This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Compiled by Finny Kuruvilla
September 5, 2005 (last revised December 21, 2007)
In another essay, exegesis of 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-4 pointed to the conclusion that Paul and Peter, respectively, taught that Christians should refrain from wearing jewelry and expensive clothing. This conclusion is quite radical, and differs from the teaching and practice of most contemporary churches. Is this plain and straightforward reading of Scripture correct or is the modern interpretation correct? James Dunn offers a valuable hermeneutic principle, "If those closer to the thought world of Paul and closer to the issue... show no inkling of the current interpretation, that interpretation is probably wrong." It is therefore instructive to compare modern views on this subject with those from scholars throughout church history, particularly the early church fathers. Not that they were infallible, but their proximity in time, culture, and geography to the apostles gave them a perspective cannot be obtained today. Moreover, the breadth and depth of their scholarship should command respect from any serious student of the bible.
This document contains quotations relating to fashion, adornment, and jewelry from a wide variety of figures in church history, with a focus on the early church fathers. Others could have been chosen, however in the interest of brevity, this survey was restricted. As a warning, the language that is employed below is quite forceful. The church fathers clearly believed that this issue was a moral one involving sin, not merely an question of liberty, and thus had great importance. It is hoped that these quotations will be taken not as offensive, but as provocative.
Tertullian
Tertullian, who lived in the second century, was the first Christian
leader to write in Latin. He was the person who coined the term
"trinity" (Latin: trinitas). Often regarded as one of the
first great theologians of the church, he has been called, "the first
Christian writer of impeccable orthodoxy to enunciate the unpalatable
truth, that the church was not a conclave of bishops, but the people
of the Holy Spirit." Tertullian wrote a small work, divided into two
books, on the subject of how to dress entitled,
De Cultu Feminarum (On Female Fashion), that addresses both
women and men on this topic. The fact that he even composed the work
suggests a high degree of concern that the early church had on this
subject. While not easy reading, it is profitable. (Click here to
read book I or here to
read book II.) Tertullian discourages the use of outward adornments
in a variety of ways:
Clement of Alexandria
Clement lived in the late second century and died sometime around 215-220 AD. He was originally a pagan philosopher who converted to Christianity. A. Cleveland Coxe writes, "On embracing Christianity, he eagerly sought the instructions of its most eminent teachers; for this purpose travelling extensively over Greece, Italy, Egypt, Palestine, and other regions of the East." He eventually became a famous teacher in Alexandria, the center of Christian learning throughout the first several centuries of church history.
Cyprian
Cyprian was born sometime around the year 200 AD. Born as the son of pagan parents, he initially worked as a prominent lawyer and teacher of rhetoric. After his conversion, he would become the bishop of the city of Carthage. Cyprian was martyred during the time of the persecution under Valerian.
Chrysostom
John Chrysostom (ca 347-407 AD), was one of seven people in church history to be honored by the title "doctor of the church." The name Chrysostom means golden-mouth, a title he was given because of his renowned oratorical skills. Originally from Antioch, he became bishop of Constantinople. Regarded by many as the greatest preacher of the early church, he was ultimately exiled because he criticized Queen Eudoxia for her elaborate fashion. Chrysostom's continual insistence on the virtues of Christian simplicity is a hallmark of his writing. In his sermon to those about to be baptized, he says:
To those about to be illuminated; and concerning women who adorn themselves with braiding of hair, and gold[...] Let us not therefore remain craving after the things of this life, neither after the luxury of the table or expensive clothes. For you have the most excellent garment[...] and Christ is become to you all things, your table, your garment, your home, your head, your body[...] But do you show me what gain could be derived from these pearls, rather what harm would not happen? For in order that you may wear one pearl, countless poor people are pinched with hunger. What excuse will you rely on? What pardon? Do you wish to adorn your face? Do so not with pearls, but with modesty, and dignity[...] For what reason will you be able to state, what defense, when the Master lays these pearls to your charge, and brings the poor who have perished with hunger into the open? On this account Paul said, "not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or expensive clothes." For therein would be a snare. And if we were to enjoy them continually, yet we shall lay them aside with death[...] Do you wish to possess pearls, and never to lay aside this wealth? Take off all ornament and place it in the hands of Christ through the poor. He will keep all your wealth for you, when He shall raise up your body with much radiancy. Then He shall invest you with better wealth and greater ornament, since this present is trivial and absurd. Consider then whom you wish to please, and for whose sake you put on this ornament. (Taken from "Instructions to Catechumens")1
Augustine
Augustine (354-430 AD) was, outside of the New Testament, the most influential Christian thinker in the first millenium of the church. The author of such monumental works as Confessions and The City of God, he influenced countless theologians after him, both Protestant and Catholic. He was bishop of Hippo, a city in North Africa. With Chrysostom, he stands of one of the seven doctors of the church.
On the subject of fashion and jewelry, he wrote in a letter, "For the true adorning, especially of Christian men and women, consists not only in the absence of all deceitful painting of the complexion, but in the possession not of magnificent golden ornaments or rich apparel, but of a blameless life" (letter 245).2
Other quotations from early church fathers
Later History
Many other devout believers have held these same views before and since the Reformation. Four examples of post-Reformation Christians include Menno Simons, John Wesley, Adoniram Judson, and Phoebe Palmer. Simons, regarding Christ's kingdom writes, "This is not a kingdom in which a display is made of gold, silver, pearls, silk, velvet and costly finery, as is done by the proud and wicked world."3 He further expresses his protest against the State churches by writing,
They say that they believe, and yet there are no limits nor bounds to their accursed wantonness, foolish pomp, show of silks, velvet, costly clothes, gold rings, chains, silver belts, pins, buttons, curiously adorned shirts, handkerchiefs, collars, veils, aprons, velvet shoes, slippers, and such like foolish finery; never regarding that the enlightened apostles, Peter and Paul, have in plain and express words forbidden this to all Christian women. If this is forbidden to women, how much more then should men abstain from it, who are leaders and heads of their women. Notwithstanding all this they still want to be called the Christian church.4The founder of Methodism, John Wesley, gave an entire sermon on the subject of godly dress. Elsewhere he writes,
Shall I be more particular still? Then, I 'exhort all those who desire me to watch over their souls,' Wear no gold,... no pearls, or precious stones; use no curling of the hair, or costly apparel, how grave soever... Buy no velvets, no silks, no fine linen, no superfluities, no mere ornaments, though ever so much in fashion. Wear nothing, though you have it already,... which is in any kind gay, glittering, or showy; nothing made in the very height of fashion, nothing apt to attract the eyes of by-standers. I do not advise women to wear rings, ear-rings, necklaces, lace, (of whatever kind or color,) or ruffles... It is true, these are little, very little things, which are not worth defending; therefore, give them up, let them drop, throw them away without another word; else a little needle may cause much pain in your flesh, a little self-indulgence much hurt to your soul.5The great missionary to Burma, Adoniram Judson, writes about his interaction with a new convert,
After the usual examination, I inquired whether she would give up her ornaments for Christ. It was an unexpected blow. I explained to her the spirit of the Gospel. I appealed to her consciousness of vanity. I read to her the apostle's prohibition. She looked again and again at her handsome necklace -- she wore but one -- and then with an air of modest decision... she quietly took it off, saying, 'I love my Christ more than this.' The news began to spread. The Christian women made but little hesitation.6Writing to American women, Judson says,
Let me appeal to your conscience, and inquire, What is the real motive for wearing ornamental and costly apparel? Is it not the desire of setting off one's person to the best advantage, and of exciting the admiration of others? Is not such dress calculated to gratify self-love, and cherished sentiments of vanity and pride?... Do such motives and sentiments compart [sic] with the meek, humble, and self-denying religion of Jesus Christ? I would... suggest, that these questions will not be answered so faithfully, in the midst of company, as when quite alone, kneeling before God. Surely you can hold out no longer. You cannot rise from your knees in your present attire. Thanks be to God, I see you taking off your necklaces and ear-rings, tearing away from your ribbons, and ruffles, and superfluities of headdress.7
Conclusions
Besides the Scriptures, we possess the testimony of a cloud of witnesses that jewelry, expensive clothes, and other adornments are not of Christ. May we not stop our ears to their distant but clear voices.
Biblography:
Footnotes:
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