Modesty in Dress for the Christian

Modesty in Dress for the Christian

I got in an online discussion with a woman who claimed to be a Christian but who was dressed in a very immodest manner in her posted pictures. She of course quoted Jesus’ “Judge Not” statement and claimed the Bible has nothing to say on this subject. Following is my response to her.

First, on your misuse of Matthew 7:1, I wrote two articles on that verse:

“Judge Note …”

Judging the Beliefs and Behaviors of Others

Quoting from the second article:

In this passage, Jesus is addressing hypocrisy. He is saying that we will be judged by whatever standards we set for others. So we need to be careful in making such judgments. We need to be sure that we are not engaging in the behaviors that we condemn others for. So in this sense, we do need to "worry about ourselves." But Jesus ends the passage by saying, "then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." So He says we should try to correct other's behaviors once we have dealt with our own.

Way back in the day, I used to dress in an immodest manner, wearing tight-fitting T-shirts and shorts. I wanted to show off my muscular body developed from my powerlifting training. But God convicted me of it, so I threw all those clothes away and now only wear more modestly fitting shirts and shorts, as seen in the following selfie:

Now, it does make me a bit uncomfortable having to wear a tight-fitting singlet for powerlifting contests. But it is required by the rules. And at least I am not a bodybuilder., appearing on stage in nothing but a loin cloth.

Moreover, unlike you, I'm not attractive to the opposite sex. At 5’0”, I doubt I have ever elicited lust in a woman just by her looking at me. You, however, are so hot you would probably elicit lust in men even if you were wearing a burka. But that is no excuse to make it that much stronger by dressing in an immodest manner. In fact, it is the exact opposite. It is why you should be even more conscientious to dress in a modest manner.

On that point, Job and Jesus said it is sin for a man to look at a woman lustfully (Job 31:1; Matt 5:28). Paul teaches Christians should not engage in any behavior that causes others to sin (Romans 14; 1Corinthians 8). Putting those together, you are behaving wrongly by causing men to sin with your immodest dress.

Paul teaches women should dress in such a manner so as to draw attention to their good works, not their outward appearance (1Tim 2:9-10). Peter teaches women should dress in such a manner so as to draw attention to their inner qualities, not their outward appearance (1Peter 3:3-4). You are doing the exact opposite. Men are noticing neither your good works nor your inner qualities, with your breasts half hanging out. Those are all he sees.

In my three-book series on Sex and the Bible I address modesty in dress in further detail (along many other sex related issues).

#BiblicalModesty #ChristianRelationships #SexAndTheBible
9/8/26

Adornment for Godly Women

Deep dive into 1 Timothy 2:9-10 today! Focusing on the true adornment for godly women – inner beauty, good works, and a sound mind. It's not about outward show, but inward reverence. This is a difficult passage to translate due to the multiple unique words in it, as seen in the notes.

1Timothy 2:

⁹In the same manner also [I want] the women to be adorning themselves in sensible apparel, with modesty and soundness of mind [or, decency], not with braided hair [or, elaborate hairstyles] or gold or pearls or very costly clothing, ¹⁰but with good works, which is fitting [or, proper] for women professing reverence for God.

[Note: A godly woman’s attractiveness should come from her inner beauty of decency that leads her to dress in a sensible manner, rather than accentuating sexuality or vanity through the use of immodest or costly attire and jewelry. That decency will lead her to do appropriate good works (cp. 1Pet 3:1-4)]

[Technical Note: Explanation of Translation and Interpretation: Rather than “sensible apparel” (v.9), some versions render καταστολῇ κοσμίῳ (katastolē kosmiō) as “proper conduct.” However, first, καταστολή occurs just one other time in the Greek Bible, in Isaiah 61:3. There it is rendered “apparel” in the ALT, as καταστολή is a translation of the Hebrew מַעֲטֶה (maʿaṭeh), which is rendered “garment” or “mantle” in most versions. Therefore, consistency demands it is rendered as “apparel” or some other word for clothing here. Also, the mention of “clothing” (ἱματισμός; himatismós) at the end of v. 9 verifies that rendering.

[Second, κοσμίῳ occurs only here and in 1Tim 3:2 in the Greek Bible, where it is rendered “sensible” in the ALT. Coming after “temperate, self-controlled” it refers to an overseer living a life characterized by balance, avoiding wastefulness in the use of wealth or exhibiting status through vanity or excess. Here, it refers to a woman being sensible in what she spends of outward adornments.

[Third, “modesty” comes from αἰδώς (aidōs). It occurs only here and in Heb 12:28 in the NT. Aidōs refers to a sense of shame or reverence that prevents a person from engaging in shameful or arrogant behavior. In Hebrews, it refers to a reverent, non-flippant service to God; here, it refers to a reverent approach to one’s attire. A modest woman avoids clothing that “shows off” her body in a shameful way—an expression of the proper shame one should feel at exposing nakedness in light of the Fall (Gen 2:25; 3:7-10, 21).

[Fourth, “soundness of mind” comes from σωφροσύνη (sōphrosýnē). It occurs only three times in the NT; here, 1Tim 2:15, and Acts 26:25. In Acts, Paul says he is not losing his mind due to his “great learning.” Here it means a goldy woman does not lose her mind to vanity. Instead, she possesses the internal condition (a healthy, focused mind) that produces outward stability (self-control/ decency) and good works.]

#BibleStudy #1Timothy #BiblicalWomanhood #InnerBeauty #Modesty #ChristianLiving #GreekNT #GoodWorks #Exegesis #NewTestamentGreek #Scripture #Theology #WordOfGod
8/24/26

Sex and the Bible

The Bible’s Forbidden Sex Teachings—Before They’re Banned

Liberals hate this book because it doesn’t apologize for God’s design.

1. The Bible and Sexual Relationships Issues (Intro)

Abortion, transgenderism, homosexuality, porn—what Scripture really says.

No compromise, no “cultural context” excuses—just raw Biblical truth.

2. God’s Sex Plan: Old Testament (Vol. 1)

Marriage = 1 man + 1 woman—from Eden onward.

Polygamy, incest, adultery—how sin warped sex from the start.

Gender roles—not “oppression,” but God’s perfect order.

3. God’s Sex Plan: New Testament (Vol. 2)

Jesus on marriage: “No divorce except for adultery.”

Paul on homosexuality: “Natural relations abandoned for shameful lusts.”

Why “love is love” is a Satanic lie.

Why Liberals Ignored These Books (And Why You Shouldn’t):

They can’t refute Scripture—so they pretend it doesn’t exist.

Big Tech & publishers would ban these truths if they got big enough.

Your kids are being groomed—arm yourself with unchanging truth.

“Get these books. Study them. Share them. Before they’re memory-holed.”

The Bible and Sexual Relationships Issues

God’s Sex Plan: Volume One: What the Old Testament Teaches About Human Sexuality

God’s Sex Plan: Volume Two: What the New Testament Teaches About Human Sexuality