1 Tim 2:9-15 (KJV) states:
9: In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.
10: But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
11: Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12: But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13: For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15: Not withstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
The only word we really need to look at in the Greek is in verse 9 for "apparel" which is katastolē. Katastolē means equipment, dress, properly a long garment or robe reaching down to the feet, according to greattreasures.org. Now my interpretation of "robe" would be the equivalent of today's dress or skirt. Yes it does say reaching down to the feet and I guess that I have yet to get there, but it is because of Isaiah 47:2-3 where it says "2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. 3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.".
What is modesty? Well as defined by Webster, modesty is "That lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one's own worth and importance. In females, modesty has the like character as in males; but the words is used also as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity ofmind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the firchest gem in the diadem of their honor."
What is Christian Modesty? As defined by Jeff Pollard, Christian modesty is "the inner self-government, rooted in a proper understanding of one's self before God, which outwardly displays itself in humility and purity from a genuine love for Jesus Christ, rather than in self-glorification or self-advertisement."
My skirts are all at minimum knee length, but most of them are mid-calf and I have 2 that are ankle length. However, I would like to wear them longer...right now this is a battle with my mom. She thinks I make myself look older than I am when I wear long skirts. But maybe this wouldn't be a bad thing since I recently got asked if I was with the 6th grade...as in a 6th grade student.
What is your thought about how Christian women ought to dress? Does the word katastolē have an influence on your opinion or no?
Blessings in Christ,
I don't think that long skirts or skirts in general age anyone...I do however think that our society expects young women to wear revealing clothes because that is the "standard". I live in an area that seems not to be aware of these issues AT ALL and it hurts my heart to see young girls dressed so provocatively! I just wish that most people would at least think about what they allow their kids to wear and what it means to everyone around them...I know that I wore things that I would never even look at now because my family just wasn't 'aware'.
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