The preachers quoted here describe humility as a life of dependence on God and a true estimate of oneself apart from Christ. They call it the foundation of every other virtue and a condition of real prayer, and they say it does not come naturally to anyone.
The New Testament word is tapeinophrosune, lowliness of mind;1 the Old Testament speaks of anavah, humility or meekness.2 The Bible dictionaries note how often Scripture joins it to the fear of the Lord and sets it against pride.3
Its pattern is Christ. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus," who "humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:5-8). He said of himself, "I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29), and washed his disciples' feet (John 13).
God's attitude to it is stated twice in almost the same words: "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6; compare 1 Peter 5:5). He dwells "with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit" (Isaiah 57:15), and what he requires is "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:8).
Christian writers have ranked it first among the virtues. Andrew Murray called it "the place of entire dependence on God".4 William Law wrote that "humility is the life and soul of piety, the foundation and support of every virtue and good work".5
Humility is not self-contempt or a show of modesty. Paul's rule is that a man is "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly" (Romans 12:3), and in lowliness of mind to esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:3). It is a right view of oneself that comes from a right view of God.
Scripture treats it as something to be done as well as felt: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). The parable of the Pharisee and the publican ends with the principle: "every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14).
- Strong's Greek 5012, tapeinophrosýnē: "humiliation of mind, i.e. modesty".
- Strong's Hebrew 6038, ʻănâvâh: "condescension, human and subjective (modesty), or divine and objective (clemency)".
- "Humility," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Theological Dictionary (with 13 other reference works).
- Andrew Murray, Humility, "Chapter 1".
- William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, "CHAPTER XVI: Recommending devotions at nine o'clock in the morning...".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Humility is the life and soul of piety, the foundation and support of every virtue and good work, the best guard and security of all holy affections.
William Law
in The Virtue of Humility
Read in context
Humility is the beauty of being nothing so that the Almighty God can be all.
Denny Kenaston
in The Jewel of Humility
Listen at 25:21
Humility is also a life of absolute dependence upon God.
Brian Long
in The Humility of Christ (Conference Call)
Listen at 16:40
True humility is to comprehend our own utter unworthiness apart from Christ.
Theodore Epp
in You Get Nearer by Getting Lower
Read in context
Humility is a rare Christian grace, of great price in the courts of heaven, entering into and being an inseparable condition of effectual praying.
E.M. Bounds
in Prayer and Humility
Read in context
True humility is foreign to our fallen nature.
Glenn Meldrum
in (Radical Jesus) 13 Radical Humility
Listen at 5:33
What Scripture says
- Philippians 2:5-8 the mind of Christ, who humbled himself to the death of the cross
- James 4:6 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble
- Micah 6:8 to walk humbly with thy God
- 1 Peter 5:6 humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God
- Luke 18:14 he that humbles himself shall be exalted
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