What Does the Bible Teach Concerning Braided Hair?

LESSON 5

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH CONCERNING BRAIDED HAIR?

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on Christian Adornment. The topic for this study is: What Does the Bible Teach Concerning Braided Hair? The topic for this study is set within the following passages of Scripture: i) "2:9 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;

2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

(1 Timothy 2:9-10; Capital Emphasis Added) ii) 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of PLAITING THE HAIR, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

(1 Peter 3:1-5; Capital Emphasis Added) Some in Christendom have pointed to these passages above as biblical admonitions for women to abstain from braiding or plaiting their hair. In this study, we will be considering the historical context under which Paul and Peter wrote these statements, and ascertain how they apply to women who profess godliness in our day.

Friends, the historical background of these passages of Scripture (1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:1-5) indicate that during that era, the prevailing fashion was for women to braid or plait their hair in a towering manner, having it intertwined with costly jewels of gold and other ornaments. The design of this hairstyle was so elaborate that it drew all the attention unto the wearer of such braids.

Unfortunately, some of the women who had accepted the gospel also began to dress in this elaborate manner, drawing the attention of the congregation unto themselves. This issue couldn't pass under the carpet without the apostles addressing it in a clear cut manner. Thus, we find Paul and Peter providing necessary counsel (review Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:1-5) to the women in this practice who professed godliness. The spiritual lessons we can take away from their message are as follows:

1) We must be modest in our way of dressing (1 Timothy 2:9).

2) The kind of dress we put on should not be so elaborate as to call people's attention to ourselves (1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3).

3) We must consider the cost of the apparel we purchase in keeping with good stewardship (1 Timothy 2:9).

4) The kind of dress we put on must be neat, adorable and be in a good condition that glorifies the Lord (1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Corinthians 10:31).

5) The apparel we put on must reflect our heart condition; even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit (1 Timothy 2:10; 1 Peter 3:4).

Friends, as we can see from the points above, the counsel of these two apostles was set in the context of how Christian women were to go about their dressing in general. The main emphasis of the two passages is on the inner spiritual beauty which could be obscured by extravagant dressing. In our era today, there are people who go about with hairstyles and forms of dressing that draw the attention unto themselves. Such people will do well to make use of the counsels that Paul and Peter have provided in God's Word in relation to this issue. However, braids or plaits that do not call the attention to the wearer cannot be considered ungodly.

Beloved, besides the historical context of the key passages we have discussed, a closer examination of Peter’s statement in 1 Peter 3:3 provides an important insight on this issue. The text in 1 Peter 3:3 reads: "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, OR OF PUTTING ON OF APPAREL" (Capital Emphasis Added). I believe we all understand that the counsel of the apostle Peter above does not mean that women are not supposed to wear apparel at all. In the same way, the counsel on plaiting / braiding the hair in the text should be understood in a similar context. As we have noted earlier, it was the extravagance and the love of display for attention that the apostles sought to rebuke.

From the historical context and biblical expositions of our key passages in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:1-5, it is clear that Paul and Peter did not make blanket statements that prohibit women from totally braiding or plaiting their hair. In fact, with the various health problems that women go through today in perming their hair, I believe it is high time that godly women began to consider learning how to braid or do their NATURAL HAIR in various modest attractive styles.

Exhortation: The following words of Paul to the Christian Church in Corinth remains good counsel to all of God's people in regard to the topic we have considered in this study: "10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved."

(1 Corinthians 10:31-33) In our next study, which happens to be the last in our series on Christian Adornment, we will consider the topic: The Issue of Head Covering: An Exposition on Paul's Words in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16. The Bible Study references for this study are 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, Colossians 3:18-19, Ephesians 5:22-25, 28, 33; Revelation 2:1 and 1 Timothy 3:1-13. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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