Bible Discussion Thread

Please explain about women with braided hair. What's the meaning.

Hi Roan. We can read this instruction by both the Apostles Paul & Peter in 1 Timothy 2:9,10 and 1 Peter 3:2-5 respectively. Braiding of the hair, or as Peter refers to, as "plaiting" of the hair, meant the specific weaving of the hair strands forming a particular hair style. However, I don't believe that the main point of the apostles' instruction was on how a woman should dress, beautifying herself with ornament wearing or hairstyles, rather, the importance of the beauty of the heart, "which is in the sight of God of great price".

As today, even in those early days, how one appeared in public before others can become a consuming passion & a stumbling-block to godly reflection. There may well have been the societal pressure even then to conform, or maybe even outdo others, in the area of fashion; so the apostles' word was to not focus on the outward but on the inward - not presenting themselves as the focus of beauty & desire, but to present Christ as the focus of His Presence & Beauty emanating through them. It maybe that men in those days cared little about what they wore, which also reflects my own fashion-sense (thus needing my dear wife to ensure I have some degree of respectability before others & of minimal embarrassment to her), therefore no advice was given to men. But to both men & women, we are called to examine ourselves, especially inwardly, ensuring our hearts are clear before the Lord & our lives glorify Christ as others observe us ( 2 Corinthians 3:1-3).