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Pride
AUTHOR: Kennedy, Tod M.
PUBLISHED ON: March 23, 1998
DOC SOURCE: CCN
PUBLISHED IN: Bible Studies
TAGS: pride | proud

    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

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