"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;"
I don't personally believe that Apostle Paul's intent here was to provide a list of prohibitions. I believe he was emphasizing what
was important.
BUT. Most Pentecostal churches use that verse to prohibit jewelry. That's what has me
Because how can you use that verse to say - see, the Bible prohibits jewelry - but completely ignore the rest of the passage??
If he WAS making a list of prohibitions, then you have to consider
everything that he listed prohibited, not just the jewelry! Which would make the conference attire completely prohibited!
He specifically mentioned broided hair and costly array. And I don't think he would have made an exception if you happened to buy that costly array at a big discount. (A Mercedes Benz is an expensive car, even if someone just gives me one. If he had prohibited driving fancy cars, that would include MB, no matter how much I'd paid for it.) He's not concerned about how many dollars are going out, he's concerned about the image you're projecting to the world around you.
Broided hair and costly array - basically, he was saying... elaborate hairdos and fancy clothes. Which you get in an overabundance at conferences.
The word 'modest' there, too..... everyone just takes that to mean how much skin is showing, or how tight it is. I don't think that's even what he meant. I think he was using the word 'modest' in the same way I would say that I own a modest house, or drive a modest car. Middle-of-the-road, not flashy or extravagantly expensive.
I like the way the NLT phrases it:
And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.
Some other versions:
English Standard Version (©2001)
likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
Bible in Basic English
And that women may be dressed in simple clothing, with a quiet and serious air; not with twisted hair and gold or jewels or robes of great price;
So
if his intent WAS to make a list of 'thou shalt nots', if he was making a prohibition on jewelry... then he was outlawing fancy hair and fancy clothing, too.
There's not one single argument you can make against jewelry that doesn't also apply to fancy hair and fancy clothes.
We need teaching to be consistent.