Recognizing Self-Glory In Christian Behavior
Self-glory in Christian behavior appears when a believer's actions, though outwardly virtuous, serve to magnify the self rather than God. Scripture warns against this subtle corruption: Paul writes, "Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God" [3], locating legitimate boasting exclusively in what pertains to God's work, not personal achievement. The distinction matters because self-glory masquerades as righteousness while feeding the very pride that humility should mortify.
The Test of Motive
Calvin identifies the diagnostic question: does one's recognition of righteousness generate confidence in self or in God? one tradition argues that any self-recognition of righteousness "cannot take place without generating confidence, nor such confidence without begetting boasting" [11]. one tradition insists that true knowledge of God includes "being oppressed by a consciousness of our own iniquity" [6], suggesting that self-congratulation reveals incomplete understanding. When believers examine their conduct, they should "find enough at home, without bearing hard upon, and censuring others" [10]—the impulse to compare favorably with others signals self-glory rather than godly assessment.
Structural Indicators
Several patterns expose self-glory. Torrey's compilation notes that selfishness manifests in "pleasing ourselves," "seeking our own," and "seeking after gain" [5], all of which contradict Christ's example of self-denial [2, 4]. Augustine observes that virtue "subjected to human praise" remains corrupt even when it appears to despise glory, because "he who seeks to please himself seeks still to please man" [9]. The test is whether one's virtue aims at divine approval or functions as performance for an audience—even an audience of one's own conscience.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown warns against finding "matter for glorying" by comparing oneself favorably to neighbors [7]. This comparative framework—measuring one's righteousness against another's failure—reveals self-glory's operation. Calvin frames the alternative starkly: believers "are God's; to him, then, as the only legitimate end, let every part of our life be directed" [8]. Self-glory inverts this order, making the self the reference point and God the means to personal vindication.
The antidote lies in what Easton calls "a remembrance of our sins" and recognition that honor comes through humility, not self-assertion [1]. Ezekiel's prophecy captures the paradox: God's people glorify his name precisely by acknowledging their iniquity and loathing themselves for their defilement [6].
Sources
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
- Romans “Romans 15:17 (NASB) — Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.”
- 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”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 68: much we glorify his name by acknowledging our iniquity: “Then shall ye remember your ways and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your 2069 wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings,” ( Ezek. 20:43, 44 ). If part of the true knowledge of God consists in being oppressed by a consciousness of our own iniquity, and in reco”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 6:4: his own work--not merely his own opinion of himself. have rejoicing in himself alone--Translate, "Have his (matter for) glorying in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another (namely, not in regard to his neighbor, by comparing himself with whom, he has fancied he has matter for boasting as that neighbor's superior)." Not that really a man by looking to "himself alone" is likely to find cause for glorying in himself. Nay, in Gal 6:5, he speaks of a "burden" or load, not of matter for glorying, as what really belongs to each man. But he r”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 62: therefore, let his wisdom and will preside over all our actions. We are God’s; to him, then, as the only legitimate end, let every part of our life be directed. O how great the proficiency of him who, taught that he is not his own, has withdrawn the dominion and government of himself from his own reason that he may give them to God! For as the surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves, so the only haven of safety is to have no other will, no other wisdom, than to follow the Lord wherever he leads. Let this, then be ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 20.--THAT IT IS AS SHAMEFUL FOR THE VIRTUES TO SERVE HUMAN GLORY AS BODILY PLEASURE. (part 2): from the charge of such baseness, whilst they, by way of being despisers of glory, disregard the judgment of other men, seem to themselves wise, and please themselves. For their virtue,--if, indeed, it is virtue at all,--is only in another way subjected to human praise; for he who seeks to please himself seeks still to please man. But he who, with true piety towards God, whom he loves, believes, and hopes in, fixes his attention more on”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 6:4: But let every man prove his own work,.... Not concern himself about the actions and works of others; let him review his own heart and actions; let him examine, try, and prove his whole conduct in life by the rule of God's word, when he will find enough at home, without bearing hard upon, and censuring others: and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another; which is either ironically said, he will then see what reason he has to rejoice and glory in his own works, and vaunt over others, and to boast of his performances, and despise others; so ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 68: Lord have I righteousness and strength, even to him shall men come.” Observe, that the thing required is not simple confession, but confession confirmed by an oath, that it might not be imagined that any kind of fictitious humility might suffice. And let no man here allege that he does not glory, when without arrogance he recognizes his own righteousness; such a recognition cannot take place without generating confidence, nor such confidence without begetting boasting. Let us remember, therefore, that in the whole discussion concer”