Theological term
Modesty
2 sermons · All terms
The Conduct of Women in Corporate Worship (Adornment)
Paul's instruction in 1 Timothy 2:9–10 on the adornment of women in corporate worship is not a blanket condemnation of ornamentation but a call to modesty and moderation governed by the priority of Christ in public worship. A biblical theology of adornment — from Genesis through Revelation — establishes that adorning is assumed and even commanded by God; what Paul prohibits is the ostentatiousness that draws attention to oneself and away from the Lord. The sermon works through four observations: the operating assumption that women will adorn, the general principles of propriety and moderation, the particular prohibitions against elaborate hairdressing, gold, pearls, and costly clothing, and the positive exhortation to adorn with good works befitting a profession of godliness.
Modesty and Good Works
Paul's instructions to women in 1 Timothy 2:9–10 are grounded in one controlling concern: corporate worship is about God, not the worshipper. This sermon works through the passage under three headings — the general principles of adornment, the specific applications Paul names (braided hair, gold, pearls, costly clothing), and the reorientation Paul commands toward good works. A biblical theology of jewelry demonstrates that Scripture nowhere condemns adornment as such; the prohibition targets ostentatiousness — the deliberate drawing of attention to oneself, whether through sexuality or the display of wealth — that distracts men from worship and provokes covetousness in sisters. The sermon closes by calling the Christian woman to pursue modesty, self-control, and good works as the true adornment of a gospel profession.