Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Recently, I was privileged to hear Reverend David Bernard preach to a large group of ministers. Although his sermon was very good, he temporarily drifted into issues of Apostolic Identity. For the most part, he spoke in vague and general terms. At one point, however, he specifically mentioned that make-up was anathema to Apostolic Identity.

Reverend Bernard's words inspired me to revisit the issue, so I decided I would find Biblical examples of revered women who would not be qualified to model Apostolic Identity.


Our first contestant is Sister Esther.

Esther 2

8 When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.

10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

12 Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. 13 And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.

15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Did you catch that?

Dear Sister Esther is unqualified to model Apostolic Identity because she wore cosmetics.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Yes those were beauty treatments of the day, not necessarily apostolic identity unified ones at that! Interesting..

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

"She had to compromise in order to meet the king, under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have worn face-paint. Children of God have no need for makeup, this was the only way to get this WORLDLY heathen kings attention."

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

And of course Jesus Himself would not be excepted because of His facial hair, not to mention he MADE WINE and socialized with sinners. I am pretty sure His hair was too long for someone like RR. I'm also sure that it was not long and flowing like depicted in so many pictures but was probably a tiny bit below the ears. :)

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Not sure that would be a good example to support makeup.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Your right but neither Jezebel putting on makeup and looking out a window condemns it either. In both instances it is just told matter-of-fact.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Because ... ?????

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

I notice these version don't use word cosmetics.

Est 2:12

12 Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
KJV

Est 2:12

12 Now when the turn of each maiden came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the regulations for the women had been carried out for twelve months — since this was the regular period for their beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet spices and perfumes and the things for the purifying of the women —
AMP



Est 2:12

12 Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, (to wit), six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),
ASV



Not sure how NIV got cosmetics or if being used in sense of makeup.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

it may not be. The word cosmetics there is not meant to mean makeup; The Hebrew word refers to cleansing

tamrûq A masculine noun meaning scraping, rubbing, purifying. This Hebrew word carries the connotation of scraping away that which is impure or harmful.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Exactly, adding cosmetic to the it disleads intent of text.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

It wasn't about make-up, it was about cleansing and purification.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

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Absolutely Cindy. :thumbsup

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Being a compulsive researcher of history. I get so frustrated when people make fact statements but forget to make sure their facts are in fact, facts. Hehe
.
:foottap

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

"cosmetics" is a broad category not limited to makeup

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

There's nothing like adding to the bible.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

right

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

In fact

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and gels, deodorants, hand sanitizer, baby products, bath oils, bubble baths, bath salts, butters and many other types of products. A subset of cosmetics is called "make-up," which refers primarily to colored products intended to alter the user’s appearance. Many manufacturers distinguish between decorative cosmetics and care cosmetics. The word cosmetics derives from the Greek κοσμητική τέχνη (kosmetikē tekhnē), meaning "art of dress and ornament", from κοσμητικός (kosmētikos), "skilled in ordering or arranging"[1] and that from κόσμος (kosmos), meaning amongst others "order" and "ornament".[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

It's a pretty safe guess though, that their beautification program did involve whatever cosmetics were common and available at the time. Why wouldn't it?

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

The word used refers to cleansing...not covering

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

:girlnails

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

In my research I came across a document of William F. Albright, Johns Hopkins University, The Lachish Cosmetic Burner and Esther 2:12, which describes the discovery of a cosmetic burner in Palestine originally thought to have been for cultic purposes but later determined to belong in the secular world of cosmetics and beautification of women, esp during the Persian (Achaemenian) period. It turns out the burner was a gift from a father to his daughters, from the Hebrew inscription on the burner.

The maidens being conditioned to become members of the harem of King Xerxes in Esther 2:12 would have saturated their pores and hair with perfumed oils they burned in this device similar to a bunsen burner. This fumigation would have both hygienic and therapeutic value.

You could have smelled Esther from a long way off. One author remarked concerning the practice of the semi-nomadic Arabs of the eastern Sudan: "I have frequently smelt a party of women a full one hundred yards distant." The Persians were noted for the ostentatious manner in which they wore perfume.

Makeup would have been included along with Esther's clothing. The Mesopotamians invented makeup. There is an abundance of archaelogical discoveries from sites in Eretz, Israel, that prove Hebrew women wore makeup. You can see these utensils and vessels in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Numerous references to women's use of kohl and rouge and facial powder are mentioned in the Talmud.

Makeup did not denote social class, like designating a prostitute, until the Classical Greek era, when it was not the wearing of makeup per se but the OVER APPLICATION and EXAGGERATION of makeup that characterized a prostitute.

I am attaching pix of a makeup container and kohl tubes that were used by ancient Hebrew women.

www.studyholiness.com

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Now you're using facts :)
---------- ======= ------------
Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
John Adams

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

and the early Christian church teachers for centuries across the board disagree with using it to glorify yourself along with many other things. To say who used it and how is speculative when it comes to the whole picture.

Also the Book of Esther is questioned on it's authenticity. I personally don't believe it happened but is a made up story.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Seriously? Why?

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

slippery slope

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Not sure story Esther would justify sexy red lips and bedroom eyes. :)

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

It's the difference between beautifying your hair/face by using oil treatments and conditioners versus applying red hair henna and black eye khol.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Right. Esther doesn't prove she painted her lips hot pink. :)

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

I lived majority of my life,worldly (I wore pants,makeup,streaked my hair&lived a sinful life style--all key thinks we dont associate w/apostolic). When I came to Jesus Christ, I left ALL of those things behind--mostly because that what I was told, by other apostolics/pentecostals, to do because I was too new to know what the Bible did or did not say. And to be completely honest, judged apostolics/pentecostals who did those things to be hypocrites. :smack

Been with Jesus Christ 11 years now, and several things have changed--because of my diligence of Bible studies, I done over the years (literally 5 notebooks full). Since this thread is about makeup, I'll stick to that subject only.

Thru my own personal research, coupled with prayer, this is what I found or did not find: ''cosmetics/makeup/paint/tint/dye/apply color" is not to be found in New Testament ; all reference are Old Testament. Jezebel painting her face & 'tired' her head--if you use this scripture to condemn makeup,then you must condemn fixing you hair in an up-do. Song of Sol.refers to woman as being beautiful because of the color of her lips&cheeks (too wordy to type all out,read it for yourself,you'll see it over&over)--Hebrew women dont have naturally red lips or pink cheeks,so color was added. Jeremiah 4:30 says ....."rent thy face with painting".....,if look up face & painting in original Hebrew,both refer to the outside of the eye with kohl or fair colors.

So my personal research tells me,in the Old Testament God did not like painting of the eyes (& I choose to obey the things He didnt like in Old Testament,because I love Him & want Him to be pleased with me while living in the New Testament Church) ; I find nothing to condemn foundations/powders or blush or lipstick.

(everyone should follow whatever 'personal convictions' God has given YOU)

God Bless!:nod

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

The early "Fathers" were early Catholics. Of the Church "Fathers" Clement and Tertullian in particular expressed their opinions on women's adornment. The entire chapter 8 of Practical Holiness a Second Look is devoted to what the UPCI author, Bernard, refers to as being "Biblical standards many leaders throughout church history have firmly advocated" and quotes extensively from Clement and Tertullian. But, when did the views of the "Fathers" become "Biblical standards?" When teaching Oneness and the history of the baptismal formula this same author uses the "Fathers" as historical proof the early church taught Oneness and baptized in the name of Jesus. Tertullian coined the term, trinity, and Bernard himself states that Tertullian was the first in history to use Matt. 28:19 as a precise baptismal formula. But, with the issue of makeup and women's adornment, Bernard refers to the "Fathers" as examples of church leaders who taught "Biblical Standards!"

The opinions of Clement and Tertullian on makeup and adornment were not a reflection of the Apostles' teaching, no more than they were on baptism. The "Fathers" inherited their disgust toward makeup (and women) from the pagan philosophers, who held the traditional, misogynous view of women. Clement in Against the Embellishing of the Body referred to WOMEN CURLING THEIR HAIR and their use of cosmetics as practicing "pernicious acts of luxury." Tertullian was a Stoic philosopher, and according to the Stoics, those products which nature did not provide were by definition luxuries, and criticism of a luxurious lifestyle was a keystone of the Stoic philosophy.

In the type of literature, which criticized married women for wearing perfumes and using cosmetics, [in the NT era], the writer seems to show these products being used in an extreme, even perverse fashion. The wearing of makeup per se did not characterize a prostitute. The class of respectable women in the Empire wore makeup, but it was the OVER APPLICATION of beauty products AND perfume that went with a prostitute's identity, but there was a tacit acceptance of the less ostentatious everyday use of beauty products.

The Apostles wouldn't have had a problem with Christian women wearing makeup. There is too much physical evidence in the form of archaelogical discoveries in Israelite digs and literary proof in the Talmud for the use of makeup by Hebrew women. Paul would have studied the Talmud in Rabbincal school and knew the Rabbis gave their permission for women to wear makeup as part of their adornment. "These are permitted in a woman's adornments: she treats her eyes with kohl, fixes a parting and puts rouge on her face." (Baby. Moed Kattan 9b) Jewish sources distinguish between makeup used for therapeutic purposes and makeup meant for embellishing the eyes: "Kohl, Rabbi Shema ben Elazar says, if for healing to kohl one eye, and if for ornament to kohl both eyes." (Tosefta Shabbath, 8:33) Since making up the eyes was considered a labor, it was forbidden on the Sabbath. (Baby.Shabbath, 109a) For more on the use of makeup in the Talmud go to my website.

The Pentecostals and Apostolics are far too harsh and cruel on women. Esther would have worn makeup, and she and her husband went 50/50 in ownership of the Kingdom! Makeup was invented by the Mesopotamians -- prior to the Persians. It was decided that the book of Esther was canonical, and I take it as such. I love the book of Esther.

www.studyholiness.com

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

I have come to believe that we are way more critical of make-up and jewelry than we should be. I had a dream once that I was in a foreign place and I became ill or wounded, I forget which since it's been a while since I had the dream. I remembering thinking that I was going to die and that I didn't want to do that. I remember my mother being with me and that we headed outside to a courtyard. My mother begin to tend to my wounds and pray with me. When I opened my eyes, in my dream, there was a dark haired, brown skinned, women kneeling before me speaking to me in a language I did not understand. I remember looking at her and judging her because she had kind of large gold or brass earrings on and some light nail polish on. Then somehow it became clear to me that what this women was telling was, The coming of the Lord is sooner than you think. At that point, I woke up from dream speaking in tounges. Every now and then I am reminded of this dream and I am ashamed of myself for thinking that I am some how better than the women that look like that. I was recently prayed for by Bro. Suber and found myself very quickly laying on by back, on the church floor, for the first time in my life. Some of the things that began to come to my mind were I needed a change in my attitude, especially my pride and the fact that I have a tendency to judge others by how I think they should look instead of seeing them as God sees them.

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Good testimony. I had something like this, myself. I was also judgmental and a staunch supporter of "standards." Then one day God brought me down hard, and I was bedfast nearly 3 months. During this time of affliction the Lord spoke to me. He told me a number of times that I was "too strict." I couldn't understand this, because I didn't think it possible to be "too" strict. I could actually see women going into Heaven, riding on clouds and taking musical instruments with them, who cut their hair!

It was after I was raised up and feeling allright that I found myself studying the hair issue. The meaning of the word, "shorn," was brought to my attention in an article I found online. The more I studied the more interesting it became, and I ended up writing a booklet on the scripture passage. I reseached and studied out one issue after another and wrote numerous booklets, articles and tracts and made a website on "standards." You can visit it here: www.studyholiness.com

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Although I think that makeup on women actually looks a bit clownish (fake??) I don't see where a BIT of makeup is a soul-damning issue. I would think the MOTIVE is where the issue is... is a person trying to appeal to the flesh of people around them? Trying to appeal to their own vanity? Or just trying to blend in and not stick out?

But in any event, PLEASE do NOT try to follow Jan Crouch's fashion statement... PLEASE!!! :icecream

Re: Cosmetics and the Bible
 

Where I work we have a 'medi-spa'... I am amazed by the apostolic women who will have laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, fraxel, botox, fillers, etc. that would NEVER be caught dead wearing base or lip gloss. And our local plastics guys see plenty of them too.... convoluted to say the least.