Bible idioms and the NT jewelry scriptures

[Truthseeker]

Intereesting thought her from portion of a study from keithhunt.com

What does the Bible say about these things? The two passages
which, supposedly, tell Christians not to wear jewelry are as
follows:
First Timothy 2:9,10 says women should be properly adorned -
'not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array,
but.....with good works.'
And.....
First Peter 3:3,4 says a woman's adornment should 'not be
that outward adornment of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of
gold, or a putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of
the heart.....even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which
is in the sight of God of great price.'

What many have failed to understand is that these verses are
using a very common HEBREW IDIOM. An 'idiom' is a manner of
speaking distinctive of a certain people or language. In this
case, the idiom was a manner of speaking which would minimize a
first clause in order to emphasize a second clause. Today, in
order to express the thought contained in this type of idiom, we
would place the word 'ONLY' in the first clause, and 'ALSO' (or
perhaps 'rather') in the second clause, as follows: Let not
a woman's adorning be (only) that of outward things - such as
fixing her hair, wearing gold, or pearls, or apparel - but (also,
rather) let it be the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit.
With this idiom, the emphasis is on the SECOND clause, but it
does not do away with the FIRST clause. IT IS IN ADDITION TO IT.

We now ask the reader's patience as we cite many verses in
which this idiom is used in the Bible. As the PULPIT COMMENTARY
says, it is 'a common Hebraism' and quotes for example, John
6:27, ' Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat
which endureth unto everlasting life.' If we do not recognize
the Hebrew idiom here, this verse would sound like a command not
to work for our food! But other verses say men should work for
their food, they should provide for their families, etc. The
actual thought, then, is that we should not work for the material
necessities of life (ONLY), but (ALSO, RATHER) for that which
will endure unto everlasting life.

[Truthseeker]

Or notice Genesis 32:28, ' Thy name shall be called no more
Jacob, but Israel.' The meaning is that his name would no more
be called Jacob (ONLY), but he would have another name (ALSO),
the name Israel. The proof that this is the correct meaning is
seen by the fact that he was called Jacob many times after this,
even by God Himself: 'And God spake unto Israel.....and said,
Jacob, Jacob' (Genesis 46:2).

Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, yet Joseph stated:
' So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God' (Gen.45:8).

Understanding the idiom, it could be worded: ' So now it was not
you (ONLY) that sent me here, but it was God (ALSO, RATHER) ' !
During the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness, we
are told that they murmured against Moses and Aaron (Exodus
16:2). But in verse 8, we read: '.....your murmurings are not
against us, but against the Lord.' Considering what was just
plainly stated, we recognize the idiom: 'Your murmurings are not
against us (only), but against the Lord (also, rather)' !
When Israel rejected Samuel and cried out for a king. God
said: ' They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me '
(1 Samuel 8:7). Yet verse 8 shows that they had rejected Samuel.

Again, it is the Hebrew idiom, the meaning being: ' They
have not rejected you (only), but they have rejected me (also,
rather). '

The use of the idiom seems clearly indicated in the wording
of Joel 2:13, ' Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn
unto the Lord.' rending garments and putting on sackcloth (2
Sam.3:31) was a common mourning custom. In view of this, the
meaning of Joel was: ' Rend not (only) your garments, but rend
your heart (also, rather)' ! The emphasis is thus on the heart,
not on the outward forms of religion.
When Peter said he believed Jesus was the Christ. Jesus
replied: ' Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven ' (Mat.16:17). But Peter had heard this
from 'flesh and blood' - before he ever met Jesus. Peter's own
brother had told him: ' We have found the messiah, which is,
being interpreted, the Christ'(John 1:41). All is clarified once
we recognize the idiom. It was not flesh and blood (only) which
had revealed this to him; it had been revealed to him (also,
rather) by God Himself !

In John 4:21-23, Jesus said that the hour was coming, and
then was, that true worshippers would not worship in Jerusalem or
in Samaria - that God must be worshipped in spirit and in truth.
But after this men did worship God at Jerusalem (Luke 24:52,52;
Acts 2, etc.). Recognizing the idiom, we realize that people
would not worship at Jerusalem (only), but (rather) in spirit and
in truth - regardless of location.
Or look at Jesus' words in Mark 9:37, ' Whosoever shall
receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.' In our way
of speaking it would be: ' Whosoever shall receive me, receiveth
not me (only), but him that sent me (also, rather). ' Thus the
use of the idiom is seen also in John 12:44, ' He that believeth
on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.'
When Lazarus was sick, Jesus said: ' This sickness is not
unto death, but for the glory of God' (John 11:4); that is, this
sickness was not unto death (only) - death did not end this
matter, for Lazarus was raised form the dead. Peter used the
idiom when he spoke to Ananias: ' Thou has not lied unto men, but
unto God' (Acts 5:4). Ananias did lie to men, but the emphasis
is on the fact he lied to God. Thus we could say: ' You have
not lied unto men (only) - your sin goes further than this - you
have lied to God ' !

Paul said: ' I labored more abundantly than they all; yet
not I, but the grace of God which was with me ' (1 Cor.15:10).
Paul labored. This is clear. Yet to emphasize the grace of God,
he used the idiom.
John also used the idiom when he said: ' Let us not love in
word, neither in tongue; but in deed ' (1 John 3:18). The context
speaks about a brother in need. If we have this world's goods and
do not help him, we do not really have love. We can tell him we
love him - we can love him in word - but this is not enough. Thus
the instructions: ' Let us not love in word (only), but (also,
rather) in deed. '
In Luke 14:12-14.........A comment in the CAMBRIDGE GREEK
TESTAMENT on this verse says: ' We must take into account the
idioms of Oriental speech......the 'not' means, as often
elsewhere in Scripture, 'not only.....but also' or 'not so
much.....as.' '
Other examples of the idiom are given including the text
regarding jewelry, 1 Timothy 2:9.

With these things in mind, we look again at out text and it
will be clear that jewelry was not forbidden: '.......whose
adorning let it not be (only) that outward adorning of
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel, but (also, rather) let it be the.....ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit.'

[Truthseeker]

The emphasis is on the INWARD adorning, but the outward
adorning is not eliminated.........."

Mr. Woodrow goes on to give examples and scripture after
scripture proving that many of God's people down through the ages
used jewelry upon themselves in one form or another, with no
disapproval from God. Of course we have one of the most famous
passages in Ezekiel 16 where God uses jewelry in a good light as
He describes how He found, cleaned, dressed and adorned Israel
with the finest in clothes and jewelry. How God made her very
beautiful to look at.
There is Jesus' use of jewelry in many parables, one such as
in Luke 15:22 about the wayward young man who repents and returns
home. He is given a ring for the hand.

There a few other verses in the Bible that seem to be
against the use of jewelry. These I have explained elsewhere in
other articles on this subject. I will not take the time to
explain them here.

There are many types of idioms and what we call "figures of
speech" used in the Bible. In fact so replete is the word of the
Lord with figures of speech, that Mr.Bullinger devoted a whole
book to its expounding. The book is called "Figures of Speech
Used in the Bible" and it is 1104 pages in total. I have it as
part of my library, very interesting and instructional.

1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3 DO NOT contradict the rest of
the Bible concerning the right and Godly use of jewelry for the
Christian. When the truth is known these verses show that there
could be a time when even elaborate, costly, expensive, clothes
and jewelry, and hair arrangements are quite in order and proper,
for the Christian, under certain situations, cultures and events.
This being the truth of the matter, Peter and Paul knowing this
was so, were emphasizing to the children of God, that what was
MORE IMPORTANT than outward appearance, was the inner heart,
mind, attitude, character of the person. It is that part of us
that God is mainly interested in, for indeed it is written:
"man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the
heart."

[Truthseeker]

No input???

[*AQuietPlace*]

I enjoyed reading it. Very good point he makes.

[mfblume]

I agree totally. Great explanation, TS.

[OilCityCajun]

I think it sounds great. But, when you realize the first part specifies a type of clothing which is immodest in that it is costly and draws undue attention to the wearer, while the second part speaks of the opposite attitude it doesnt hold up. "Don't only dress proud and loud with the intent to impress, but also have a meek spirit?" Sorry. I aint buying it.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by OilCityCajun

I think it sounds great. But, when you realize the first part specifies a type of clothing which is immodest in that it is costly and draws undue attention to the wearer, while the second part speaks of the opposite attitude it doesnt hold up. "Don't only dress proud and loud with the intent to impress, but also have a meek spirit?" Sorry. I aint buying it.

1 Tim 2:9

9 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;
KJV


I do think the whole things hinges on what this scripture is saying for there's no OT law to guide or any other NT scripture that supports the anti-jewelry stance.

Anyone else have any input on what oilcitycanjun points out??

[A.W. Bowman]

TS - You realize that you are challenging another sacred cow? Go for it.

Good luck kid!

[A.W. Bowman]

Okay, an additional note.

A great many believers think, hope, believe, 'know' that they have "The Truth" because they have been told that they have the truth, a common circular argument within the religious community. Yet, where did all of this mishandling of scripture come from? The truth? Most misinterpretation of scripture comes from the same folks that teach that ‘scripture is to interpret scripture’ and who have received their biblical instruction from teachers who, themselves, were ill equipped in their knowledge of the original biblical languages. The same teachers who could not correctly decipher the meanings of scriptural passages because they did not know nor understand the historical, cultural, religious, or linguistic context of what they were teaching.

The fundamental problem is twofold. First, as noted above, there is a serious lack of knowledge and understanding in the foundation of teacher’s own believe system. In other words, teachers attempt to teach with absolute authority, biblical subjects that they themselves do not truly know nor understand. For example, Emperor Constantine was successful in divorcing his Western Church from its biblical roots, thereby cutting the Western Church loose from its foundation, the Jewish Rabbi, the Hebrew Messiah, Jesus Christ (HaMaschiah Yeshua Natzeret Ben HaAdonai Elohim) and even erased Christ’s religion from its doctrine/ Then to make matters worse, we have completed the job by recasting Jesus into a Western European, who migrated to the North America continent about 300 years ago.

The second problems is once one has become convinced that they have ‘the truth’, they have stopped learning – they are no longer teachable. Most people will reject anything new to their understanding because they fear that the others around them will reject them, for even considering making any changes to their personal believe system. Frequently, when a church leader speaks of studying the Bible, they are not talking about discovering more of the truth of God contained within those scriptures, they are talking about a religious indoctrination according to the currently acceptable church dogma, as prescribed by a group of self-appointed men who authorized themselves to make such decisions on behalf (and independent) of everyone else. Accordingly, it seems that Pastors think of themselves as another latter-day Mosses, and that they now sit upon his seat at the head of the congregation, whereby they issue their personal Bible commentaries for all to hear and obey – questions and discussions are not allowed, only obedience.

Are these harsh indictments? Yes, but they are also true. In addition to the testimony of hundreds of others (even thousands), I have witnessed firsthand many such failings within spiritual leadership myself, in a good many churches all across this land. What passes for teaching among so many churches are right/wrong games, where the pastor’s view of scripture puts him/her and if you will agree as instructed, above all of those other churches in the world – even better than some that are pastured by men/women in the same religious organization! Like the Roman Catholic Church with their history of child molestations, sooner or later the spiritual molestation that goes on within the Protestant communities will burst forth and will have to be dealt with.

The lesson to take away from this thread is this. Anyone who manipulates scripture, in any manner whatsoever, regardless of their purpose or justification, does violence to the word of God to their own destruction, and perhaps to the destruction of many others. Even so, what is one to do when the teachers themselves are uninstructed?

Fear God and Him alone, is not a cry you will hear from many pulpits. Nor will you hear the words, “Follow me as I follow Christ, and test everything I say and do to see if it be true.”, where the speaker actually means and practices it