Ornamenting the Body and Defiling the Temple

Question:

I need to find out where I can scriptures about defiling the temple and ornamenting the body.

Submitted by KE on June 22, 1999.

Answer: (Given by Sis. Deborah Mullins)

The following is an answer to a recent question regarding scriptures related to "defiling the temple" and ornamenting the body.  This question relates to the Bible's reference to our bodies as a "temple" and there are several guidelines laid down in the scriptures on how we are to care for our own temple.  The main reference to the body as a temple is in 1 Corinthians 6.  In this chapter, Paul is addressing the Christians in Corinth who were having some trouble following the letter and the spirit of Christ's teaching.  He lists several different areas where Christians were having trouble with living in the world.  Beginning in verse 13 and continuing through verse 20, Paul gives several guidelines on how we are to revere our bodies as the Jews had formerly held their temple--a sacred place where God would communicate with the high priest and sins were confessed and forgiven.  Using the analogy of the temple for our bodies, the former Jews could easily identify with the amount of reverence we should have for our "temple" since it was purchased by Christ for the purpose of serving God while we are still here on this earth.

As an instrument to be used for the continuation of Christ's work, it therefore has the same sacred purpose that the Jewish temple once served.  1 Corinthians 19-20 sums it up (KJV): "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 

The ornamentation of the body is described in 1Timothy 2:9-10:  "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.  But (which becometh women professing godliness with good works."  This is a specific description for the instruction of women's dress. A general guideline goes for both men and women and is related to the fact that our bodies are temples and should be adorned modestly with the ornamentation coming in the form of our good works.  In 1 Peter 3:3-5, the instruction is given to wives:  "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirt, which is in the sight of God of great price.  For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves..."  Likewise, in the old testament Proverbs 31:25, King Lemuel is telling of the words of wisdom that his mother told him to keep in mind for looking for the perfect wife: "Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come."  The rewards are found in verse 30-31: "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." Although these scriptures are specifically addressed to women, they can easily be interpreted for men also since similar guidelines had been given for men to be judged by their works.  One's appearance is addressed in 2 Thessalonians 22: "Abstain from all appearance of evil."  For this reason, we all dress modestly so that no one could interpret our appearance as having any purpose of evil or to encourage evil thoughts for anyone else.

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