Examples of pride in the Bible

There are many examples of pride in the bible, for example, Adam and Eve, the Tower of Babel’s builders, and kings like Saul, David, Nebuchadnezzar, and Solomon face dire consequences for their pride.

Stories of pride in the Bible

• Genesis 3: Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge, disobeying God, in an attempt to gain wisdom and be like God, demonstrating pride in wanting to transcend their limitations.
• Genesis 11:1-9: Humanity’s attempt to build the Tower of Babel to make a name for themselves and reach the heavens leads to God confusing their language, dispersing them across the earth due to their collective pride.
• Exodus 5-14: Pharaoh’s hard-hearted refusal to let the Israelites go despite witnessing God’s mighty plagues showcases his pride and defiance against God’s will, ultimately leading to Egypt’s great loss.
• 1 Samuel 15: Saul disobeys God’s command to destroy the Amalekites, sparing their king and the best livestock, motivated by pride and the desire for public approval, resulting in God rejecting him as king.
• 1 Samuel 18-19: Saul’s jealousy of David, fueled by pride and fear of losing his throne to someone he perceives as a lower threat, leads to multiple attempts on David’s life.
• 2 Samuel 24: David’s decision to take a census of Israel and Judah, driven by pride in his military strength and kingdom size, incurs God’s wrath, resulting in a devastating plague on Israel.
• 1 Kings 11: Solomon’s heart turns away from God as he accumulates wealth, wives, and horses, demonstrating pride in his own achievements and leading to the division of his kingdom.
• 1 Kings 12: Rehoboam’s refusal to lighten the heavy burden on the people, acting with pride and harshness, leads to the split of the kingdom into Israel and Judah.
• 2 Chronicles 26: King Uzziah, in pride, burns incense in the temple, a duty reserved for priests, and is struck with leprosy by God for his trespass.
• 2 Chronicles 32: Hezekiah’s pride in his wealth leads him to foolishly display his treasures to Babylonian envoys, which Isaiah prophesies will lead to Babylon’s future conquest.
• Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s pride in his power and kingdom leads to God humbling him with madness until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty.
• Obadiah: The book prophesies Edom’s downfall due to their pride and mistreatment of their brother nation, Israel, demonstrating the dangers of prideful arrogance against God and others.

Examples of pride and arrogance in the Bible

The Bible is replete with examples of pride and arrogance, often showcasing the downfall or correction of those who exhibit these traits. Here are notable instances:

1. Pharaoh of Egypt (Exodus 5-14): His stubborn arrogance in refusing to let the Israelites go, despite witnessing God’s powerful plagues, exemplifies pride leading to downfall.
2. King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4): His pride in his kingdom’s greatness leads to a divine punishment of madness until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty, illustrating the dangers of arrogance.
3. King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:21-23): He accepts praise as a god, not giving glory to God, which leads to his being struck down by an angel of the Lord, a direct consequence of his arrogance.
4. The Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21): This parable tells of a wealthy man who pridefully plans to store up his riches and relax, only to be called a fool by God and die that night, teaching the folly of placing pride in wealth.
5. Lucifer’s Fall (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-17): Though not directly named Lucifer in these passages, the descriptions are traditionally interpreted as his fall from heaven due to pride, wanting to ascend above God, the ultimate example of arrogance leading to downfall.
6. The Pharisees (Matthew 23): Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their pride and hypocrisy, showcasing how their arrogance in their own righteousness blinds them to the truth of God’s kingdom.

These stories warn against the perils of pride and arrogance, emphasizing the virtues of humility and submission to God’s will.

Examples of pride and humility in the Bible

King Solomon

• Humility: Early in his reign, Solomon demonstrates humility when he asks God for wisdom to govern the people of Israel rather than for long life or riches (1 Kings 3:5-14). This request pleases God, who grants him not only wisdom but also wealth and honor.
• Pride: Later, Solomon’s pride and turn from God are evident in his accumulation of wealth, wives, and horses, as well as his tolerance for idolatry, actions that lead to the division of his kingdom after his death (1 Kings 11).

King Uzziah

• Humility: At the beginning of his reign, Uzziah shows humility and devotion to God, seeking divine guidance. His faithfulness leads to God blessing him with a strong and prosperous kingdom, military success, and innovations in agriculture and defense (2 Chronicles 26:1-15).
• Pride: However, Uzziah’s success eventually leads to pride, culminating in his attempt to burn incense in the temple, a task only the priests were permitted to do. This act of pride results in God striking him with leprosy, and he lives in isolation until his death, a stark reminder of the consequences of pride (2 Chronicles 26:16-21).

Examples of spiritual pride in the Bible

Spiritual pride, the arrogance of believing oneself superior in matters of faith or morality, is addressed in various biblical narratives and teachings. Here are examples illustrating this theme:

1. The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law: Throughout the Gospels (e.g., Matthew 23), Jesus frequently confronts the Pharisees and teachers of the law for their spiritual pride.
   They pride themselves on their strict adherence to the law and their public displays of piety, yet Jesus criticizes them for their lack of humility and failure to understand the heart of God’s commandments.
2. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14): Jesus tells this parable specifically to address those who were confident in their righteousness and looked down on others.
   The Pharisee in the story prays, thanking God that he is not like other people robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even like the tax collector, demonstrating spiritual pride. In contrast, the tax collector humbly asks God for mercy, and Jesus concludes that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified before God.
3. Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24): After converting to Christianity, Simon sees the apostles laying hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit and offers them money to gain the same power. His request reflects spiritual pride, seeking to elevate his status rather than humbly serving God’s purposes.
   Peter rebukes Simon, advising him to repent for his wickedness and pray for forgiveness.
4. Diotrephes (3 John 1:9-10): John writes about Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them and refuses to welcome the brothers. He also spreads malicious gossip and excommunicates those who disagree with him, displaying spiritual pride by putting his authority and opinions above the communal love and humility taught by Jesus.
5. The Older Brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:25-32): Though not explicitly about spiritual pride, the older brother’s resentment towards the celebration of his younger brother’s return reflects a form of spiritual pride. He believes his faithful service and obedience entitle him to more honor and blessings, failing to understand the father’s grace and mercy.

These examples highlight the dangers of spiritual pride, teaching the importance of humility, compassion, and recognizing one’s need for God’s grace.

Examples of good pride in the Bible

The concept of “good pride” in the Bible, often referred to as a sense of satisfaction or joy in doing what’s right, differs from the negative connotation of pride as arrogance or self-importance. Here are examples where a form of “good pride” is depicted

1. Paul’s Pride in the Corinthians – Paul expresses a kind of pride in the church of Corinth for their repentance and improvement in faith, showcasing a positive reflection on their spiritual growth (2 Corinthians 7:4).
2. The Parable of the Talents – Though not directly about pride, this parable (Matthew 25:14-30) illustrates taking responsibility and pride in one’s work, as the servants who wisely invest their talents are praised by their master, suggesting approval of their diligent stewardship.
3. Paul’s Confidence in Christ – Paul speaks of boasting in the Lord, emphasizing that his confidence and source of pride are in Christ, not in his achievements (Galatians 6:14).

Pride, recognized as both one of the seven deadly sins and part of the traditional 12 sins, warrants caution for its profound impact on one’s spiritual and moral health.