The World’s Standard: What a Woman Should Not Be

In 1 Peter 3:1–6, Peter warns women against majoring on externals while ignoring the inside. The Greek word for “adorning” in verse three is cosmos, where we get the English word cosmetic. The practice of Roman women at the time of this writing was to wear towering hairdo’s with nets of gold and expensive combs in it. They would dye their hair in outlandish colors, and then place golden rings and bracelets around their arms, ankles, and necks. When speaking of the “putting on of fine apparel,” Peter was referring to the frequent change of clothing with the purpose of impressing people.

While God does not condemn a woman for dressing herself attractively, He does say that she should not be preoccupied with it. Remember the words of Jesus: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

Women who consume themselves with their outward appearance alone will wind up shallow and empty.