Jewelry, for Christians or not?

scottlittlefield17 · Post by **scottlittlefield17** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:43 pm

9I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Who do you explain this? Does it not say that women are not to wear gold, pearls or expensive clothes? I've studied into the "braided hair" part and realized that what Paul seemed to be targeting was that women in those days used to braid jewels and fancy decorations into their hair. By the way, its been awhile i know. I've been super busy and didn't have the time to put into here. But here I am again, much to the consternation of some I suppose.

puddleglum · Post by **puddleglum** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:04 pm

In order to understand what the Bible says about something we should examine everything it says on the subject and not limit ourselves to one passage. For example, in Genesis 24:22 when the servant seeking a bride for Isaac met Rebekah he gave her a gold ring and two bracelets. Doesn't this seem to indicate that wearing jewelry is all right in some cases?

MagusYanam · Post by **MagusYanam** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:26 pm

For one thing, it would be ridiculous to suggest that just because the Bible gives an illustration of behaviour in one case, it has to become a moral guideline. Or are you suggesting that mothers should abandon their sons to be raised as hermits (as Hannah did to Samuel), or that fathers should get completely drunk and abuse their children (as Noah did to his), or that men should visit prostitutes when their wives die, or that widows should become prostitutes (as in the story of Judah and Tamar)?

I would hesitate to use stories from the Old Testament as straight-up moral guidelines in any case, because the Old Testament is such an eclectic mixture of mythology, law-giving, history, poetry, prophecy and drama that such claims must be made with exceedingly great care. The heirs to its authors in Judaism have made an art of this, developing a number of different methods for interpreting and commenting on the texts (such as the tradition of midrash). The aims and authorship of the New Testament are a bit clearer, though they also require interpretation and commentary - the Epistles of Paul (though they have been edited several times) were meant to establish guidelines for running a church, and the Gospels attempt to lay out the central philosophy and character of Christ's following.

scottlittlefield17 · Post by **scottlittlefield17** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:39 pm

I would hesitate to use stories from the Old Testament as straight-up moral guidelines in any case, because the Old Testament is such an eclectic mixture of mythology, law-giving, history, poetry, prophecy and drama that such claims must be made with exceedingly great care.

I agree. The New Testament is a new covenant. Therefore the NT can nullify things that the OT commanded, an example would be the eating of clean and unclean meat. With more reward comes more responsibility, hence the "stepping up" of some of the OT's rules in Matthew chapter five, six, and seven. Also some of the OT rules were shadows of what was to come. Most of those shadows were fulfilled in Jesus and no longer need to be practiced. Some examples would be the many of the feast days and the sacrificing of animals.

puddleglum · Post by **puddleglum** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:07 am

Here is another passage on this subject: "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing." (1 Peter 3:3, ESV) If this statment is an absolute prohibition of wearing gold jewelry, doesn't it also prohibit wearing clothes?

scottlittlefield17 · Post by **scottlittlefield17** » Tue Nov 03, 2009 10:23 pm

Here is another passage on this subject: "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing." (1 Peter 3:3, ESV) If this statment is an absolute prohibition of wearing gold jewelry, doesn't it also prohibit wearing clothes?

It is better translated fine clothing or expensive clothing. Interesting you should pick a version that didn't translate it as such.

Scotracer · Post by **Scotracer** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:52 am

scottlittlefield17 wrote:
Here is another passage on this subject: "Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing." (1 Peter 3:3, ESV) If this statment is an absolute prohibition of wearing gold jewelry, doesn't it also prohibit wearing clothes?
It is better translated fine clothing or expensive clothing. Interesting you should pick a version that didn't translate it as such.

Better according to whom?

InTheFlesh · Post by **InTheFlesh** » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:42 pm

Scott,

You are a good example of what's wrong with religion.
If your heart is right, what is wrong with wearing jewels?

Matt.6
[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

And what about that great city, the holy Jerusalem?
Shall it not be glorious with the street of pure gold?