Nakedness
in Light of the Bible
ByPerryDemopoulos
D.D., Th.D.
Note: All quotes of scriptures are taken from the infallible word of God, the Authorized Version of the King James Bible.
Preface
The purpose of this book is simply because the author has had to deal with this particular issue on the foreign field laboring as a missionary in the Former Soviet Union, “Gog” and “Magog” territories. A perverted system such as socialist communism of the former Soviet Union has a tendency to force the mind of its victims to think that the end justifies the means. Pragmatism! The end of a pagan society can also be manifested in a seared conscience. One of the manifestations of a seared conscience is the exposure of the flesh. With very little information for new converts to read in the Russian tongue and with immodesty as a way of the flesh for the latest generations there was the need to have something in print for to ‘educate’ God’s people.
Introduction
In this booklet we are going to take up the matter of NAKEDNESS. The world has a term called “indecent exposure” which means the offence of indecently exposing parts of one’s body in public. While the world has its own standards, terms and defines its own terminology, the Bible, the word of God, determines and defines its own words. “Indecent exposure” is a violation of law in many countries while at the same time in those same countries selling CD’s, cassettes, videos, newspapers, and journals with pictures of immodest dress is lawful. Although “indecent exposure” means one thing, it is only one aspect of what the Bible says about NAKEDNESS.
While the law in certain countries does not allow people to completely expose certain parts of their bodies in public (“indecent exposure”), it makes way for people to justify themselves to BARELY COVER those certain body parts to make you think they are ‘clothed.’ That is the self-justification of man. Man considers himself to be “the measure of all things” and not THE BIBLE.
By the time you are done reading this booklet hopefully you will have a changed heart, attitude, and practice if you have been a victim of what God’s word says about NAKEDNESS.
Modern Fashions
Modern fashions “fads” come and go, as said, “Here today and gone tomorrow.” Although it is a play on words, the King James Bible mentions some revelation that the “originals” won’t give you – the word “fashion” “…for the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Cor. 7:31).
One of the most popular fads today is nakedness. You say, “Nakedness has always been around.” That is true but we’ve got to deal with what is going on TODAY. Anybody who has any kind of memory, if they have been living for over 50 years can notice the down fall and collapse in matters of dress and modesty. Not even unsaved people 50 years ago would have been embarrassed to be seen in clothes that are worn today by saved people, let alone unsaved people. What is the problem? It all starts in the heart. Without proper Biblical knowledge (Hos. 4:6) concerning modest clothing the heart is going to be subject to the whims and fashions of the world. The Bible says, “And be not conformed TO THIS WORLD: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2).
Certainly the will of God is not that His people walk around naked as Revelation 3:17 speaks of, but rather to be MODEST, in every aspect of life. The Bible talks about being clothed. There is an inward clothing that should manifest itself outward. Listen to what Peter says –
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and BE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1 Pet. 5:5)
Of course the context is submission one to another. Nonetheless being clothed with humility as a condition of the heart is very needful today in this very immodest “evil world” (Gal. 1:4) that we live in.
There are many excuses that people use to dress immodestly and to take off their clothes publicly. We will deal with the different kinds of nakedness spoken of in the Bible and then make some practical, Biblical application.
First of all concerning matters of exposing the body, there are some exceptions to the rule. But exceptions only prove the rule, not to justify sin.
There is necessary exposure. Abraham was told to circumcise every man child (Gen. 17:10-14). Ishmael was 13 years old when circumcised. All the men in Abraham’s house were circumcised (Gen. 14:14). Abraham had 318 servants born in his own house. This is an example of necessary exposure.
These examples were commanded by God as a token of the covenant between God and Abraham (Gen. 17:2).
Doctors also have responsibilities to do operations on patients where there are situations of necessary exposure of the body. If the doctor is to make a proper analysis of a patient and also make operations, there is going to be necessary exposure. That would be the exception to the rule. But even then, there may be the possibility to have a woman doctor look after women and men doctors for men. The exception only proves the rule. The exception is not the justification of breaking scriptural principles of modesty according to 1 Timothy 2:9.
“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;”
Modest apparel does not attract attention to the body because the greatest temptation any woman (and man) ever had was to attract attention of others. Modern apparel is for that purpose. The clothing industry of modern fashions or any fashion show will reveal at once what is going on. Women are doing all that they can to try to get a man to look at them. A preacher said one time, “No woman was ever too poor to own a mirror.” The Bible says, “Favour is DECEITFUL, and BEAUTY IS VAIN:but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”
Unfortunately this world is so blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor.4:4) that young ladies gain attention by flaunting their naked bodies during what is called the “swimsuit contest.” There is so much in the vast world of sports, recreation, art and professionalism that has convinced this world that it doesn’t make a difference whether you are modest or not as long as you have talent, or earn a good living, gain the popularity of others, do not want to be left alone or simply want to have a ‘good’ time. In the name of “freedom,” “liberty,” and “grace,” professing believers have become FLESHLY. People want to flaunt their flesh. It is as if people are saying, “Look at me.” “So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in SPORT?” (Prov. 26:19). It is a pressure tactic by Satan so that people will succumb to the lusts of the flesh.
Let’s look at 1 Timothy 2:9 again –
“In like manner also, that woman adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.”
Notice that Paul talks about PUTTING CLOTHES ON, and not taking them off like your modern “Christians” do. A Christian is supposed to be ADORNED, e.i., CLOTHED. Paul did not say that you are to be modestly clothed with the exception when you want to go to the beach and strip. He also did not say, that you are to adorn yourself in modest apparel except for the reason of playing some kind of sport, like volleyball on the beach. No, he did not say that. Paul did not say just because you have a desire to lie under the sun on a beach or want to go into the ocean that you are to strip before the naked public, or for the sake of your youth group in your church, or for sake of your college friends or business partners. There is no exception to the rule of modest apparel for the sake of “vacation,” or for a personal, fleshly desire. You are supposed to be MODESTLY CLOTHED ANYWHERE AND ALL THE TIME.
Notice alsothat “modest apparel” is connected with “shamefacedness and sobriety.” Proper attire directs the attention to an honest, meek, and quiet face. A natural blush, a feminine bashfulness, and a submissive spirit are great qualities for young ladies, or for any lady for that matter. “Shamefacedness” means a face that is not boldly and aggressively seeking to attract the attention of the opposite sex that many of the modern magazines show. It is a very big business. “…money answereth all things” (Eccl.10:19). “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:10). Shamefacedness means a face that shows shame. A woman ought to know her place and station in life (1 Tim. 2:11-15), and that she has nothing to be proud of in the flesh (1 Cor. 4:7). For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Unfortunately there are many professing believers that are not ashamed of the fact that they strip themselves to a bathing suit or a bikini and are not even ashamed.
Every period of man – (before Noah’s flood; the Tower of Babel; Judges; during the time of Jesus including the church age ENDS IN APOSTASY. The church, the body of Christ is in apostasy right now (2 Tim. 3:1-9). The nation Israel is in type the church and when Israel was in apostasy she became so hardened to sin that there was no shamefulness – “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.” (Jer. 8:12)
In light of what you just read how can YOU justify lying on a beach in the midst of naked people, most likely unsaved pagans, and think that you are MODEST? Does not our OMNI-PRESENT God see you in church as well as how you are dressed (or undressed) on a beach in front of other people who also are NAKED?
Just because modern fashions may be popular that does not mean they are modest. The criteria for clothing in the Bible is always MODESTY.
Another type of exposure of the body is Innocent exposure. That would be babies, and or little children who have no knowledge of good and evil (Deut. 1:39). But once a man gets saved, his ways are to change. He ought to be taught that when you become a man you put away childish things. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11)
Immodesty on the part of any man or woman professing to be a believer ought to take heed to what Paul told Timothy – “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22). John said, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh… is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16).
There is yet another kind of indecent exposure – Excusing exposure – That is where people are making up excuses to expose themselves. “I’m not offended about my body.” “The Bible is talking about a myth about Adam and Eve.” “You should be proud of your nakedness. It is art” “I believe that the body is a work of art form, therefore my profession allows me to paint naked bodies.” All of this is nothing short of PORNAGRAPHY.
I. THE MEANING / TYPES OF NAKEDNESS
Now the word “naked,” “nakedness” is used throughout the Bible having four different meanings.
1. There is first of all absolute nakedness. These verse references are very clear and not difficult to understand. (Gen. 2:25; Job 1:21; Eccl. 5:15).
2. The second Biblical definition of nakedness is being poorly dressed. Note the following places of people being poorly dress. (Isa. 47:2, 3; 58:7; 1 Tim. 2:9; James 2:15).
3. The lack of formal attire is a form of nakedness (2 Sam. 6:14-20; Isa. 20:2).
4. Lastly, nakedness is used figuratively, meaning “being discovered” or “made manifest,” or sin being exposed (Heb. 4:13).
II. THE SHAMEOF NAKEDNESS
Here we are going to expound certain scriptures and explain what the Bible says concerning nakedness and the proper reaction to it. Since nakedness is SIN, the natural attitude toward it should be SHAME as you will see.
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were created and put in the Garden. They both were naked but they were innocent (Gen. 2:25). They had not yet eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But when they both disobeyed God (Gen. 3:6) “they knew that they were NAKED” (v.7).
The first reaction of Adam and Eve after they knew they were naked was to try to justify themselves. They did that by clothing themselves, “and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (v. 7). That was the way in which man began to justify himself. They set their own standard to justify themselves before God and hide themselves from His presence (v. 8). If that weren’t enough when the Lord came to them the Lord asked them certain pointed questions, “Where art thou?” (v. 9), “Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” (v.11). Adam and Eve’s responses were excuses. They did not want to acknowledge their sinful condition before God. “And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat” (v. 12). That is what has always been the problem with man since the fall. He must see his guilty condition. No drug addict will ever seek help if he thinks he is alright. He is a ‘junky’ because he is a fallen creature. The first step to salvation is seeing your need of a Saviour.
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat” (v. 13).
You see, the fig leaves weren’t enough. The means of justifying themselves to cover up their sins and their inward sin nature were expressed by sewing fig leaves and making aprons (Gen. 3:7). Fig leaves in the Bible are a type of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. As a matter of fact, in the Gospels, the fig tree is the only thing the Lord Jesus Christ cursed (Matt. 21:19-21). Adam and Eve thought that it was alright to set their own standard of ‘humility’ and ‘modesty’ by trying to cover up their own inner self-righteousness and was manifest by an outward fig-leaf apron of profession. In a sense they were saying, “We’re believers too.” “God is love.” Etc. It is the world’s way of saying, “Everybody else does it.” “Bikinis are okay.” “Everybody wears swim suits.” “My conscience doesn’t bother me…” “My parts are ‘covered.” “He does it. Why can’t I do it also?” “You think you’re right and everybody else is wrong.”
Not only that, Adam and Eve began “comparing themselves among themselves” (2 Cor. 10:12) which is “not wise.” They began blaming others (“accusingor else excusing one another…” Rom. 2:15) for their own sins (Gen. 3:12, 13). But God exposed their sin, NAKEDNESS, and self-righteousness. Why? Because even after Adam and Eve “sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (v. 7), God had to clothe them. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins,and CLOTHED THEM” (Gen.3:21). Of course the clothing here would be mainly spiritual, for the “skins” implies that blood would have been shed from a lamb. It is a type of redemption through the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:29).
Adam’s fig leaf aprons vs. God’s coats
A “coat” (v. 21) is something that, for the most part covers more of the body than just an apron. Genesis 3:21 implies that Adam and Eve were not properly dressed, “…the LORD God make coats of skins, and CLOTHED them.”(v. 21). A coat covers the shoulders, all the way down to the waist (front, back and sides), almost always lower than the waist and / or to the knees and sometimes even past the knees. On the contrary, an apron, most often leaves parts of the upper and lower halves of the body exposed.
When the Bible tells of Adam and Eve stitching together leaves to cover themselves, they were in fact creating the first aprons in history. Since then, aprons have been used for various practical purposes, made out of a wide variety of materials and for various professions such as butchers, welders, glassmakers, blacksmiths, chefs, candlestick-makers, etc. The African tribesman may not wear anything at all but a small “apron” (Gen. 3:7) in the front midsection below the waist, while the shoulders to the midsection would be completely exposed (front, back and sides), let alone the thighs. We’ll talk about the thighs later.