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1 Timothy 2:9
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9 In like manner [hosautos] also, [kai] that women [gune] adorn [kosmeo] themselves [heautou] in [en] modest [kosmios] apparel, [katastole] with [meta] shamefacedness [aidos] and [kai] sobriety; [sophrosune] not [me] with [en] broided hair, [plegma] or [e] gold, [chrusos] or [e] pearls, [margarites] or [e] costly [poluteles] array; [himatismos] KJV-Interlinear
9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; NASB
The Bible is one long sequence of parables, which give us real world examples of spiritual principles. The roles of men and women in society are often brought up in order to teach doctrinal principles.
Remember that the Bible must be interpreted within its entire context, and not just by the mention of a couple of verses.
Gal. 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. NASB
Therefore in the spiritual life all people are equal with respect to their being saved and in Christ’s family. All believers are not equal with respect to their spiritual growth, for obvious reasons. Some choose to grow up and some do not.
So, with respect to this passage, many have tried to settle this issue with respect to the role of women in society, from outside the content of the Bible, but using the Bible as their basis. And this is an error and misuse of doctrine.
Here the inner beauty and inner attitude of the woman (or any person) is more important than their outward appearance. And in the world who among the sexes spend more time on their outward appearance? Well, the woman does, and that too is obvious.
So, this bit of instruction may be directed toward women, but it applies to men as well. The principle is one of attitude and priority, rather than ego and vanity.
The transition here from men to women carries the same message, namely one of ‘holy hands.’ Remember what that phrase meant? A spiritual lifestyle verses a carnal lifestyle.
And the word ‘likewise,’ ‘hosautos,’ means in similar manner. Paul did not refer to the manner of the male dress, but his spiritual status, so the spiritual status topic continues, only now the example is of women.
The word for adorn, ‘kosmeo,’ means to put in order, to arrange.
The word for clothing or apparel, ‘katastole,’ is a reference to the total package, not just an item of clothing or two, but the entire person.
Shamefacedness, ‘aidos,’ refers to modesty verses distracting.
Sobriety, ‘sophrosune,’ refers to self confidence, self control, poise, the manner of ones personality.
‘Broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array,’ refers to items that are over and above the norm. Vanity of accessorizing to an extreme, or decorating so as to transfer attention from the person to the external wrappings.
Paul does not create rules for what you can or cannot wear, nor does he restrict styles or preferences of dress or accessorizing. There is nothing wrong with the female accessories.
Remember that the key word in these two verses is ‘likewise.’ The subject is in the emphasis of ones spiritual inner self, not on ones outer self. Men do not be selfish and pray for only those you like. Women do not live your life based on emphasizing your external body.
Both are to live there life with ‘holy hands,’ … ‘likewise.’ Holy hands and proper adornment come from the content, arrangement, of the soul, not from ones bias, or ones external accessorizing.
The real you is in the soul, not what you wear.
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