Got it, and that neither surprises me or nor has an affect om my view. This is almost one of those things that I'd dare claim "because" as a good enough reason, or, "I just know it is".
That's how sure I am in being against it.
At any rate you have my logic, or part of it anyway. Also,
1 Timothy 2:9 ESV
Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
After using just a little common sense, I just don't get the idea letting it all hang out is going to be considered respectable apparel.
You'll not find the bible spelling it out perfectly because it's one of those things that are a given
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I'm glad you quoted 1Ti 2. Elsewhere, I dealt with this text; I'll paste that material here:
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A) Self-explanatory
The second half of this verse explains the idea of the first half. That is, “with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;”
It’s not about showing too much skin, it’s about dressing too extravagantly. Note that they’re not removing articles of clothing, they’re adding them.
Another reason to think that this only applies to conduct within the church is that it appears contradictory to 2Sa 1:24.
B) Greek
The words used are: modest (κόσμιος) and apparel (καταστολή).
1. Κόσμιος
Κόσμιος is used only twice in the Bible, once in the next chapter (1Ti 3:2) where it’s translated as “good behavior.”
The Strong (n.d.) dictionary says: “From G2889 (in its primary sense); orderly, that is, decorous: - of good behaviour, modest.”
Quoting Barnes (n.d.):
The word here rendered “modest” ( κόσμιος kosmios), properly relates to ornament, or decoration, and means that which is “well-ordered, decorous, becoming.” It does not, properly, mean modest in the sense of being opposed to that which is immodest, or which tends to excite improper passions and desires, but that which is becoming or appropriate.
2. Καταστολή
Καταστολή occurs only here, and as you can learn from the commentary by Clarke (n.d.) and a work he references by Lens (1785): the καταστολή was a specific article of clothing; it only came down to about the waist.
Thus, these words have almost nothing to do with how much flesh is covered.
C) Attention
Some argue that women are not to draw too much attention to themselves with their clothing. Johnson (n.d.) makes this argument, “but
adorn themselves in modest apparel. In simple attire which not [sic] attract attention” (Emphasis in original.)
We could say that we’re drawing too much attention to ourselves if we wear too little. However, on many beaches – it’s precisely the opposite. If you’re not exposing a lot of skin, you’re drawing attention to yourself by wearing too much.
