I promise this will be my last Minute about marriage…at least for a while…at least for this week!
Here’s a passage to raise the eyebrows of men and women: Wives, “do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Peter 3:3-4). Really? Sounds Amish or Mennonite.
What Peter writes is consistent with traditional Roman attitudes. From the second or third century B.C.: “Her clothes should not be transparent or ornate…. In this way she will avoid being over-dressed or luxurious or made-up, and not give other women cause to be uncomfortably envious. She should not wear gold or emeralds at all…. She should not apply imported or artificial coloring to her face – with her own natural coloring, by washing only with water, she can ornament herself with modesty….”
In New Testament times, Seneca wrote to his mother. “You – unlike so many – never succumbed to immorality, the worst evil of the century; jewels and pearls did not bend you… You never polluted yourself with make-up, and you never wore a dress that covered about as much on as it did off. Your only ornament, the kind of beauty that time does not tarnish, is the great honor of modesty.”
And Jewish attitudes? “Most rabbis supported wives painting their eyes, rouging themselves, and dressing colorfully around the house to stay attractive to their husbands. But some early Jewish tradition attributed eye makeup, ornaments, and colorful dyes to the instruction of fallen angels, leading to more immorality.” (Craig Keener, 1 Peter: A Commentary, 229)
Peter wrote to Christian wives of unbelieving husbands. Just by believing in Christ, she was challenging her husband. Overdo your appearance and he’ll suspect you’re unfaithful! Not good for the church’s reputation. I think the Contemporary English Version paraphrases it nicely. “Don’t depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful. Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.” Worth keeping in mind when you see how some people present themselves on social media.
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