POST #5
Here's the text in KJV, this time including verse 8:
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Here's the text in NASB:
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
This post isn't about the Greek, so there's no need to write out the Greek text this time.
I want to draw your attention to the word(s) that connect Paul's instructions to men to those he gives to women. In the two passages above, I've highlighted them in red.
The word "likewise" tells us that in Paul's mind, there is a strong similarity of some sort between the two sets of instructions.
This means that if we are going to have confidence in our understanding of what Paul means to tell us, we should be able to discern the nature of that similarity. If we cannot, then perhaps we should question our conclusions.
So let's look at how we often understand these two sets of instructions.
- Men... pray and lift your hands; stop bickering & fighting.
- Women... Wear clothing that adequately covers your body
I don't think there's any concern that we misunderstand what Paul is saying to men. But when it comes to women, this verse is very frequently trotted out to "prove" that women should "keep covered."
For the sake of discussion, let's consider that understanding of the verse for women... Does it them fit the "likewise"? Is there a clear connection or similarity between the instructions for men and women? If not, wouldn't that cast doubt on whether we correctly understand Paul's instructions? Either one or the other would have to be suspect.
Many don't buy into the "cover your body" notion for women, so let's adjust the summary for women...
- Men... pray and lift your hands; stop bickering & fighting.
- Women... Wear sensible and modest clothing.
Does this rendering make the "likewise" connection more evident? If so, what is the connection? If not, again, are we sure that we understand the passage correctly?
A more specific question...
How does a command to wear clothes have anything to do with praying, lifting holy hands, or avoiding interpersonal strife?
Is it possible that
καταστολῇ κοσμίῳ (katastole kosmio) doesn't really refer to putting on clothes at all, but rather how the woman comports herself? Is it possible that by making it about clothing, we've completely missed what Paul is really trying to say to us?
