Question: Berean Literal Bible 1 Timothy 2:9

> 
> Likewise also women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing
> 
> 
> 

Was Paul against braided hair or hair adorned with gold?

Answer: 
1 Tim 2:9 should not be divorced from V10, so let me quote both (BSB):

> 
> Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable
> apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or
> gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper
> for women who profess to worship God.
> 
> 
> 

This text gives me the impression that any woman who could afford it, dressed to impress (much as today!) Paul is simply encouraging women to lift their focus away from the type of apparel that draws attention to oneself and direct it to Christ.

That is, Paul wanted women to be known, not for their exquisite dress sense, but for their good deeds; or more precisely in the words of Matthew 5:16:

> 
> In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see
> your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
> 
> 
> 

Christians should conduct themselves in such a way that even unbelievers give glory to God. This is not done by wearing clothes that bring glory to the person.

Lastly and specifically about **braided hair**: I do not believe that Paul was specifically opposed to braided hair but the braids containing gold or pearls. Gold threads cannot be placed in the hair without braiding it. Similarly, Pearls in the hair could only be done using braids. For a woman having long hair (as Paul in other places recommended, 1 Cor 11:15), braiding hair is and was a practical way to wear it in public.

Therefore, I suggest that Paul is not against braided as such, but against braiding hair with gold and pearls as an exercise in self glorification.
### Was Paul against braided hair or hair adorned with gold?

Paul was giving instruction as to how women should present themselves as worshippers of God. This is in line with what Paul talks about in the next verse:

> 
> but with good deeds which are fitting for women who profess godliness.–The Lexham English Bible (1 Ti 2:10).
> 
> 
> 

Would a Christian woman dress provocatively, as was the style of the times, and at the same time say she was a follower of God? Under the subject of [Adornment](https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000117#h=7:0-8:0), *Insight on the Scriptures* says:

> 
> During the days of the apostles it was a custom among women in that world of Greek culture to go in for elaborate coiffures and other adornment.
> 
> 
> 

The Wikipedia article on [Clothing in ancient Greece](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing_in_ancient_Greece#Jewellery) brings out that these hairstyles were elaborate.

So, why was Paul worried about these hairstyles? Because they were a status symbol of the times. Note what the website *Hairstory* says under the topic ["Hair Studies: Braids & Dreads"](https://www.hairstory.com/stories/hairstudies-braids-dreads/):

> 
> To differentiate themselves from Egyptians, classical Greek women grew hair much longer, and pulled it back into chignons. Many styles involved braids fixed to the head and decorated with flowers, headbands, ribbons and pieces of metal. Braids were a sign of wealth and the leisure it affords; the more elaborate, the better.
> 
> 
> 

The March 8, 1995, Awake! issue has an interesting article on ["Fashion–Ancient Greek"](https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101995168#h=20) which brings out the danger of this style for Christians:

> 
> The popular hair styles worn by rich ancient Greek women were extremely elaborate and very time-​consuming. Such hair styles required many long hours of preparation by a beautician and much expense, and they were very showy, drawing attention to the wearer.
> 
> 
> 

So we can see that Paul was more concerned about where a Christian would put their devotion, on the physical appearance or on their spirituality.

For more information on this topic, see the Watchtower June 1, 1991 ["Questions From Readers: Is it fitting for a Christian woman to use jewelry or makeup, dye her hair, or follow similar practices?"](https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1991409)