It Was Hard For Me To Understand Christian Modesty for Women

[Wynona]

 

[Wynona]

 

[Skovand]

It seems that in general what modesty is about, and it’s the same for men and woman, is that in a world with suffering, in a world where people struggle to eat, and starve to death, we should dress modestly. We should not flaunt our wealth and spend more on ourselves looking good when people are struggling. But that also does not mean we have to act like monks with self imposed poverty. Just don’t wear all your diamonds and gold to a place where someone is begging for bread because they have not eaten all day and tell them you can’t help them money is tight.

It should also be noted that proverbs 31 is not actually about women. It’s not how women are supposed to be anymore or less than men. Proverbs 31 is a metaphorical poem about what wisdom looks like. Wisdom is being given personhood in the form of a woman.

I’ve not read this book yet. It’s coming up soon on my list. But she’s talked about this issue quite a bit.

A Review of "A Year of Biblical Womanhood" by Rachel Held Evans (or Hermeneutics 101) - The Bible For Normal People

In case you haven’t noticed, Rachel Held Evans has a tendency to strike a nerve now and then when she writes. Her blog has become a go-to refuge for disaffected...

thebiblefornormalpeople.com

 

[Nancy]

Anything wrong with this kind of dress? This is more me than any other. There are occasions where I will wear a dress or skirt, but those days are mostly gone, but I have them at the ready in case of a wedding, lol.

 

[Wynona]

View attachment 53880Anything wrong with this kind of dress? This is more me than any other. There are occasions where I will wear a dress or skirt, but those days are mostly gone, but I have them at the ready in case of a wedding, lol.

Some women won't wear pants. I respect that but I don't see an issue with it from Scripture.

 

[Wynona]

It should also be noted that proverbs 31 is not actually about women. It’s not how women are supposed to be anymore or less than men. Proverbs 31 is a metaphorical poem about what wisdom looks like. Wisdom is being given personhood in the form of a woman.

I dont agree. I believe Proverbs 31 doesnt make sense of being an example of feminine excellence. But the most important thing about the Proverbs 31 woman is that she fears the Lord.

 

[Wynona]

Some women won't wear pants. I respect that but I don't see an issue with it from Scripture.

I did go without wearing pants for a while. I really fell in love with skirts and dresses. Some Denominations like Oneness Pentecostals and independent Baptists are against women wearing pants. I think they cite Deuteronomy 22:5...the verse against men and women dressing to look like the other gender.

Ive given it some thought but I can't see this being more than a personal conviction since clothing has changed so much through history.

A few centuries ago, men didn't wear pants either. I think pants were invented around 300 years ago.

 

[Skovand]

I dont agree. I believe Proverbs 31 doesnt make sense of being an example of feminine excellence. But the most important thing about the Proverbs 31 woman is that she fears the Lord.

I can’t tell if you meant to say “ does make sense or does not make sense”. I was arguing it does not make sense to be strictly about how woman should literally be.

So when thinking about a chapter in the Bible some of the things that is important is to consider the book it belongs too and the genre of the verses in question.

Obviously the book it belongs to is proverbs. Proverbs itself is a book about proverbial wisdom. Proverbial wisdom in of itself means wisdom that is generally true in most situations. But it’s not necessarily always true in every situation. Something else we see in proverbs is that the core message, wisdom is good, is often told through given wisdom personhood.

Proverbs 4:8-9
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Provers 1:20-22
20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
21 At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 3:13-18
13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
and her revenue better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called happy.

Proverbs 4:5-9
5 Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away
from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
and whatever else you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

So all throughout proverbs we see wisdom being given personhood. She’s talked of as being a wife. Of being someone to bring richness and meaning to your life. That she can help you from being robbed. All of proverbs is about wisdom of righteousness. It also gives folly personhood as well.

The other thing to consider is the genre which is a poem, specifically it’s a abecedarian poem which is a type of acrostic poetry. The theme of this poem is also wisdom and just like the previous chapters, it gives wisdom personhood . From aleph to tev.

The “wife” the man is to seek is wisdom. Wisdom in all things. Some things really highlights this.

Proverbs 31:10
10 A woman of strength who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.

Compare to
Proverbs 3:13-15
13 Happy are those who find wisdom
and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver
and her revenue better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

And to Proverbs 8:11
11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

In proverbs 9 we see two choices being presented before us. Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly. A wedding banquet , a feast of celebrations is being laid out by both and we must choose who to unite with.

Lady wisdom 9:1-6
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her female servants; she calls
from the highest places in the town,
4 “You who are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Lay aside immaturity and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”

Lady Folly 9:13-18
13 The foolish woman is loud;
she is ignorant and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the high places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “You who are simple, turn in here!”
And to those without sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But they do not know that the dead[b] are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

The woman we choose should be Lady Wisdom as showcased in proverbs 31.