Should Christians Wear Jewelry? 

For the Christian, the standard of living is the Word of God.

The Word of God empowers the believer from trespassing against God as promised in Psalm 119:11 (KJV) by declaring “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Also, God’s Word produces faith as revealed in Romans 10:17 (KJV), “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Also the Word of God is power against the enemy as well as revealing the heart of the follower of Christ as seen in Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) which states, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

And so, for the Christian, the Word of God is the basis of authority.  This is clearly seen through scripture such as found in II Timothy 3:16 (KJV), which affirms that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

Therefore, if the new creature in Christ wishes to know God’s heart and mind they simply need to seek the answers in God’s Holy Word.

One such subject is the question of jewelry.  What is God’s direction for the believer?  Does He wish for us to be unadorned?  Is it a sin to wear jewelry?  Is it okay to buy jewelry?

Consequently, if wishing to discover what God’s direction is, we turn to His voice, His instruction as declared in Joshua 1:8 (KJV), “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

When researching the word jewelry in God’s word it is interesting to note that this word is not used. However, there are a number of jewels mentioned as well as inferences regarding the wearing jewelry.

For example, in the Song of Solomon 1:10 (KJV) states, “Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.” Or in the New Testament, I Timothy 2:9 (KJV) affirms “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;”

Therefore, a simple breakdown of I Timothy 2:9 can provide a foundation for the Christian’s view regarding the adornment of jewelry.

First of all, nowhere in the Scripture is the wearing of jewelry condemned.  Additionally, nowhere in the Bible is there a condemnation of computers, TVs, or other modern day devices. However, the issue at hand is not the use of these items, but the embracing of these items in such a way that they deter us from our walk or relationship with God through Christ.

It would seem then that what Paul is saying in I Timothy 2:9 that women, and men for that matter, should not worry about their outward appearance, but concentrate on the purity of God and him alone. This is explicitly seen when the psalmist says create in me a clean heart Oh God and renew a right spirit in me. This should be the one sole desire for the Christian in their walk with the Lord. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”  Matthew 5:8 (KJV).

So, when Paul says to Timothy that the women and Christians should not worry about the adornment of jewelry, he is saying that the believer should be adorned with Christ and reflect Him and only Him. This is why Paul says that one’s hair should not be broided.  Broided literally means twined; braided.  It again infers attention to worldly appearances and, quite frankly, we are not of this world.  We are new creatures.

Paul continues, “Not adorned with gold or pearls or costly array.” These items are valued by the world and represent outward beauty and make such statements of being wealthy and elite. This attitude and presentation can be a revealing of sin within the heart and is the trap that those who adorn themselves with these trappings can find themselves moving towards or loving.

This worldly attitude of the heart is what the Scripture calls to the attention of the believer. This is what our Lord stated when he said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”  (Matthew 23:27) There are the trappings of religion and the adornment of jewels can be the trappings of loving the world and John’s message to our hearts as believers today is, “Love not the world neither the things of the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (I John 2:15)

Consequently, what is the teaching about jewelry from God’s Word?  One such teaching can be found in Matthew 6:19 (KJV) which declares, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:”

And the purpose for God’s calling, the real beauty He wants to bring us to is found in Ephesians 5:26, 27 (KJV), “That he might sanctify and cleanse it (the Church) with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

Category: Christian Jewelry, Jewelry History, Jewelry in the Bible