What does the Bible say about Modesty? [closed]

Question

I am curious if modesty is defined in the Bible. If not, is modesty subjective to the culture? For example in Africa some tribes have their women go around topless, but for them to wear shorty-shorts would be as scandalous as an American going topless.

Also, what does a swimsuit need to be modest? One church I went to required that guys and girls not even be at the same pool. Another had everyone together with the pastor's daughters in bikinis. What does the Bible say about swimsuits?

Answer 1

Modesty is never explicitly defined in the Bible.

However, looking at the definition of the original Greek word:

The Greek word for modest is Kosmios, meaning orderly, well-arranged, decent, modest, harmonious arrangement, or adornment. Modesty is also Biblically applied to one's demeanor or behavior. This same Greek word is translated good behavior in 1 Timothy 3:2 in the qualifications of bishops.

The best we can do for a biblical definition is to examine the purpose of modesty, which is to avoid causing others to lust after us. (That's easy for me.)

I believe it is relative, and if women going around topless is the norm in a society, and it is not something that causes the males around them to lust after them, then it is probably not an issue for them the way it would be in our society.

Answer 2

In my answer, I am assuming (from the complete text of your question) that you are referring to modesty in the context of covering up sexual organs instead of modesty as in "humility".

The Bible clearly shows that it was not God's original plan that we should cover ourselves up:

Genesis 3:11

And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

(Read the whole chapter to get the context if you are unfamiliar with the story.)

However, because of The Fall, we are now expected to cover up. Read Paul's words:

1 Corinthians 12:23

the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty

(Again, worth reading the whole chapter if you are unfamiliar with the context: it is comparing the human body to the Body of Christ.)

Answer 3

Rather than answer the question in your title directly, I'm quoting a couple of comments you made in the body of your question. Hopefully, I'm answering your meta-question, which I think is why do different Christian churches have different extra-Bible legalisms?

One church I went to required that guys and girls not even be at the same pool. Another had everyone together with the pastor's daughters in bikinis.

Different churches are going to interpret 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 (NRSV) in different ways.

Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

The first church you mentioned kept guys and girls separate. The second didn't consider guys and girls together a "form of evil". The verse is open to interpretation and misinterpretation.

I found this interesting essay on 1 Thessalonians 5:22 — The Sin Sniffer’s Catch-All Verse

Answer 4

Surely it is important to note that the societies that have women going around topless are not Christian. Many are animist and tribal. Those who live in nudist colonies are not Christians either.

[edit] I say that nudists are not Christians because modesty is commanded - nudity is not modest - therefore nudists are disobeying 1 timothy 2:9 which says; "women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control." [/edit]

Why did God give Adam and Eve clothing?

God gave them clothing because of their sexual attraction.

[edit] If clothing were for some reason other than sexual attraction, why would modesty be commanded? [/edit]

Mathew chapter 5 clearly states that a man who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Christians are commanded to purify their hearts (James 4:8) and avoid all forms of sexual immorality (Acts 15). Paul also commands modesty.

What is modesty? The fact that modesty is not explicitly defined means that every Christian must draw a line in the sand. Where that line is drawn exactly will vary slightly.

The case may be made that certain body parts are inherently sexual in nature. Proverbs 5:19 says "let her breasts (your wife's) satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.." Since breasts are inherently sexual and women are to be modest, it would seem necessary that breasts should be covered.

One test for modesty is shame. Adam and Eve were ashamed when they realized that they were naked (Genesis 3). What caused Adam and Eve's shame?

"At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness." Genesis 3:7 NLT

Sin + nakedness caused their shame. Sin tainted everything including sexual attraction. Adam and Eve's tainted sexual attraction caused shame. This is not to say that sexual attraction is inherently sinful - but rather that sin has often tainted it.

Nakedness and immodesty cause shame in our fallen world. People are ashamed to be seen in their underwear. Bikinis and underwear are virtually indistinguishable. Therefore bikinis are immodest. The culture (not the Bible) appears as the primary cause of Christians tolerating bikinis.

Answer 5

I don't believe the Bible has specifics on what makes clothing modest in the sense we think of today. When the New Testament writers spoke of modesty in clothing, they weren't comparing it to revealing clothing, but to fancy clothing, e.g. 1 Timothy 2:9 (ESV quoted):

likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire

or (possibly, if this is not figurative) 1 Peter 5:5 (ESV quoted)

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

So what about clothing not covered by this? I think Romans 14 is relevant to this issue, though it doesn't address clothing directly. Paul uses the example of eating meat (sometimes understood to be meat offered to idols) vs. abstaining and eating only vegetables, but his main point is more general (Romans 14:13-15, NIV quoted):

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.

The idea here is that yes, in the absence of any specific divine command--and regards to swimwear specifically, I do not recall one--one should follow what is expected of one's community or culture at large, lest we put a 'stumbling block' in the way of others. To you, wearing revealing clothing may be nothing -- may be what is usual where you come from -- but others may imitate you. Will they misunderstand your reasons? Will they do it because they understand it's normal in another context, or will they do it because to them it's a little racy, and if you can be a little racy, then it must be okay? Will those who chastise you for it be distracted from more important issues?

Incidentally, you speak of 'scandalousness' -- The Greek for 'stumbling block' (σκάνδαλον) Paul uses is indeed the root of the word 'scandal'. So if we indeed take that to be the measure of it, we might put the matter that way: would your clothing be seen as scandalous? If so, better to put it aside.