Before their disobedience in the garden, Adam and Eve “were both naked… and were not ashamed,” but afterward they were afraid.  Their sense of shame and fear is at the core of modesty – the need to cover our bodies.  In His grace God provided clothing for the first couple, and ever since, believers who fear God have covered themselves (Gen. 3:21).

The word modesty (Lat. modus, lit. “measure”) is quantitative in its original meaning.  It has come to mean a measure of propriety or humility, characterised by reserve and freedom from excess.  In the New Testament, modesty carries the idea of arrangement, not only adornment of dress but also harmony of the inner life.  Its biblical meaning is a sensitive withdrawal from anything which is indelicate or impure.

Throughout the Bible, lack of modesty is often connected with an intent to commit sexual sin.  Noah cursed his grandson Canaan because of the immodest actions of his father Ham (Gen. 9:21-25).  Isaiah chided the women of Israel for exhibitionism (Is. 3:16).  Hosea’s allegory of unfaithful marriage contained reference to shameless behaviour with a sexual connotation (Hos. 2:5).

Paul’s writing in the New Testament refers more specifically to proper dress for believers.  He teaches that that the Christian should know when the boundaries of decency are being overstepped.  Paul assumed in teaching on the spiritual gifts and proper decorum in church that certain parts of the body are to be covered (1 Cor. 12:23; 1 Tim. 2:9).

“ULTIMATELY A WOMAN’S SENSE OF MODESTY IS TO BE REGULATED BY HER PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST AND HIS PURITY”

The culture into which she is born and the Christian society in which she lives are factors in judging decency, but ultimately a woman’s sense of modesty is to be regulated by her personal relationship with Jesus Christ and His purity.