Recognizing and Combating Pride in Christian Storytelling
Pride, characterized as dishonest self-promotion, stands in opposition to humility, which involves an honest assessment of one's strengths and weaknesses [3]. It is a sin that is hateful to God and Christ [1]. Biblical narratives frequently illustrate the destructive nature of pride and God's consistent opposition to it.
Pride often originates from various sources, including self-righteousness, religious privileges, unsanctified knowledge, inexperience, and the possession of power or wealth [1]. For instance, the prophet Daniel records Nebuchadnezzar's eventual confession, where he praises God, acknowledging that God's works are true and just, and that those who walk in pride will be abased [5]. This confession came after Nebuchadnezzar's pride led to his humiliation [5]. Similarly, David's decision to number the people, an act driven by pride, resulted in divine correction [9]. Matthew Henry notes that "pride will have a fall," citing Pharaoh, Sennacherib, and Nebuchadnezzar as examples of those brought low by their haughty spirit [6].
Pride is explicitly forbidden in scripture, as seen in passages like 1 Samuel 2:3 and Romans 12:3, 16 [1]. It defiles a person (Mark 7:20, 22) and hardens the mind (Daniel 5:20) [1]. Furthermore, pride is a significant source of strife and contention [2]. Proverbs 13:10 states that "By insolence comes nothing but strife," and Proverbs 28:25 links pride to contention [2]. The Tyndale House commentary on Galatians notes that hostility, a form of strife, arises from "angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love" [7]. This highlights how pride can manifest in interpersonal conflict within the church and society [2, 7].
The New Testament emphasizes humility as the path to Christ's kingdom. Adam Clarke, commenting on Luke 2:12, states that "It is by humility that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into his kingdom!" [8]. He contrasts pride, which he calls "the character of all the children of Adam," with humility, which is "the mark of the Son of God, and of all his followers" [8]. Christ's humble entry into the world was intended to counteract the pride inherent in humanity [8].
Combating pride involves recognizing its various forms and actively pursuing humility. This includes acknowledging God's sovereignty and justice, as Nebuchadnezzar eventually did [5]. It also means avoiding the self-promotion that characterizes pride [3]. The narrative of David's triumph over the Philistines, for example, serves as a reminder to seek God's guidance and not become secure in one's own advancements, as pride can arise even in moments of success [4]. The consistent biblical message is that God opposes the proud and exalts the humble [6].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pride — Is sin -- Pr 21:4. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16,17; 16:5. Hateful to Christ -- Pr 8:12,13. Often originates in Self-righteousness. -- Lu 18:11,12. Religious privileges. -- Zep 3:11. Unsanctified knowledge. -- 1Co 8:1. Inexperience. -- 1Ti 3:6. Possession of power. -- Le 26:19; Eze 30:6. Possession of wealth. -- 2Ki 20:13. Forbidden -- 1Sa 2:3; Ro 12:3,16. Defiles a man -- Mr 7:20,22. Hardens the mind -- Da 5:20. Saints give not away. -- Ps 131:1. Respect not, in others. -- Ps 40:4. Mourn over, in others. -- Jer 13:17. Hate, in others. -- Ps 101:5. A hindrance to”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 11:2: 11:2 Pride is dishonest self-promotion, whereas humility is an honest assessment of one’s strengths and weaknesses.”
- 1 Chronicles (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 14:8: This narrative of David's triumph over the Philistines is much the same with that, Sa2 5:17, etc. 1. Let the attack which the Philistines made upon David forbid us to be secure in any settlement or advancement, and engage us to expect molestation in this world. When we are most easy something or other may come to be a terror or vexation to us. Christ's kingdom will thus be insulted by the serpent's seed, especially when it makes any advances. 2. Let David's enquiry of God, once and again, upon occasion of the Philistines' invading him, direct us in all our w”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 4:37: praise . . . extol . . . honour--He heaps word on word, as if he cannot say enough in praise of God. all whose works . . . truth . . . judgment--that is, are true and just (Rev 15:3; Rev 16:7). God has not dealt unjustly or too severely with me; whatever I have suffered, I deserved it all. It is a mark of true contrition to condemn one's self, and justify God (Psa 51:4). those that walk in pride . . . abase--exemplified in me. He condemns himself before the whole world, in order to glorify God. Next: Daniel Chapter 5”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:18: Note, 1. Pride will have a fall. Those that are of a haughty spirit, that think of themselves above what is meet, and look with contempt upon others, that with their pride affront God and disquiet others, will be brought down, either by repentance or by ruin. It is the honour of God to humble the proud, Job 40:11, Job 40:12. It is the act of justice that those who have lifted up themselves should be laid low. Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, were instances of this. Men cannot punish pride, but either admire it or fear it, and therefore God will take the pu”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:20: 5:20 Idolatry, the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19; cp. 1 Sam 15:23; Rev 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9, 15-20). • Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23). • Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Tim 6:4; Titus 3:9). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal ”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 2:12: This shall be a sign (or token) unto you - You shall find this glorious person, however strange it may appear, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a stable! It is by humility that Christ comes to reign; and this is the only way into his kingdom! Pride is the character of all the children of Adam: humility the mark of the Son of God, and of all his followers. Christ came in the way of humility to destroy that pride which is the root of evil in the souls of men. And thus, according to the old medical aphorism, "Opposites are destroyed by their opposites."”
- 1 Chronicles (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 21:7: David is here under the rod for numbering the people, that rod of correction which drives out the foolishness that is bound up in the heart, the foolishness of pride. Let us briefly observe, I. How he was corrected. If God's dearest children do amiss, they must expect to smart for it. 1. He is given to understand that God is displeased; and that it is no small uneasiness to so good a man as David, Ch1 21:7. God takes notice of, and is displeased with, the sins of his people; and no sin is more displeasing to him than pride of heart: nor is anything more humb”