"Having dealt with the disruptive men, Paul turns to the disruptive women; just as the men are to stop fighting, the women are to dress appropriately.... [source][source][source]
"While their dress is an issue, their attitude is Paul"s true concern." [1][source]
The responsibility of the women in church meetings needed more explanation. Paul"s point in these verses is that works that express a godly character should characterize Christian women more than the way they dress and groom themselves. The contrast is between works and wardrobe. [2] Obviously Paul was not saying external appearance is unimportant. [source][source][source]
"Let some say what some will about Paul, he here states that women are to dress in good taste when they prepare to attend church." [3][source]
"Slovenliness in dress and appearance is unbecoming a Christian woman." [4][source]
A Christian woman should be remarkable for her Christ-like behavior more than for her clothes, hairstyle, and the other externals that are of primary importance to unbelievers (cf. 1 Peter 3:3). [source][source][source]
"The Christian woman is not to adorn herself with "gold or pearls or expensive clothes" so as to draw attention to herself. At worst, this is what the prostitutes did. At best, it shows pride and self-centeredness, both of which are contrary to the spirit of Christ. Such dress is especially unbecoming in church." [5][source]
"The reason for Paul"s prohibition of elaborate hair styles, ornate jewelry, and extremely expensive clothing becomes clear when one reads in the contemporary literature of the inordinate time, expense, and effort that elaborately braided hair and jewels demanded, not just as ostentatious display, but also as the mode of dress of courtesans and harlots ..." [6][source]
"But perhaps the more acute problem was that of insensitive women flaunting their dress, jewelry and hairstyles in a way that hurt the feelings of the poor and disturbed the church. The kinds of adornment mentioned (braided hair ... gold ... pearls ... expensive clothes) all belonged to that culture"s critical caricature of wealthy women. [7][source]
"While today this manner of dress is not nearly as exclusive as it was in Paul"s day, nor indeed restricted to women, its effects can be the same. I am reminded of a visit to a large, upper-middle-class church in Dallas (it could have been any large city or suburb). When I entered the sanctuary, the first thing that struck me was the glitter of jewelry, the expensive clothing and the fashionable hairstyles. The craning necks as people sized one another up gave the impression that for many the purpose of gathering together that Sunday morning was to display economic status. A newcomer of modest economic means could not help but feel a sense of exclusion." [8][source]
Fee wrote a good discussion of how to distinguish cultural expressions of principles from those principles. [9][source]
Spiritual qualities should mark a Christian woman always, of course. However, Paul"s concern was that they be outstanding in the church meetings. There the woman"s character and conduct would contribute to the orderly and edifying activities rather than detracting from them (cf. 1 Timothy 3:15). [source][source][source]
"A woman"s adornment, in short, lies not in what she herself puts on, but in the loving service she gives out." [10][source]
Perhaps Paul gave these instructions to the men ( 1 Timothy 2:8) and to the women ( 1 Timothy 2:9-10) partially to counteract the natural (fleshly) tendencies in males and females. Most men tend to be active, so it is important that they give attention to praying, which is more contemplative than active. Women like to look good, so they need to remember that good deeds are more important than good looks. [10][source]