorts, and women are supposed to wear dresses and skirts. Furthermore, women should not wear “that which pertains unto a man”: even the kind of clothing that appears like the clothing that is exclusively for men. The immodest “women’s trousers” and the cultural dress/tunic men wear is unbiblical.
Deuteronomy 22:5 “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.”
There are three different “genders” to clothing:
| ♂ Masculine (Male) clothing ♂ | – Neuter (Neutral) Clothing – | ♀ Feminine (Female) Clothing ♀ |
Historically, as well as in Biblical times, Men have always worn trousers and shorts (“breeches”: Exodus 28:42; 39:28; Leviticus 6:10; 16:4; Ezekiel 44:18; “hosen”: Daniel 3:21), and women have always worn dresses and skirts (Nahum 3:5; Jeremiah 13:26). The fact that men “gird up their loins” in a different way than women shows that there is a fundamental difference in the loin-to-leg region of their respective clothing (“like a man,” Job 38:3; 40:7; see Gehazi: 2 Kings 4:29; a son of the prophets: 2 Kings 9:1; Jeremiah: Jeremiah 1:17; see also the virtuous woman “girding her loins” in Proverbs 31:17). Moreover, there is a euphemism of “covering the feet” for male action with their clothes when relieving themselves (King Saul of Israel: 1 Samuel 24; King Eglon of Moab: Judges 3:12-25). One should understand that retaining gender-specific appearance does not annul equality in dignity between men and women (1 Corinthians 11:11-12).
Principles on Clothing
What you wear is how you act.
- The high priest’s clothing was different from other people, and consecrated him for special service to God (Exodus 28; Eleazar took Aaron’s clothes: Numbers 20:25-26).
- The mantle of Elijah symbolically bore his virtue (1 Kings 19:19; 2 Kings 2:13-14).
- John the Baptist’s clothing made him a rough and strong person, rather than delicate and weak (Mark 1:6; see also Luke 7:25; Matthew 11:8).
How to dress for church.
- We should dress for church in a reverential way (Hebrews 12:28; Leviticus 19:30; 26:2).
- We should dress for church in a holy way (Exodus 28:2, 40).
- We should dress for church in good faith (Romans 14:23).
- We should dress for church in a humble way (Matthew 23:5; Mark 12:38).
Hairstyle Christians Should Have (1 Corinthians 11:1-16)
The length of our hair is an important feature of our external appearance. While there are very minor exceptions to this rule (see Numbers 6), it is generally true that women should have long hair and men should have short hair.
Women Should Have Long Hair
According to Paul, a woman praying/prophesying with short hair dishonors her husband (1 Corinthians 11:5) and is irreverent of the presence of the angels which are our ministers (1 Corinthians 11:10; see also Hebrews 1:14; I Peter 1:12; Psalm 91:11). It is inappropriate (1 Corinthians 11:13) and unnatural (1 Corinthians 11:14; see also Revelation 9:7-8) for a woman to have short hair, and a woman with short hair is just as shameful as a woman having no hair (1 Corinthians 11:6; see also Jeremiah 7:29; Isaiah 3:24; Ezekiel 16:7). By contrast, long hair on a woman is glorious and beautiful (1 Corinthians 11:15; see also Song of Solomon 4:1; 6:5; 7:5), and it also brings glory to God (1 Corinthians 11:7-9). The custom of all New Testament churches was that women have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:16).
OBJECTION: “The ‘covering’ in 1 Corinthians 11 is headgear, not hair.”
This is clearly refuted by the fact that the passage itself says, “her hair is given her for a covering” (1 Corinthians 11:15). Beyond this, the first kind of clothing mankind wore originated after the fall, implying that Eve did not wear any headgear. Moreover, because short hair is construed as unnatural on women by Paul, Eve must have had long hair before the fall for Paul’s argument based on nature to work (see 1 Corinthians 11:7-12; cf. Genesis 2:25). Also consider that God ordained that men praying and prophesying in the Old Testament wore hats (Mitre: Exodus 28:4, 39; 29:6; 39:28; Leviticus 16:4; Zechariah 3:5; Bonnet: Exodus 28:40; 29:9; Leviticus 8:13; Ezekiel 44:18; Hat: Daniel 3:16-21); obviously there was no problem, because the hat is not hair, and long hair is the covering the Bible speaks of.
Men Should Have Short Hair
Whereas long hair on women is essential to their honor and piety, men are always expected to have short hair. A man with long hair praying or preaching dishonors Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:3-4). Long hair on men is a sign of their rebellion (e.g., Absalom, 2 Samuel 14:25-26; 18:6-15) and madness (see Daniel 4:28-37). It is, again, inappropriate (1 Corinthians 11:13) and unnatural (1 Corinthians 11:14) for a man to have long hair. Men glorify God in their appearance by keeping their hair short (1 Corinthians 11:7-9), and this was also the custom of all New Testament churches:
1 Corinthians 11:16 “But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.”
Psalm 132:9 “Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.”