Biblical Concept: Humility
Vocabulary:
1) Tapeinos - low (in
situation or condition), humble, poor, mean,
depressed.
2) Tapeinophrosune -
Tapeino = low and phrosune = thinking.
Outline:
1) Jesus’ humility
2) Grace and humility
3) Inclusive humility
4) Serving God and humility
5) Temporal circumstances
and humility
6) False humility
7) Reward and humility
8) Humility in Old Testament
Wisdom Literature
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1) Jesus’ humility:
-
Matthew 11:29 - “Take my yoke
upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble (tapeinos)
in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls” (the parenthesis
is mine).
Conclusions:
1) The context: Jesus addressed a multitude in a
Galilean city (Matthew 11:1,
7) and “began to reproach the cities in
which most of His miracles
were done” (Matthew 11:20). 2) More
context: In verse 27a,
Jesus said: “All things have been handed over to
Me by My Father . . “
Because of this position of supreme authority, He
has the ability to dispense
rest to souls (11:28b, 29b). One of the reasons
that He can dispense rest
to souls is that He is “gentle and humble in
heart” Himself (11:29).
Jesus is an example for us in the soul dynamic of
humility. One can be
very powerful (“All things have been handed over
to Me by My Father”), but
humble as well (“I am gentle and humble in
heart”). Compare also
Moses in Numbers 12:3 and 11:29. 3) “All
things have been handed over
to Me by My Father” also addresses the
Angelic conflict. Satan
thinks God is an unfair liar (Genesis 3:1b, 4-5),
but God proves that He is
gentle and humble in heart through Jesus
Christ!
-
Philippians 2:8 - “And being found
in appearance as a man, He humbled (tapeinos) Himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (the parenthesis
is mine).
Conclusions:
1) The humility of Christ is maximum: obedience to
the point of a humiliating
personal death. 2) Christ is worthy of all things
being handed over to Him (Matthew
11:27a above). 3) We should
practice the personal humility
described by Paul in Philippians 2:1-5,
because Christ, our example,
humbled Himself for us!
2) Grace and humility:
-
James 4:6 - “But He gives a greater
grace. Therefore it says, ‘But God is opposed to the proud, but gives
grace to the humble’” (tapeinos) (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions:
1) The context: Verse 6 is the last verse in a context I
have titled: “Worldly desires
and pride.” 2) The pride of verse 6 is a
worldly oriented mental attitude.
3) The greater grace given to the
humble is a result of the
believer’s anti-world (4:4) and spirit oriented life
(4:5).
-
1 Peter 5:5-6 - “5You younger
men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves
with humility (tapeinos) toward one another, for God is opposed
to the proud, but gives grace to the humble (tapeinos). 6Humble
(tapeinos) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper time” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions:
1) Humility is an inclusive attitude amongst Christians, which is
rewarded with God’s grace. Contrast James 2:1-9. 2) Humility
in verse 6 relates to orientation to God and Divine blessing.
3) Inclusive humility:
-
Romans 12:16 - “Be of the same
mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with
the lowly (tapeinos). Do not be wise in your own estimation”
(the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions:
1) The translation: The NASB: “do not be haughty in
mind, but associate with the
lowly,” is better translated from the Greek:
“not minding the high things,
but leading along with you the lowly.” 2)
Those of humble worldly and
humanistic means are to be considered as
spiritual equals. The
humble in life are not to be overpowered and lead
along in spiritual matters.
-
Ephesians 4:2 - “with all humility
(tapeinophrosune) and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance
to one another in love” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions:
1) Humility is one of the attitudes that believers are
to have toward each other
(inclusive). 2) The Local Church should be a
mental safe-haven for all
who are in attendance.
-
Philippians 2:3 - “Do nothing
from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind (tapeinophrosune)
let each of you regard one another as more important than himself” (the
parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions:
1) Humility is one of the attitudes that believers are
to have toward each other
(inclusive). 2) The Local Church should be a
mental safe-haven for all
who are in attendance.
-
Colossians 3:12 - “And so, as
those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility (tapeinophrosune), gentleness and
patience” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions:
1) Humility is one of the attitudes that believers are
to have toward each other
(inclusive). 2) The Local Church should be a
mental safe-haven for all
who are in attendance.
-
1 Peter 3:8 - “To the sum up,
let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble
(tapeinophrosune) in spirit” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions:
1) Humility is one of the attitudes that believers are
to have toward each other
(inclusive). 2) The Local Church should be a
mental safe-haven for all
who are in attendance.
-
2 Corinthians 7:6 - “But God who
comforts the depressed (tapeinos), comforted us by the coming
of Titus” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusion:
It is encouraging to know that God has a plan for comforting the depressed
(inclusive).
4) Serving God and humility:
-
Acts 20:19 - “Serving the Lord
with all humility (tapeinophrosune) and with tears and with trials
which came upon me through the plots of the Jews” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusions: 1)
Humility was part of Paul’s mental attitude as he served God. 2)
Humility is needed to handle the sufferings related to serving God.
-
2 Corinthians 12:21 - “I am afraid
that when I come again my God may humiliate (tapeinos) me before
you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and
not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have
practiced” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusion:
Rampant sin in the congregation humiliates the spiritual teacher before
God.
5) Temporal circumstances
and humility:
-
James 1:9-10 - “9But let the brother
of humble (tapeinos) circumstances glory in his high position; 10and
let the rich man glory in his humiliation (tapeinos), because like
flowering grass he will pass away” (the parentheses is mine).
Conclusions:
1) Do not let humble temporal circumstances negatively affect your
spiritual life (spiritual confidence). 2) Do not let positive
temporal circumstances negatively affect your spiritual life (pride, power
lust, etc.).
-
Philippians 4:12 - “I know how
to get along with humble (tapeinos) means, and I also know how to
live in prosperity. . . “ (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusion:
Do not let negative or positive temporal circumstances
affect your spiritual life.
6) False humility:
-
Colossians 2:18 - “Let no one
keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement (tapeinophrosune)
and the worship ofangels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated
without cause by his fleshly mind” (the parenthesis is mine). Also
tapeinophrosune in Colossians 2:23.
Conclusions:
1) Humility is a tool of religious fakery. 2) Humble
religious fakery can be identified by careful comparison of religion and
Scripture.
7) Reward and humility:
-
Matthew 18:4 - “Whoever then humbles
(tapeinos) himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom
of heaven” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusion:
Christian Way Of Life humility is rewarded eternally by God.
-
Matthew 23:12 - “And whoever exalts
himself shall be humbled (tapeinos); and whoever humbles (tapeinos)
himself shall be exalted” (the parenthesis is mine). Also (tapeinos)
in Luke 18:14.
Conclusion:
Christian Way Of Life humility is rewarded eternally by God.
-
James 4:10 - “Humble (tapeinos)
yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (the parenthesis
is mine).
Conclusion:
Christian Way Of Life humility is rewarded eternally by God.
-
Philippians 3:21 - “Who will transform
the body of our humble (tapeinos) state into conformity with the
body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject
all things to Himself” (the parenthesis is mine).
Conclusion:
It is a pleasure to know that we will have an eternal resurrection body
of glory in heaven.
8) Humility in Old
Testament Wisdom Literature: Proverbs 15:33; 16:19; 18:12 and 22:4.
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