What is genuine Biblical Humility?

by Mike Ratliff

3 μηδεν κατ εριθειαν μηδε κατα κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλουσ ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντασ εαυτων (Phlippians 2:3 NA28)

3 Do nothing according to rivalry nor empty conceit, but in humility esteem others more significant than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3 translated from the NA28 Greek text)

One of the main contentions of the Christian deconstructionists in our time such as Andy Stanley is that it is an arrogant thing to teach from the Bible as if it is absolute truth. They say that the truly humble are those who confess to know nothing precisely, but only in a nebulous sort of way. This is primarily an attempt to appear humble to the world by seeking common ground with everyone, which is only possible if truth is held loosely so there is room for compromise. In the world’s eyes this does appear to be humble, but is this biblical humility? Carefully read the following passage (John 8:30-32) and pay special attention to v32, which I have put in bold.

30 ταυτα αυτου λαλουντοσ πολλοι επιστευσαν εισ αυτον. 31 ελεγεν ουν ο ιησουσ προσ τουσ πεπιστευκοτασ αυτω ιουδαιουσ· εαν υμεισ μεινητε εν τω λογω τω εμω, αληθωσ μαθηται μου εστε 32 και γνωσεσθε την αληθειαν, και η αληθεια ελευθερωσει υμασ. (John 8:30-32 NA28)

30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:30-32 translated from the NA28 Greek text)

Here is v32 from the NA28 Greek text, “και γνωσεσθε την αληθειαν, και η αληθεια ελευθερωσει υμασ.” The words “you will know” here is γνωσεσθε, which means to know experientially. It is in future tense, middle voice. This means this is describing action that takes place in the future to the the subject passively or as the result of some other action. Jesus is describing those who truly abide in His Word proving they are truly His disciples. As a result of these two things, they “will know” the truth (αληθειαν) and the truth (αληθεια) “will free you” (ἐλευθερώσει). These two forms of the same word for truth describe “truth” as the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance. This is reality clearly lying before our eyes as opposite to a mere appearance without reality. In this case, the context shows us that the truth our Lord was speaking of here is God’s truth as opposed to the “truth” the world believes. In other words, this truth has reference not only to the facts surrounding Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, but also to the teaching that He brought. What does knowing this truth do for the believer? It sets him or her free. The word ἐλευθερώσει describes liberating people from some sort of bondage. In this case our Lord was referring to the true disciples liberation from bondage to sin.

This is just one of countless other examples throughout the Bible that if we dig into them deeply we will see the consistent plan of God for the salvation of His people, how it will become manifest and what the result will be. This is God’s truth. To learn these things does not in any way put us into bondage. It does throw down the false teachings about what true humility is and shows us that to know God’s truth is actually a blessing that only those with the Holy Spirit and who have been cleansed through the washing of regeneration can know. Now, is it arrogant to proclaim this as God’s truth as part of the Gospel? What is true Biblical humility. John Calvin wrote, “It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge until he has previously contemplated the face of God, and come down after such contemplation to look into himself.”¹ True Biblical humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness. True, biblical, genuine humility is rooted in God’s holiness and our sinfulness rather than proclaiming God’s truth as the truth even though we should do so as a result.

Sure, we can minister from positions of pride and this is something we must be very careful not to do. As we minister, we should do so as our Lord did. He was gentle, forgiving, gracious, and loving to those who knew they were sinners and not fit for the Kingdom of God. He ministered to them in such a way that it brought down the wrath of those who were actually the ones who were being arrogant and prideful, the Jewish Religious leaders of His day. Did Jesus minister to these men the same way he did to the outcasts of society? No, He was very firm and blunt with them. He never gave an inch with them. He told the truth about their lostness and arrogance and rebellion to their faces, which is what we are called to do in standing firm in our day against those who preach and teach heresy. However, we are to graciously give the Good News of the Gospel to all who will hear, just as our Lord did. This is not arrogance, but biblical humility.

1 ει τισ ουν παρακλησισ εν χριστω, ει τι παραμυθιον αγαπησ, ει τισ κοινωνια πνευματοσ, ει τισ σπλαγχνα και οικτιρμοι, 2 πληρωσατε μου την χαραν ινα το αυτο φρονητε, την αυτην αγαπην εχοντεσ, συμψυχοι, το εν φρονουντεσ, 3 μηδεν κατ εριθειαν μηδε κατα κενοδοξιαν αλλα τη ταπεινοφροσυνη αλληλουσ ηγουμενοι υπερεχοντασ εαυτων, 4 μη τα εαυτων εκαστοσ σκοπουντεσ αλλα [και] τα ετερων εκαστοι. 5 τουτο φρονειτε εν υμιν ο και εν χριστω ιησου, 6 οσ εν μορφη θεου υπαρχων ουχ αρπαγμον ηγησατο το ειναι ισα θεω, 7 αλλ εαυτον εκενωσεν μορφην δουλου λαβων, εν ομοιωματι ανθρωπων γενομενοσ· και σχηματι ευρεθεισ ωσ ανθρωποσ 8 εταπεινωσεν εαυτον γενομενοσ υπηκοοσ μεχρι θανατου, θανατου δε σταυρου. 9 διο και ο θεοσ αυτον υπερυψωσεν και εχαρισατο αυτω το ονομα το υπερ παν ονομα, 10 ινα εν τω ονοματι ιησου παν γονυ καμψη επουρανιων και επιγειων και καταχθονιων 11 και πασα γλωσσα εξομολογησηται οτι κυριοσ ιησουσ χριστοσ εισ δοξαν θεου πατροσ. 12 ωστε, αγαπητοι μου, καθωσ παντοτε υπηκουσατε, μη ωσ εν τη παρουσια μου μονον αλλα νυν πολλω μαλλον εν τη απουσια μου, μετα φοβου και τρομου την εαυτων σωτηριαν κατεργαζεσθε· 13 θεοσ γαρ εστιν ο ενεργων εν υμιν και το θελειν και το ενεργειν υπερ τησ ευδοκιασ. (Philippians 2:1-13 NA28)

1 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassions, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love as ones joined in in soul and of one mind. 3 Do nothing according to rivalry nor empty conceit, but in humility esteem others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to that of others. 5 Let this thinking be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, through he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but he poured out himself as nothing, taking the form of a slave, in the likeness of men. Having been born, and having been found in appearance as a man 8 he humbled himself, having become obedient unto death, and that a death on a cross. 9 Wherefore also God exalted him and gave him the name above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in the presence of me only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For God is the one working in you both to will and to work on behalf of his good pleasure. ( Philippians 2:1-13 translated from the NA28 Greek text)

The motives for how we are to live this Christian life and minister are found here. All truly in Christ have the mind of Christ and so they are able to walk in repentance and emulate Christ in all parts of their lives. These will do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility (ταπεινοφροσυνη) count others more significant than themselves. The KJV translates this word in this passage as “in lowliness of mind.” The humble are those who esteem themselves small inasmuch as they are so in relation to God. They do not believe that, in and of themselves, that they are in any way fit for the Kingdom of God. Instead, they know that outside of God having mercy on them and by His grace through the faith given to them to believe and repent, they would in no way be part of the Kingdom. However, this “lowliness of mind” also carries forward to all relationships. We cannot truthfully confess that we are following Christ if we are operating from pride or arrogance in any of our relationships.

Our example is Jesus Christ who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. He went to the Cross to die for His people that their sins would be paid for by His sacrifice. This is the supreme act of humility. Therefore, those in Christ are called to look to this example in how they are to live and minister. This is that part where we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling as God works in us both to will and work for His good pleasure. This is a description of us submitting to the sanctifying fires from our Lord so that we will grow in humility as we mortify the sins that cling so close.

Our Lord’s example of humility led to His extreme glorification. God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on the the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. For us, glorification awaits. I see myself as totally unworthy of any glorification. I deserve God’s wrath not eternal life. However, this is true for all truly in Christ.

Now, biblical humility is understanding one’s right standing before God. It is not denying that one knows the truth. Those who proclaim the truth and use proper Biblical exegesis in order to properly teach it are not being arrogant nor are they ceasing from being humble. They most certainly can do their ministry with the wrong motives, but the teaching of God’s Word correctly is not the source of that. Our Lord clearly told us that those who are truly His disciples will know the truth and it would set them free. Throughout the rest of the New Testament, we are commanded to preach the Word and proclaim the Gospel. We do this correctly as all we do is firmly rooted in God’s Word as absolute truth.

Soli Deo Gloria!

¹ John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990),38.