Bible Dress Code for Women
The Bible reveals that God cares about how women dress. A Christian woman should be known for her beautiful heart and helpful attitude as opposed to her fancy clothes. The apostle Peter says about Christian women, “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3,4).
It is not fitting for Christian women to make a display of dress and ornaments to attract attention to themselves. Their greatest attraction should be their Christian conduct (1 Peter 3:2). Instead of focusing on fashion to draw attention to themselves, Christian women should focus on the “inner beauty” of a meek and quiet spirit.
The apostle Paul teaches, “that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9,10). Although rings, bracelets, and anklets were customary for women in the Roman Empire, such “wearing of gold” was contrary to the principle of Christian modesty and simplicity.
For the Christian women, modesty, appropriateness, and good taste are the factors that should determine what is worn and how it is worn. Expenditures that go beyond these principles are not in harmony with the faith and stewardship (1 Peter 4:10). Such display shows self-contentedness and pride.
The spirit of modesty reflects a genuine personal concern about the response one’s dress and behavior produces in the heart and mind of another person. A godly woman’s clothing should properly cover her body (Genesis 3:21) in such a way as to not cause the opposite sex to have wrong thoughts.
There is great beauty in simplicity. Jesus referred to the beauty of the lilies of the valley saying, “Consider the lilies of the field… I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28, 29).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
