Topical Bible: Sobriety: Women should Exhibit, in Dress

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Sobriety, in the context of Christian teachings, refers to a demeanor of self-control, moderation, and restraint. This concept extends to various aspects of life, including the way women are encouraged to present themselves through their attire. The Bible provides guidance on this matter, emphasizing the importance of modesty and propriety in dress as an expression of inner godliness and reverence.

The Apostle Paul addresses the issue of women's dress in his first letter to Timothy, where he advises women to dress modestly and with decency. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10 , Paul writes, "Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God." This passage underscores the principle that a woman's external appearance should reflect her inner commitment to God, prioritizing good deeds and a humble spirit over outward adornment.

Similarly, the Apostle Peter echoes this sentiment in his first epistle. In 1 Peter 3:3-4 , he instructs, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight." Here, Peter emphasizes the value of inner beauty and character over external appearances, encouraging women to cultivate a spirit that is pleasing to God.

The call for sobriety in dress is not merely about the avoidance of extravagance or immodesty but is deeply rooted in the Christian understanding of identity and witness. By choosing attire that reflects modesty and self-control, women demonstrate their commitment to living a life that honors God and aligns with His teachings. This approach to dress serves as a testimony to their faith and a reflection of their dedication to embodying Christian virtues.

In the broader biblical context, the principle of sobriety in dress is part of a larger call to holiness and distinctiveness as God's people. The emphasis on modesty and propriety in attire is a tangible expression of the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life, guiding them to live in a manner that is set apart from worldly values and focused on eternal truths.

Throughout church history, the interpretation and application of these biblical teachings have varied, yet the underlying principle remains consistent: women are encouraged to dress in a way that reflects their devotion to God, prioritizing inner beauty and godliness over external adornment. This approach to dress is seen as an integral part of a woman's witness to her faith and her commitment to living a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Timothy 2:9
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with modesty and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

1 Cor. xi. 2
... yet in their deeds some of our women should be found ... in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with ... much more is it becoming to exhibit the same ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxvi 1 cor xi.htm

Means to be Used with Sinners.
... If the devil should come in and see the state of ... Only "let the women adorn themselves
in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with ...
/.../finney/lectures on revivals of religion/lecture ix means to be.htm

Womanhood of the Byzantine Decadence
... when the last surviving Greek kingdom should succumb to the ... her deportment is marked
by a sobriety of manner ... The women of the lower classes, no doubt, preserve ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/xv womanhood of the byzantine.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.' Surely we ... cast from the mirrors
of the women who [4370 ... who had improvidently made a vow, should learn his ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

Homilies on the Epistles to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.
... Sobriety, what it consists in, [3851]536 ... have entered upon a great contest,
[3959]ib.; should be an ... Wine, women given to, [4006]441; danger of, [4007]442; those ...
/.../homilies on the epistles to.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1812 to the Death of ...
... by the hostile Indians on defenseless women and children ... He gave an example of sobriety,
temperance, and industry ... As to the stations, I should never exhibit a ...
/.../chapter 2 from the close.htm

On the Departure of Flavian, Bishop of Antioch, who was Gone on an ...
... from their calamities; and not men only, but also women. ... are in sin, if they do not
exercise sobriety at all ... for the orthodox by Lucifer, and should have had ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily iii on the departure.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... This law, that Christians should not be compelled to sacrifice, was enacted just
before ... The same thing we hold regarding women, and freely to all we loose from ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... Much, therefore, of the present chapter will exhibit a state ... to consist only of a
few women; and the ... the kingdom,'[1002] Church festivals should have recovered ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm