1 Timothy 2:10
in 1 Timothy 2but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.
KJV
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
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This verse in 1 Timothy 2
Commentary
11 notes on this verseBut (which becometh women professing god likeness),.... By which is meant not any particular grace, was it, the fear of God might be designed, and so the Syriac version renders it; nor the whole of internal religion only; nor the form of godliness, or the whole scheme of Gospel truth, which is according to godliness; nor only outward holiness of life and conversation; but the whole of all this, all religion, internal and external, the whole of godliness, both in a doctrinal and in a practical way.
This site's exposition
modest apparel
on 1 Timothy 2:9-10
In like manner extends the same worship concern to the women of the assembly: adornment in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, the two Greek words naming modesty's inward instinct and its self-command. The negatives, broided hair, gold, pearls, costly array, describe the display wardrobe of wealthy Ephesus, and the alternative is dressed in good works, which becometh women professing godliness. The verse regulates ostentation in worship, not beauty itself, as the parallel at 1 Peter 3:3-4 confirms.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Paul however requires something more of women, that they adorn themselves "in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair or gold or pearls or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." But what is this "modest apparel"? Such attire as covers them completely, and decently, not with superfluous ornaments, for the one is becoming, the other is not.
Thou hast Christ for thy Bridegroom, O virgin, why dost thou seek to attract human lovers? He will judge thee as an adulteress. Why dost thou not wear the ornament that is pleasing to Him; modesty, chastity, orderliness, and sober apparel? This is meretricious, and disgraceful. We can no longer distinguish harlots and virgins, to such indecency have they advanced. A virgin's dress should not be studied, but plain, and without labor; but now they have many artifices to make their dress conspicuous. O woman, cease from this folly. Transfer this care to thy soul, to the inward adorning. For the outward ornament that invests thee, suffers not that within to become beautiful. He that is concerned for that which is without, despises that which is within, even as he that is unconcerned about the exterior, bestows all his care upon the interior.
Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves in respectable clothing, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing, but, as be appropriate women who profess godliness, with good works. Likewise, I want the women. That is, I …
Gems and gold and costly garments and lavish, embroidered flowers of various colors and anything else perishable in nature in no way adorn souls. But the following do: fasts, holy vigils, gentleness, reasonableness, poverty, courage, humility, patience—in a word, disdain for everything passing in this life.
The Medieval Church1 voice
But is this a sin? The answer, according to Augustine, is that two things must be considered in regard to woman's adornment, namely, simple adornment and paint. She is adorned simply by her attire, and gold, and such of the kind. But there can be …
4 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
For you are going to pray, not to dance. Why then do you contrive braiding of the hair on your head, curling locks, hanging precious stones here, surrounding yourself with them on all sides there, and attaching still others to your shoes — what is …
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But (which becometh, etc. - That is: Good works are the only ornaments with which women professing Christianity should seek to be adorned. The Jewish matrons were accustomed to cry to the bride: “There is no need of paint, no need of antimony, no need of braided hair; she herself is most beautiful.” The eastern women use a preparation of antimony, which they apply both to the eyes and eyelids, and by which the eye itself acquires a wonderful lustre.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
professing--Greek, "promising": engaging to follow. with good works--The Greek preposition is not the same as in 1Ti 2:9; "by means of," or "through good works." Their adorning is to be effected by means of good works: not that they are to be clothed in, or with, them (Eph 2:10).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
with good works}But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works - That is, it is not appropriate for women who profess to be the followers of the Saviour, to seek to be distinguished for personal, external decorations. If they are Christians, they have seen the vanity of these things, and have fixed the heart on more substantial realities. They are professed followers of Him “who went about doing good,” and the performance of good works especially becomes them. They profess to have fixed the affections on God their Saviour, and to be living for heaven; and it is not becoming in them to seek such ornaments as would indicate that the heart is supremely attached to worldly things. There is great beauty in this direction. Good works, or deeds of benevolence, eminently become a Christian female. The nature of woman seems to be adapted to the performance of all deeds demanding kindness, tenderness, and gentleness of feeling; of all that proceeds from pity, sympathy, and affection; and we feel instinctively that while acts of hardy enterprise and daring in a good cause especially become a Christian man, there is something exquisitely appropriate to the female character in deeds of humble and unobtrusive sympathy and benevolence. God seems to have formed her mind for just such things, and in such things it occupies its appropriate sphere rather than in seeking external adorning.
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὃ | ho | with what | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| πρέπει | prepei | is becoming | G4241 → | |
| γυναιξὶν | gunaixin | to women | G1135 → | 211 times |
| ἐπαγγελλομέναις | epangellomenais | professing | G1861 → | |
| θεοσέβειαν, | theosebeian | [the] fear of God, | G2317 → | |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| ἔργων | ergon | works | G2041 → | 168 times |
| ἀγαθῶν. | agathon | good. | G18 → | 102 times |
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὃwith what
hoG3739 →1405 times
πρέπειis becoming
prepeiG4241 →
γυναιξὶνto women
gunaixinG1135 →211 times
ἐπαγγελλομέναιςprofessing
epangellomenaisG1861 →
θεοσέβειαν,[the] fear of God,
theosebeianG2317 →
δι᾽through
di᾽G1223 →664 times
ἔργωνworks
ergonG2041 →168 times
ἀγαθῶν.good.
agathonG18 →102 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 3:16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
- Titus 2:7–8
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Philippians 2:15–16
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
- 2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.
- 1 Peter 3:16
Through
Proverbs 31:31Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her at the gates.
it leads to
- Psalms 128:2
For when you eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Romans 16:1–4
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea.
- Psalms 128:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Timothy
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Timothy 8; John Chrysostom, ON VIRGINITY 63.1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 1 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Timothy.