Neither Gold nor Braided Hair (1 Timothy 2.9; 1 Peter 3.3)

Adornment, Gender and Honour in Antiquity

Bibliographic Data

ID10310474
AuthorsAlicia J Batten (University of Sudbury, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume55
Issue4
Pages484-501
Publication date2009-08-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNew Testament Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0028-6885 • E-ISSN: 1469-8145
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0028688509990075
OpenAlexW2165013188
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited21

This article examines the relationships between adornment, gender and honour in the Graeco-Roman world in order to provide a broad context for understanding the attempts to curtail women's adornment in 1 Tim 2.9 and 1 Pet 3.3. It argues that while many male writers criticize women who adorn themselves, often accusing such women of luxuria , not all women shared such a perspective. Rather, women may well have valued jewellery, fine clothes and elaborate hair as means of conveying status and honour, and as important forms of economic power. These factors require consideration when attempting to understand why the authors of 1 Timothy and 1 Peter counsel women to avoid gold, pearls, braided hair and fine clothing

Adornment · Honour · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Classical Antiquity Studies

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