1 Peter 3:3

1 Peter 3:3 ‘And let not your adornment be merely external---braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses.'

‘And let not your adornment be merely external' -Peter mentions the mistake that women in the world often make, i.e. trying to change their husband, keep their husband, or attract. man by placing all the emphasis on external beauty and adornment. ‘Women have often internalized the male tendency to view them as sexual objects or as possessions whose appearance displays the wealth and power of the male. This comes out in dressing to attract the notice of men or in competing with other women in the richness of their dress. Peter, like the NT in general, will have none of this.' (Davids p. 117) POINTS TO NOTE: 1. ‘Merely external'-The NASV translators supply the word ‘merely' after the word ‘external'. This catches the right thought of the phrase. For if Peter is forbidding absolutely everything in this verse, then it would be wrong for. woman to wear even. single braid in her hair, just one item of jewelry (even. wedding ring), or the putting on of any dress. Hamilton notes, ‘If there is. prohibition of wearing any gold jewelry, then by the same logic one would have to argue that no garments can be worn (for the word ‘dresses' NASV, simply means ‘clothing' (Arndt p. 376)' (p. 127) Oberst also notes, ‘Not that he condemns in absolute terms all regards to neatness and elegance in dress and appearance, but only an undue attention to those things….The way in which the apostle uses the negative participle in this text, is. decisive proof that this is his true meaning; it extends to every member of the sentence; and by consequence, if it prohibits the plaiting of the hair, it equally prohibits the putting on of apparel..' (p. 151)

‘braiding the hair' -‘from the historians of the period in which Peter wrote, we learn that women were disposed to go to extreme lengths in braiding and plaiting their hair, often arranging massive whorls of it several inches above the head into which has been woven twisted strands of gold and chains of pearls which glistened and scintillated in the light…..Clement of Alexandria says that many women of his time dared not touch their heads for fear of disarranging their hair, and that they regarded sleep with terror lest during it they should destroy their waves.' (Woods p. 89) ‘Figures of harps, coronets, wreaths, diadems, emblems of public temples and conquered cities being formed.' (Manners/Customs. Freeman p. 468) Points to Note: 1. Obviously this isn't forbidding braids of any sort. Pigtails are hardly. mark of extravagance. 2. The emphasis is upon what is to be the true source of. woman's beauty (Proverbs 31:10) 3. Carefully note these passages are not an excuse to become. slob. And neither does the Bible look down upon or ignore physical attractiveness (Genesis 29:17; Genesis 12:11).

‘wearing gold jewelry' -(1 Timothy 2:9). Christians are to have some common sense or modesty. ‘Forbidden is any lavish display of artificial adornments and all gaudiness contributing to the vanity of those participating.' (Woods p. 89) ‘Seneca spoke of women with two or three fortunes in their ears.' (Barclay p. 262) Again, there is nothing wrong with wearing jewelry, nothing wrong with having good taste or liking nice things. But part of having ‘good taste' is knowing where to place the emphasis.

‘or putting on dresses' -‘Although the RSV speaks of “fine clothing”…the Greek text does not include an adjective modifying “clothing”…and the text literally says, ‘..or putting on of clothing.' It is incorrect, therefore, to use this text to prohibit women from braiding their hair or wearing gold jewelry, for by the same reasoning one would have to prohibit “putting on of clothing”.' (Grudem p. 140)