STE:Pride  by Tod M. Kennedy

   1. What is Pride? Definition and Description:

   1.1. Dictionary definition: Pride is an excessively high opinion of
oneself. Conceit is too high an opinion of one's abilities, worth, or
personality; vanity. An arrogant person is overly convinced of one's
own importance; overbearingly proud; haughty (The American Heritage
Dictionary).

   1.2. When we look at how the Bible uses the word pride we see that
pride is substituting our own authority, our plan, our greatness, our
human goodness in place of God's. The proud person looks at himself
differently than God looks at him.

   1.3. Pride is mental attitude sin. It is listed in Prov 6.16-19
("haughty eyes" rum BDB 926, be high, be exalted, rise ) as one of the
seven worst sins (Prov 8.13; 30.13; Ps 131.1; Mark 7.20- 23; 1 Tim 3.6).

   1.4. Pride is a part of ungodliness (2 Tim 3.2).

   1.5. Pride is the opposite of humility (Prov 11.2; 29.23; Dan 4.37;
Jms 4.6; 1 Pet 5.5-6).

   2. Bible words for pride:

   2.1. A sample of Hebrew words include:

   2.1.1. Noun ga'avah BDB 144, majesty, pride, haughtiness (Ps 10.2;
31.18, 23; Pr 29.23).

   2.1.2. Adjective ge'eh BDC 144, proud (Job 40.11-12; Jer 48.29; Pr
15.25).

   2.1.3. Verb gabah BDB 146, be high, be exhalted, be tall (Ps 131.1;
Prov 18.12).

   2.1.4. Verb rum BDB 926, be high, exalted, rise (Prov 6.17; Ps
131.1). 2.2. A sample of Greek words include:

   2.2.1. Noun `uper8phania BAG 841, arrogance, haughtiness, pride (Mk
7.22).

   2.2.2. Adjective `uper8phanos BAG 841, arrogant, haughty, proud (Lk
1.51; 2 Tim 3.2; Jms 4.6; 1 Pet 5.5).

   2.2.3. Verb tuphow BAG 831, in the passive, be puffed up, conceited,
(1 Tim 3.6; 6.4; 2 Tim 3.4).

   2.2.4. Verb phusiow BAG 869, to blow up, puff up, make proud or
arrogant, become puffed up or conceited, (1 Cor 4.6; 4.18f; 5.2; 8.1;
13.4; Col 2.18).

   3. Where does pride come from ? The source:

   3.1. Satan introduced sin (and pride) into God's perfect creation.
Satan thought that he was good enough to challenge God's authority and
rule. He was showing pride (Is 14.12-14 and 1 Tim 3.6).

   3.2. After Adam and Eve sinned (fall of mankind) each person's
sinful nature became a source of pride. Pride is an inner problem that
tempts man's volition like and overpowering desire (Mark 7.20-23; Gal
5.19-22 where "things like these" include pride; Jms 1.14).

   3.3. The sinful nature uses power, fame, possessions, and other
details of life to stimulate people to become proud (Lev 26.19; 2 Chron
32; 1 John 2.16).

   4. Dangers that pride has:

   4.1. The newer believer can easily become proud (1 Tim 3.6,
"conceited" tuphoomai, BAG 831, is in the passive. It means to be
puffed up, conceited, blinded, be foolish). He makes the mistake of
taking credit for spiritual growth and ministry. He forgets that he is
a product of God's grace (1 Cor 15.10).

   4.2. Proud believers reject God's authority in the church (1 Cor
4.6, 18 "become arrogant" phusiow, BAG 869, to be puffed up, inflated).

   4.3. Proud people can disrupt the life of the church (1 Cor 4.6-7,
"become arrogant" phusiow; Jude 16;, "speak arrogantly" `uperogkos, BAG
841, of excessive size, puffed up, swollen, haughty, bombastic).

   4.4. When you take yourself too seriously you are proud (Rom 12.3
"to think more highly" `uperphronew, BAG 842). 1 Cor 15.10 gives the
right attitude.

   4.5. Proud religious people will attempt to change you away from
grace (Col 2.18 "inflated" phusiow).

   4.6. Knowledge (gnwsis) that is not understood, accepted as certain,
and applied can stimulate pride (1 Cor 8.1). Knowledge (epignwsis) that
is understood, accepted as certain, and applied is needed for the
Christian life (Eph 1.17; Phil 1.9; Col 1.9-10).

   4.7. Pride can affect what you say (Jms 4.16). The result is a sin
of the tongue which can cause great damage to self and others (Jms
3.2-6).

   4.8. Pride will eventually come back and hurt you (Prov 11.2; 16.18;
29.23).

   5. What God does about the proud person:

   5.1. God rejects the proud (Prov 3.34; Jms 4.6; 1 Pet 5.5).

   5.2. God will discipline his people because they are proud (2 Chron
32.20-26 and Heb 12.5-11 since pride is sin).

   5.3. God can break our pride (Lev 26.19; 2 Chron 32.24-26; Dan 4.37).

   6. How do we conquer pride? The solution:

   6.1. The believer does not conquer pride. The Holy Spirit, who uses
Bible doctrine, conquers pride through His work inside the believer
(Gal 5.16; Phil 2.13; 2 Tim 3.16-17; Heb 4.12).

   6.2. Spiritual growth through the filling of the Holy Spirit and the
learning of Bible doctrine enables the believer to have a strong day to
day relationship with the Lord (fear of the Lord/occupation with
Christ). One expression of this spiritual growth is that humility
replaces pride (Prov 8.13; 15.33; 22.4; Ps 131; Eph 4.1-2; Phil 2.2-6;
Heb 12.1-2; Jms 4.6-7 ).

   7. Who practiced pride? Illustrations:

   7.1. Satan (Is 14.12-14 with 1 Tim 3.6).

   7.2. Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4.28-37).

   7.3. The Pharisees (Mt 23.1-12).

   7.4. Believers that reject establishment authority and spiritual
authority (1 Tim 6.1-4).

   7.5. Diotrephes (3 Jn 9-10).

   Copyright 1986 Tod M. Kennedy
