Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Timothy 2:10

"but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works." — 1 Timothy 2:10 (ASV)

In v.8 Paul desires that men pray; in v.9 he has some instructions for women and how they should conduct themselves in church services.

First, they are to “dress modestly.” An expansion of the phrase used here is: “adorn themselves in modest clothes.” This remains a much needed admonition today. “Decency” (GK 133) suggests a modesty that does not overstep the limits of womanly reserve. This should apply to both dress and deportment, although the rest of the verse suggests that the primary reference here is to one’s clothing. Women are also to dress with “propriety” (GK 5408), a word that suggests good judgment. Paul hints at the snare of participating in the extreme forms of current fashions.

“Braided hair” means hair that is woven or braided (cf. 1 Peter 3:3). The Christian woman is not to adorn herself with “gold or pearls or expensive clothes” so as to draw attention to herself. At worst, this is what the prostitutes did. At best, it shows pride and self-centeredness, both of which are contrary to the spirit of Christ. Such dress is especially unbecoming in church. Rather, Christian women are to adorn themselves “with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” We must express our faith through good deeds. This thought is more dominant in the Pastoral Letters than in Paul’s earlier letters—perhaps because the need for such emphasis was more apparent.