Paul’s Instructions Concerning Public Worship (Part 2)

Paul’s Instructions Concerning Public Worship (Part 2)

Introduction:

Review:

Paul is instructing Timothy concerning public worship and the conduct of believing men and women when they gather for worship.

These principles would also apply outside of church gatherings.

What are the Biblical principles that apply to us today?

The passage in three translations:

1 Timothy 2:9-10 NLT
9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 ESV
9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 NIV
9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Examine the Scriptures:

Paul’s Instructions Concerning Public Worship (Part 2)
1 Timothy 2:9-10 NLT

Verse 9 begins with:

9 And

Likewise (ESV) 

I also want (NIV)

Paul is not changing the subject completely. He is continuing to describe what should characterize believers when they gather as the church. His concern is that Christian worship and Christian conduct should reflect godliness. 

The subject is still community prayer (NLT commentary) 

I want women to be modest in their appearance. (NLT) 

 women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel,  (ESV)

I also want the women to dress modestly, (NIV)

Modesty involves an attitude that does not intentionally draw inappropriate attention to oneself.

Modesty recognizes that our bodies, appearance, and behavior should be treated with dignity rather than used to attract inappropriate attention.

They should wear decent and appropriate clothing NLT 

with modesty and self-control, (ESV)

with decency and propriety (NIV) 

  • Godly women are encouraged to dress modestly, with decency and propriety.

Propriety can be translated as “discretion,” “self-control,” or “sound judgment.” It emphasizes emotional and moral self-restraint—making choices governed by wisdom rather than cultural vanity. 

  • Paul isn’t saying that outward appearance is irrelevant. Rather, outward appearance should never become more important than inward character.

Paul does not condemn beauty or care for one’s appearance; rather, he contrasts external, temporal adornment with internal, spiritual character. 

and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.  (NLT) 

not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, (ESV) 

not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, (NIV)

This is not a ban on jewelry or braided hair.

  • Paul is expressing caution in a society where such things were signs of extravagant luxury and proud personal display.

Ephesus was a major Roman trade and religious hub (home to the Temple of Artemis). High-status, wealthy women often used intricate hairstyles braided with gold, extravagant jewelry, and expensive silk or dyed garments as public displays of wealth, social status, and civic influence.

  • In Ephesus, socio-economic status was frequently displayed through elaborate clothing and hair.

Two quotes from MacArthur’s Bible Commentary.

“Women in the church were living impure and self-centered lives, and that practice carried over into the worship service, where they be­came distractions. Because of the centrality if worship in the life of the church, Paul calls on Timothy to confront the problem.”  (MacArthur)

“Specific practices were causing distraction and discord in the church. Women in the first century often wove gold, pearls, or other jewelry into their hair styles to call attention to themselves and their wealth or beauty. The same was true of those women who wore costly clothing. By doing so they would draw attention to themselves and away from the Lord, likely causing the poorer women to be envious. Paul’s point was to forbid the preoccupation of certain women with flaunting their wealth and distracting people from worshiping the Lord.” (MacArthur)

Remember:

  • Worship gatherings are meant to exalt God, not display personal wealth or draw attention to oneself.

The focus for women who are gathered for worship should be praising God, rather than seeking attention from other people.

The latter appears to be happening in some cases at some of our current worship services.

Corporate worship should not be a venue for social competition or displaying economic superiority.

A Christian should not be governed by:

      • the desire to impress others
      • the desire for attention
      • fashion or status
      • material possessions
      • personal vanity 

10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. (NLT)

10 (adorn themselves) with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. (ESV) 

10 (adorning themselves) with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (NIV)

Paul gives women a positive alternative.

  • Make yourself attractive by the good things you do.

Refer to 1 Peter 3:3-4
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Romans 14:13 NLT
… Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. 

The emphasis should be the internal, not the external.

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

The heart is ultimately the issue.

What do you value most? Appearance or character.

  • Consider the question: “What am I communicating by the way I present myself?”

What does my appearance and behavior reveal about what I value?

Ask. “How can my life reflect Christ?”

Am I focused on praising God or am I seeking to be praised by people.

If we claim to be followers of Christ, our outward lives should reflect that profession.

Two verses to reflect on:

Philippians 2:3-4 NL
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

In conclusion.

Reject the world’s standards for measuring beauty.

Remember:

From Psalm 139:13-18 NLT
14 …
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
…
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!

It should be a women’s faithful service in the name of Christ that makes her attractive to others.

From Proverbs 31:10-31 NLT
A Wife of Noble Character

25 She (A wife of noble character) is clothed with strength and dignity, 

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.