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Essential Attitudes (Part 1)

Humility & Honesty

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Humility

Humility can refer to a state of being—generally lowness in status rank or economic means. In this sense, humility is the opposite of importance or wealth. It can also refer to a virtue that involves a modest self-perception. In this sense, it is the opposite of pride and arrogance.

Gleaves, G. S. (2014). Humility. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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Humility

Although humility has sometimes been seen as involving a refusal to regard one-self as superior to other people, St *Thomas Aquinas, for instance, thought of it as meaning essentially submission to God and a consequent moderation of ambition to keep it within the bounds appointed for each individual by God; this is compatible with recognizing that in certain ways one may be better endowed by God than someone else is (cf. Summa Theologiae, 2. 2. q. 161, a. 1 and a. 3). In this sense, humility has been seen as an aspect of truthfulness, neither exaggerating nor denigrating the truth of what one is.

Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. (Eds.). (2005). In The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed. rev., p. 809). Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.

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Jesus as Humble

Matthew 11:28-30 - “for I am gentle and humble in heart” (NIV)
Matthew 21:5 - “your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey” (ESV)
Luke 22:24-27 - “But I am among you as one who serves” (ESV)
John 13:3-17 - “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet” (ESV)
2 Corinthians 8:9 - “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (ESV)

Philippians 2

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Honesty

Behaviour, in action and words, that aims to convey truth. This quality is an essential aspect of God’s own nature and purposes, and is required of those whom he calls to be his people.

Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

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Honesty in Paul’s Letters

“Do not lie to one another” - Colossians 3:9 (ESV)
“speaking the truth in love” - Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)
“having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor” - Ephesians 4:25 (ESV)