A Biblical Study of Nudity (and how it affects Nudism)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
The Bible has been a source of wisdom, teaching, and peace for many centuries. It is the best-selling book of all time and the first book printed using the printing press. The Bible provides people with the basis for much of today’s guidelines for right and wrong, inlcuding the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles. Many of these guidelines are strictly spelled out, with “thou shalt” and “thou shalt nots.”
However, there are many other guidelines discussed in the Bible that are more debated within the Christian community, such as musical instruments and women’s roles. The discussions generated from these topics, and whether certain aspects are sinful or not, have split churches into several doctrines and denominations. Often we decide as Christians that because there is not explicit direction from the Bible that we are free to make our decisions and choose to congregate with others who accept (if not support) those decisions; but we do not label those we disagree with as any less of Christians.
Another topic which is not often discussed, but raises controversy is nudity; specifically, nudism, and naturism, and whether or not nudity itself is inherently sexual. There are several instances in the Bible where a lack of clothing is specifically mentioned and others places where it might be logically implied. Let’s examine these instances.
“And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
(Genesis 2:25)
“And he said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.’ He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’” (Genesis 3:10-11)
“And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.”
(Genesis 3:21)
We see in Genesis that when God created man and woman, He made them perfect and in his own image; He did not give them garments because they did not need them. He proclaimed that all of his creation was good. When they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they became of aware of sin and the shame that comes with it; they were also aware of their vulnerability. In attempts to hide from God and from the shame of sin, they made coverings for themselves; after God banishes them from the Garden, He knows they will be vulnerable to the elements, so He makes better garments for them, because God is still a loving father who takes care of children. These verses explain that while there is a reason for clothing, to protect ourselves, but not be ashamed of what God created.
“At that time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, ‘Go, and loose the sackcloth from your waist and take off your sandals from your feet,’ and he did so, walking naked and barefoot.” (Isaiah 20:2)
“And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’” (1 Samuel 19:24)
In these two verses, we see intentional nudity caused by God. In Isaiah, God tells his prophet to remove his clothing; Isaiah continues his ministry in the nude for 3 years. In Samuel, God sends the Holy Spirit down on King Saul and his men, causing them to strip naked and prophesy. Contextually, this did not seem unusual to the people, other than Saul’s prophesying. The fact the God caused these instances of nudity is especially intriguing; it seems to be a reminder from Him, the we are his creation, and should not be ashamed of what God has called good.
“And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.” (Mark 14: 51-52)
“so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist…” (John 13: 4)
“Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.” (John 20: 6-7)
“That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21: 7)
Here in these verses, we see examples of Jesus himself (as well as some of his followers). In Mark 14 and John 21, we see followers of Jesus in situations where they are bared different reasons; the young man (who many scholars believe to be the gospel writer Mark himself) was stripped of his garment during Jesus’ arrest. The apostle Peter had removed his garment for his work day on the fishing boat.
The other two verses concern Jesus himself. The scene in the upper room, Jesus removed his own clothes and wrapped a towel around his waist before washing the feet of his apostles. After the crucifixion, Jesus was laid in the tomb with his body wrapped in linens. When the stone was rolled away and Peter and John enter, the linen was there, but the body was not. Some might take this to suggest when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was undressed in nature.
There are also those who suggest baptisms took place nude. This is based less on the works of scripture, but many renaissance artists depicting scenes of nude baptisms. Mosaics in the Byzantine Church and artwork within the Roman catacombs show baptisms occurring nude.
There are many other cases of nudity mentioned in the Bible including Joseph fleeing Potiphar’s wife, the man possessed by the demon Legion, Bathsheba bathing on her roof, and a group of men who attempted to cast out a demon in Acts. All of these cases and more, occurred for different reasons, but no verse condemns the nudity, or say that it is shameful in the eyes of the Lord. There are several verses which use where the word ‘naked’ is said metaphorically, as to expose sin; other verses speak metaphorically about clothing (for example, to clothe yourself in righteousness), but these verses are looking at the heart and actions of mankind.
We see several cases in the Bible of non-sexual nudity, but also a purpose for clothing. While the Bible does not outright support the idea of nudism or naturism, it does not condemn it either. There is reason to think that the philosophies involving casual social non-sexual nudity are perfectly acceptable, if that is within your realm of enjoyment. God and His ways are perfect and He does everything for a reason. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
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