ATTITUDE AND APPEARANCE. 1Timothy 2:9 The apostle Paul taught Timothy about the roles of men and women in the local assembly so he could, in turn, pass this on to the Ephesians. In the book of Ephesians, we learn about the teachings regarding men and women in personal matters, such as marriage. The general attitude of men and women toward each other is discussed in the book of Titus. Teachings about the public testimony of the assembly are found in Timothy.
The contribution of women to the public gathering and witness of an assembly is under the same authority as the men who pray audibly. "In like manner," the godliness of men audibly and of women visibly both contribute to the effectiveness of the public testimony of an assembly. What people see often has a far more significant effect than hearing. The attitude of an assembly is shaped by what people see in the women who are present. Taste and interests are reflected by the dignity and respect displayed in the way a woman dresses, and it also reveals her inner character.
“Modest apparel” is a simple term. It means the same today as it did in the past. Trying to gain respect by showing more skin lowers a woman’s character, making observers focus on her body or expensive dress instead of what truly matters. Clothing can display a person’s social status by drawing attention to them, rather than revealing something meaningful to God’s people.
Headship and modesty are taught in God’s Word and are shown through outward signs that reflect what believers understand in their minds. There are not many ways to visibly demonstrate what I believe, and I want others to see it. A modest woman is attractive to good men who know that God doesn’t want them to sin in their thoughts. Keeping their eyes on a woman’s face and hands is a safeguard for every man. When too much is revealed, it can trigger sexual thoughts that men find difficult to ignore, leading them to consider what might come next.
A costly wardrobe makes a man pause to consider how much a woman is worth in dollars and cents. Modest clothing does exactly what it should: it covers the body and draws attention to God. The modest woman knows and aims to please her Lord, dressing to please her Savior whenever people see her.
“Subjection” is translated as "submitting” in Eph. 5:21-22, where the focus is on the husband/wife relationship. This means “to rank under." It relates to order and authority rather than value or ability. In 1 Cor. 14:40, "decently and in order” is a principle. The same applies to parents and children [Eph. 5], employers and employees, government and citizens [Rom. 13; 1 Pet. 2:13-20]. “Submission” is not about subjugation but about recognizing order. In the church, it is demonstrated by how women dress modestly and do not substitute external appearances for true inner beauty [1 Pet. 3:1-6].
Modest simply means decent, orderly, and having good taste. “Shamefacedness” is not a negative term but instead involves decency and avoiding extremes. It describes a woman who maintains womanly reserve and dignity without going beyond those boundaries. “Sobriety” and propriety are words that indicate women should use sound judgment and good sense. They signify reverence and respect toward God and His people, as well as a deliberate avoidance of inappropriate behavior. In this part of scripture, sobriety, silence, and salvation are topics addressed to the women of the congregation. The Holy Spirit prompts an internal judgment of what is right and resists any outward display of unnecessary beauty.