Is There A Difference In?

[Sasha]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Sasha, each culture can have it's own order of modesty but that does not mean the bible does not teach on Modesty. The first lesson was when God covered up Adam and Eve's nakedness.

Do we have an example of how He did that? What did those garments look like? And if we knew, do we use that as an example of how we should dress today? Remember, for thousands of years, men and women wore the same garment. It stands to reason that God didn't make a male garment for Adam and a female garment for Eve.

BTW Just as each culture has it's own norms, that goes for other areas of morality.

As I said in some cultures Fornication and even Adultery are the cultural norm.

8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

The New King James Version. 1982 (1 Ti 2:8–15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

88.49 αἰδώς, οῦς f: the quality of modesty, with the implication of resulting respect—‘modesty.’ γυναῖκας ἐν καταστολῇ κοσμίῳ μετὰ αἰδοῦς καὶ σωφροσύνης κοσμεῖν ἑαυτάς ‘that women dress themselves in becoming clothing, modestly, and properly’ 1 Tm 2:9.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (747). New York: United Bible Societies.

F Modesty, Propriety (88.46–88.50)

88.46 σεμνότης, ητος f: behavior which is befitting, implying a measure of dignity leading to respect—‘propriety, befitting behavior.’ διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι ‘that we may live in entire godliness and propriety’ 1 Tm 2:2. In some languages V 1, p 747 ‘propriety’ is best expressed as ‘to act in the right way’ or ‘to act as one ought.’

88.47 σεμνός, ή, όν: pertaining to appropriate, befitting behavior and implying dignity and respect—‘honorable, worthy of respect, of good character.’ διακόνους ὡσαύτως σεμνούς ‘helpers should be of good character’ or ‘deacons …’ 1 Tm 3:8.

88.48 κόσμιοςa, ον: pertaining to being modest in the sense of moderate and wellordered—‘modest, well-ordered, moderate, becoming.’ δεῖ οὖν τὸν ἐπίσκοπον … νηφάλιον, σώφρονα, κόσμιον ‘the church leader must be … sober, self-controlled, moderate’ 1 Tm 3:2; ἐν καταστολῇ κοσμίῳ ‘in modest apparel’ 1 Tm 2:9. For another interpretation of κόσμιος in 1 Tm 2:9, see 66.10.

88.49 αἰδώς, οῦς f: the quality of modesty, with the implication of resulting respect—‘modesty.’ γυναῖκας ἐν καταστολῇ κοσμίῳ μετὰ αἰδοῦς καὶ σωφροσύνης κοσμεῖν ἑαυτάς ‘that women dress themselves in becoming clothing, modestly, and properly’ 1 Tm 2:9.

88.50 εὐσχημόνωςa: pertaining to being a fitting or becoming manner of behavior—‘in a becoming manner, decently, with propriety.’ ὡς ἐν ἡμέρᾳ εὐσχημόνως περιπατήσωμεν ‘let us conduct ourselves in a becoming manner as (people who live) in (the light of) day’ Ro 13:13.


Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (746–747). New York: United Bible Societies.

2:9 in like manner also: This expression probably continues the discussion of prayer begun in v. 8. In other words, when men pray they are to possess sincere and holy attitudes; when women pray, they should be modest. modest apparel: The emphasis is that women should dress appropriately when at worship, and not put on extravagant clothes that draw attention to themselves. Propriety means reverence and respect, shrinking away from what is inappropriate. Moderation may also be translated “sound judgment” or “self-control.”

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version (1 Ti 2:9). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty

The New King James Version. 1982 (1 Co 12:23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

In the NT sōphrosýnē and its cognates appear only infrequently; most occurrences are in the Pastoral Epistles. There seems to have been a gradual acceptance of the Greek ethical tradition in the early Christian tradition, culminating in the Pastorals (see GODLINESS, on Gk eusébeia). One should not too summarily disparage this acceptance as accommodation. It provided a defense against dualistic misunderstandings of the faith and, as a consequence, against both ascetic and libertinistic misunderstandings of the Christian ethic. According to the Pastorals moderation and contentedness mark life in this world as a life in God’s presence. In this context the sōphrosýnē required especially of women must find its referent. Thus in 1 Tim. 2:15 “modesty” means a disposition toward sexuality including both moderation and contentedness, excluding both asceticism and libertinism. Similarly, v 9 (where sōphrosýnē also occurs but is translated “sensibly” by the RSV while aidṓs is translated “modestly,” the two terms being virtually synonymous) demands that women show restraint and contentedness in all things, as is suitable to godliness (Gk theosébeia). Cf. 2 Macc. 15:12, where aidḗmōn (RSV, NEB, “modest”; AV “reverend”) occurs in a description of Onias the high priest.

. Vol. 3: The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised. 1979–1988 (G. W. Bromiley, Ed.) (400). Wm. B. Eerdmans.

How does any of the above tie into what women and men should dress like, other than to be modest? And what measuring stick do we use? And how does it equate to holiness?