Approaching Human Examples with Humility and Realism in Scripture
Scripture presents human examples with a blend of humility and realism, acknowledging both their virtues and their imperfections. While Christ is consistently portrayed as the perfect example for believers [5], the Bible also offers numerous human figures whose lives serve as illustrations of faith, obedience, and even warnings.
The New Testament frequently calls believers to emulate Christ's example, particularly in areas like humility, love, and self-denial [5]. For instance, Philippians 2:5 urges believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who, despite his divine nature, humbled himself by taking on human form and becoming obedient to death [2, 10]. This humility is a core Christian grace, pleasing to God and leading to tranquility and patience under trials [3]. Christ's humility was evident in his birth, his subjection to his parents, his poverty, and his willingness to serve others, even washing his disciples' feet [2]. He is described as a high priest who can sympathize with human weaknesses, having been tempted in every way, yet without sin [7, 8].
However, when considering human examples, the Bible maintains a realistic perspective. Figures like Abraham are presented as patterns of faith and hospitality [9, 11], yet their stories also include moments of doubt or moral failing. The concept of "parable" in the New Testament, which can refer to a comparison or illustration [4], suggests that even human narratives can serve as teaching tools, highlighting both positive and negative aspects.
The call to sincerity, for example, is exemplified by Christ himself, but also by ministers who are encouraged to be examples of this quality [6]. This implies that while Christ's sincerity is perfect, human sincerity is a goal to strive for, recognizing that it may not always be perfectly achieved. The importance of humility is also emphasized for believers, with promises of grace and exaltation for those who embrace it [1]. John Chrysostom notes that the greater the spiritual gifts one receives, the greater the humility should be [11].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Humility — A prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Ch”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
- Hebrews “For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. -- Hebrews 4:15”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:15: For--the motive to "holding our profession" (Heb 4:14), namely the sympathy and help we may expect from our High Priest. Though "great" (Heb 4:14), He is not above caring for us; nay, as being in all points one with us as to manhood, sin only excepted, He sympathizes with us in every temptation. Though exalted to the highest heavens, He has changed His place, not His nature and office in relation to us, His condition, but not His affection. Compare Mat 26:38, "watch with me": showing His desire in the days of His flesh for the sympathy of those whom H”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: 567 INDEX OF SUBJECTS. Abraham , his history a reproof to Jewish pride, 97 ; a pattern of hospitality, 276 ; his faith, 349 , 385 , 391 , 395 ; his justification, 388 ; why circumcised, 389 ; his true children, 389 , 391 ; his hospitality, 504 ; zeal for truth, 504 ; prayer for Sodom, 546 . Abuse, the best answer to, 242 ; disgraceful, 244 ; its reaction, 510 ; see Reviling . Acts of the Apostles, little known in Chrysostom's time, 1 ; how profitable as sequel to the Gospels, 1 ; an inspired book, 2 ; important for doctrine, 3 ; written by St. Luke, ”
- Philippians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Philippians 2:5: Let this mind be in you,.... The Arabic version renders it, "let that humility be perceived in you". The apostle proposes Christ as the great pattern and exemplar of humility; and instances in his assumption of human nature, and in his subjection to all that meanness, and death itself, even the death of the cross in it; and which he mentions with this view, to engage the saints to lowliness of mind, in imitation of him; to show forth the same temper and disposition of mind in their practice, which also was in Christ Jesus; or as the Syriac version, "think ye the”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: ; why permitted, 280 sq. ; often prevail by the personal virtues of their authors, 286 . Heretics, their aim always to draw disciples after them, 270 ; reason when they should believe, 349 . Hope, a gift of the Spirit, 539 ; implies love and faith, 446 . Hospitality, shown to poor and strangers is shown to Christ, 275 sq. ; Abraham a pattern of, 276 ; a Christian duty, 277 (see Xenon .) House of mourning better than house of feasting, 261 . Household, religious care for, 146 sq. Humility, the greater the gifts, the greater the, 192 ; the mother of go”