Footnote

a In the third century C.E., Tertullian claimed that women “who rub their skin with medicaments, stain their cheeks with rouge, make their eyes prominent with [black] antimony, sin against Him.” He also criticized those who dye their hair. Misapplying Jesus’ words at Matthew 5:36, Tertullian charged: “They refute the Lord! ‘Behold!’ say they, ‘instead of white or black, we make [our hair] yellow.’” He added: “You can even find persons who are ashamed that they are old, and try to turn their white hair to black.” That was Tertullian’s personal opinion. But he was distorting matters, for his whole argument was based on his view that women are the cause of human damnation, so they should ‘walk about as Eve, mourning and repentant’ over the ‘ignominy of the first sin.’ The Bible says no such thing; God held Adam responsible for mankind’s sinfulness.​—Romans 5:12-14; 1 Timothy 2:13, 14.