What is Pride?

Pride has existed since the fall and sin in the garden, and we’re all guilty of pride just as we’re all guilty of sin. But social media has wrongly made pride more acceptable, normalized, even to the point of making pride look attractive. We frequently see people post, “I’m proud of my _________.” Or “Proud to be an American.” Another person’s post admitted, “I’m proud of myself for ____________,” as she boasted about her accomplishments. One might argue they’re not being proud. But my response is, then, why not avoid the appearance of evil? Applicably, as Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23,

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

My goal in this What Is series is to keep these articles short and direct, without watering down the truth. Therefore, this is not a teaching on the many Scriptures on pride. Hence, what is the definition of pride?

In summary, gleaning from my studies on pride, the definition of pride (or to be proud) is this.

Pride is sin, and the root and core of other sins. Pride boasts or brags in oneself, or in another, rather than in God. Pride is arrogance, conceit, excessive self-esteem, narcissism, self-exaltation, vainglory, or vanity. Pride seeks praise from others. It has a self-gratuitous attitude of self-confidence. It has too high a view of self and/or fellow man. Pride goes before a fall (gā’ôn); it deceives the heart (Jer. 49:16); and brings destruction (Prov. 16:18). It is a vice proceeding from the heart of man. Pride is the opposite of the fifth pillar of the Reformation, Soli Deo Gloria (to the glory of God alone). It is rebellion against God and robs God of the glory due Him. Pride contrasts with humility, and God hates it (Prov. 6:16-19). Pride is an abomination to God (Prov. 16:5).

OK, I have defined the word pride (or to be proud), so you could stop right here. Or, if you choose to dive deeper for a more technical definition of pride, then go with me further.

The following is from the Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, one of the many resources I’ve read on this subject.

“Pride is self-exaltation with correlative depreciation of others and a denial of God’s help. It is the essence of sin and the root of all other sins according to Evagrius, Cassian, Gregory the Great, Augustine, Dante, Luther, Calvin, and others. It is related to “vainglory,” the difference seeming to be that pride is directed against God, while vainglory is focused on one’s relation with others.

With pride it is the comparison that builds up the person. The OT words for pride that derive from the root all convey the sense of scorn or arrogance (see Ps. 10:4; Prov. 3:34). In the NT the word hubris is often translated “insolence” (see Rom. 1:30). R. Roberts demonstrates that there is no fixed term for pride in the NT.

Pride is a subtle sin: We are usually unaware of it, and if we are, it is the most difficult to admit, even when pointed out, because we imagine ourselves to be more important than we are, and our culture values self-esteem and fails to appreciate humility (see Schimmel’s discussion).

Early monastics warned that pride is difficult to defeat because, unlike other sins that can be opposed with targeted remedies, pride swells when it successfully encounters its spiritual enemies.

Theologically, pride involves the denial of one’s finitude, creatureliness, and contingency (see Rom. 1:18–28). We end up denying our need even for God. Practically, pride gives rise to moral and social injustice, since it is essentially competitive, springs from self-love, and depreciates others. This can even involve a “collective egotism,” manifesting itself as racism, nationalism, class snobbery, and the like (see Prov. 16:18–19; Jer. 50:31–34; Ezek. 16:49–50).

The countervailing virtue to cultivate is humility—acknowledging the truth about oneself. So the “cure” begins with self-awareness. Since this requires healthy introspection, a mentor or spiritual director is helpful. This does not preclude a legitimate self-love that recognizes one’s rightful place in relation to others and God. This might help guard against false humility that can actually become a way of being deceitful and proud. Though legitimate expressions of assertiveness, aggressiveness, initiative, self-confidence, and self-esteem are not precluded, Cassian suggested we avoid doing anything for praise as our motive and not be overly bothered with insults or contempt.

See also Humility; Sins, Seven Deadly.

For Further Reading: J. Cassian, The Institutes, trans. B. Ramsey (2000); R. Roberts, “The Vice of Pride,” Faith and Philosophy 26, no. 2 (2009): 119–33; S. Schimmel, The Seven Deadly Sins (1992); Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, 2.2 QQ 161–62.”

Dennis Okholm, “Pride,” in Dictionary of Christian Spirituality, ed. Glen G. Scorgie (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 691–92.

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This post is part of a What Is series I’m working on. I hope it was helpful. I encourage you to study this word for yourself and the many Scriptures that warn against it.