Topical Bible: Wives: should be Adorned with Good Works

◄ Wives: should be Adorned with Good Works ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The role and conduct of wives within the Christian faith is a subject addressed with clarity and depth in the Scriptures. The Bible emphasizes that wives should be adorned not merely with external beauty but with good works, reflecting a heart devoted to God and His commandments.

Biblical Foundation

The apostle Peter provides guidance on the adornment of wives in 1 Peter 3:3-4 : "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight." This passage underscores the importance of inner beauty, characterized by a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great value to God.

Similarly, the apostle Paul instructs in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 : "Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty and 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." Here, Paul emphasizes that the true adornment of a wife should be her good deeds, reflecting her faith and devotion to God.

The Virtuous Wife

Proverbs 31 provides a detailed portrait of a virtuous wife, whose life is marked by good works and diligence. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes her as a woman of noble character, whose worth is far above rubies. She is industrious, caring for her household and extending her hand to the needy. Her actions bring honor to her husband and family, and she is praised for her fear of the Lord.

Role in the Family and Church

Wives are called to be partners and helpers to their husbands, as seen in Genesis 2:18, where God declares, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." This partnership is further elaborated in Ephesians 5:22-24 : "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." This submission is not a sign of inferiority but a reflection of the order and harmony God designed for the family.

In the church, older women are encouraged to teach and guide younger women, as stated in Titus 2:3-5 : "Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited." This mentorship role highlights the importance of good works and godly character in the life of a wife.

Conclusion

The biblical call for wives to be adorned with good works is a profound reminder of the inner beauty and godly character that should define their lives. Through their actions, wives have the opportunity to reflect the love and grace of Christ, serving as a testament to their faith and devotion to God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Timothy 2:10
But (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Timothy 5:10
Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

On Dress
... they hear, nor are willing that others should: And these ... they would look prettier
if they were adorned with such ... you, O ye husbands, do not hinder your wives! ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 88 on dress.htm

On Dress.
... Thou hast adorned thy wall with the money which might ... be won by the conversation
of the wives; while they ... follow the fashions of the world, should be avoided ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/on dress.htm

V. ...
... As these women adorned themselves, he would say, so do ye ... and support her,"not that
you should destroy her ... that they dwell with their wives, endear themselves ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter iii v .htm

The Seventh Commandment
... have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives; even I ... with adultery, but that
we should keep our ... We are adorned with patience, humility, good works, and ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 7 the seventh commandment.htm

Colossians iii. 18-25
... bonds: but one that despiseth death, how should he be ... when she was naked indeed,
she was adorned with the ... harlots use, but by those rather which wives that are ...
/.../homily x colossians iii 18-25.htm

Swedenborgians, Or, the New Jerusalem Church.
... out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her ... Those wives who attend to these
things, and are affected ... that most pernicious root of evil should be excited ...
/.../hayward/the book of religions/swedenborgians or the new jerusalem.htm

Twenty Third Sunday after Trinity Enemies of the Cross of Christ ...
... Toward the heavenly life we should tend, in our ... honest, virtuous"lords and princes,
wives and husbands ... that beloved angels hovered about and adorned her with ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty third sunday after trinity.htm

Christian Behavior
... women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being ... Indeed there are some wives
in great slavery by ... their ungodly husbands; and as such should be pitied ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

Ephesians i. 2-Jan
... is plain from the end of the Epistle, as, when he says, "Wives, be in ... that who should
glorify Him ... It is thus that God hath arrayed and adorned this soul of ours ...
/.../homily i ephesians i 2-jan.htm

Miscellaneous.
... Christ doth to his church; and wives should carry it ... that the imaginations of one
mind should become the ... See his polluted soul cleansed and adorned by divine ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxix miscellaneous.htm