Monday, February 21, 2011

Is modesty actually immodest?

I have heard this "reason" for not dressing modestly many, many times.


It makes us stand out to dress modestly and to stand out is not modest.



Only because we live in an immodest world !

Modest women stand out because all around us we find short pants, tight pants, jeans, revealing tops, clothes designed to show off and to deceive.

As far as word studies are concerned I brought my word study which you've probably already read---but---I want to point out exactly what the words really mean.

Look at this based on I Timothy 2:

The first premise given is about katastole and the details are below but for now let's acknowledge that it means long robe.

Take the words "long robe" and put them with these Greek words that were used to teach us in I Timothy:

2887 Kosmios, from the word kosmos which means orderly arrangement. Kosmios means decorous, of good behavior, modest.

127 Aidos from a word meaning downcast eyes, it means bashfulness meaning toward men, it means modesty toward God and it can mean awe, reverence, shamefacedness

4997 Sophrosune is from and literally means soundness of mind, sanity. Figuratively it means self control, soberness, sobriety

2885 Kosmeo, from the word to put in proper order. It means to decorate either literally or figuratively. It spec means to snuff a wick. It means to adorn, garnish or trim.

4241 Prepo, to tower up, be conspicuous, to be suitable, or proper, what is fit or right, become, comely

1861 Epaggello from 2 words meaning to announce upon, it means to engage to do something, to assert something about yourself. It is a profession or promise.

2317 Theosebeia from the word for devoutness, it means piety, godliness

Take all of that and you'll see why I thought myself qualified to translate the teaching this way:

Women, wear a long robe that is orderly, that shows bashfulness toward men and an awe of God, also dress with self control and orderly garnishes. Not with braidings, or gold or pearls or costly clothes but what would be proper for a woman announcing her devotion for God by good works.



In short we want:

a long robe
bashfulness toward men in our clothing
awe of God in our clothing
self control in our clothing
orderly garnishes in our clothing
clothes that are proper for a godly woman to wear



Now for the WHOLE study if you have time:

Study for Modesty using Strong's, by Clevsea

I Tim 2:9-10

"...that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control." NKJV

For those who know how to do a study using the Strong's numerical system of looking up a word meaning I will first of all provide the above passage using only the numbers which represent the Greek words.

VERSE 9

1135 - - 1722 - - 2689 - - 2887 - - 3326 - - 127 - - 2532 - - 4997 - - 2885 - - 1438 - - 3361 - - 1722 - - 4117 - - 2228 - - 5557 - - 2228 - - 3135 - - 2228 - - 2441 - - 4185 - -

VERSE 10

235 - - 3739 - - 4241 - - 1135 - - 1861 - - 2317 - - 1223 - - 2041 - - 18

You may print this out and use different colored pencils or pens to circle repeating words.

First, memorize that 1135 means wife or woman, either one, it's one word that means 2 different things. Every time you see 1135 the word means woman or married woman.

Secondly there are a lot of words that you can ignore. 2532 is the word translated "and" so it is not as significant as some of the other words.

Thirdly I will tell you which numbers (words) above are key in this passage and then you can either do your own research or you can refer the word studies I have done for you.

For the modesty issue:

1135 (woman), 2689, 2887, 127, 4997, (NOTE: 4997 appears twice) 2885, 1861, 2317


Now to the word meanings of v 9-10. Try to read this even though it looks like you cannot.

Gune (1135--women) in katastole (2689--LONG robe) kosmios (2887-- modest) with modesty (127--bashfulness toward men or awe if toward God) and sophrosune (4997--self control) kosmeo (2885--orderly garnish) themselves, not with braidings, or gold, or pearls, or clothing costly, but what is becoming (4241--proper and fitting) to gune (1135--women) announcing (1861--epaggello) devotion to God (2317--theosebeia) by works good.

Strong's definitions more fully detailed:

2689 Katastole from the word katastello which means to put down, quell, appease, quiet. It can mean a deposit, costume, apparel, dress, attire. Vines dictionary says that it means connected to katastello, to send or let down, to lower because kata means down and stello means to send. a garment, let down; hence dress, attire in general. A stole is a loose outer garment worn by kings and persons of rank. Young says katastole means long robe and that is also what I say it means. Otherwise you *could* get the idea that you are to let your robe down so rather than anybody getting the wrong idea I like the word "long Robe" because it's clear.

2887 Kosmios, from the word kosmos which means orderly arrangement. Kosmios means decorous, of good behavior, modest.

127 Aidos from a word meaning downcast eyes, it means bashfulness meaning toward men, it means modesty toward God and it can mean awe, reverence, shamefacedness

4997 Sophrosune is from and literally means soundness of mind, sanity. Figuratively it means self control, soberness, sobriety

2885 Kosmeo, from the word to put in proper order. It means to decorate either literally or figuratively. It spec means to snuff a wick. It means to adorn, garnish or trim.

4241 Prepo, to tower up, be conspicuous, to be suitable, or proper, what is fit or right, become, comely

1861 Epaggello from 2 words meaning to announce upon, it means to engage to do something, to assert something about yourself. It is a profession or promise.

2317 Theosebeia from the word for devoutness, it means piety, godliness

So how would we translate the passage?

One way would be this:

Women, wear a long robe that is orderly, that shows bashfulness toward men and an awe of God, also dress with self control and orderly garnishes. Not with braidings, or gold or pearls or costly clothes but what would be proper for a woman announcing her devotion for God by good works.

Bible Reading Goals

Time to set some reading goals.


  • Are you in a Bible reading plan?

    Are you able to keep up with that plan?

    Do you receive insights from your Bible reading?

    Do you need to re-think your reading plan?

    Have you set your weekly goals yet?




My answers:

Having met my yearly reading goal so soon I am now "free" to wander through the Bible at will. I have been fascinated by Colossians and am reading it repeatedly. I think my goal will be to read Colossians daily this week. I feel the same about Philippians. Just when you think you know a little letter like that it takes off on you and proves once again that the Bible is Alive and Active and Sharper than any 2-edged sword.


Write down your reading goals on Monday and then on Friday look at them again to see if you met them.

This type of accountability really works for some people.


My agenda is to get YOU into the Word of God any way that I can.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Q & A -- Should I cover for dates with my husband?

This question was posed to a group of head covering women:



Should I cover for dates with my husband?



Clevsea's Answer:



Covering does not have to become bondage.



It ought to be obedience.



One thing to consider is that many Christian ladies only cover at worship time when they are in church services.



I cover for prayer in and out of church so I am not one of them but I approve of them and understand their application.



I dress differently for dates with my husband than I do the rest of the week so I believe I understand the question.



Covering differently for date night might be an option. Just like I don't dress immodestly but differently you might be able to cover for obedience and still make your husband happy.



Have you ever been to:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/GarlandsOfGrace



Or.................

have you ever sat down at the computer with your husband and looked together at all the many covering options?



Using this directory can help you find covering sites too:



http://www.modestclothes.com/



One more idea. My covering removes easily and I can put it on easily too. Sometimes I have it on and then remove it for a time during the dinner date when I feel as though I can talk without praying. You know, the time while you're eating and just simply being together but not talking about the Lord, or prophesying, or praying. If anything like that comes up I just put my covering back on as I do when I exit to go back to the car.



I believe that all covering women will find out what the Lord wants them to do and will also seek the husband's wishes and thoughts in this area. It may take time and prayer but it is possible.