The term "highminded" is used in the Bible to describe an attitude of arrogance, pride, or haughtiness. It is often associated with a sense of self-importance and an inflated view of one's own abilities or status. This attitude is consistently warned against in Scripture, as it stands in opposition to the humility and dependence on God that is commended throughout the Bible.

Biblical References:

1. Romans 11:20 · "That is correct: They were broken off because of unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid." In this passage, the Apostle Paul warns the Gentile believers in Rome not to become highminded or arrogant because of their standing in faith. Instead, they are to remain humble and recognize that their position is due to God's grace, not their own merit.

2. 1 Timothy 6:17 · "Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." Here, Paul advises Timothy to caution the wealthy against becoming highminded. The temptation for those with material wealth is to trust in their riches rather than in God, leading to a false sense of security and pride.

3. 2 Timothy 3:4 · "traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God," In this description of the last days, Paul lists being "conceited" or highminded as one of the negative traits that will characterize people. This attitude is part of a broader rejection of godliness and a turn towards self-centeredness and hedonism.

Theological Implications:

The concept of being highminded is antithetical to the Christian virtues of humility and servanthood. Jesus Christ, the ultimate example for believers, demonstrated humility in His incarnation and sacrificial death (Philippians 2:5-8). Christians are called to emulate this humility, recognizing that all they have and are is due to God's grace.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to examine their hearts and attitudes regularly to guard against the sin of pride. This involves acknowledging God's sovereignty, being grateful for His blessings, and serving others selflessly. The community of faith is to be marked by mutual submission and love, as opposed to self-exaltation and arrogance.

Warnings and Consequences:

Scripture warns that pride precedes destruction (Proverbs 16:18). The highminded person is at risk of falling into sin and experiencing God's discipline. The Bible teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Therefore, cultivating a humble spirit is essential for maintaining a right relationship with God and others.

In summary, the Bible's teaching on being highminded serves as a caution against pride and a call to embrace humility, recognizing our dependence on God for all things.HIGHMINDED

hi'-mind-ed: In modern usage denotes elevation of mind in a good sense, but formerly it was used to denote upliftedness in a bad sense, pride, arrogance. It is the translation of hupselophroneo, "to be highminded," "proud," "haughty" (Romans 11:20, "Be not highminded, but fear"; 1 Timothy 6:17, "Charge them that are rich. that they be not highminded"); of tuphoo "to wrap in mist or smoke," trop., to wrap in conceit, to make proud, etc. (2 Timothy 3:4, "Traitors, heady, highminded," the Revised Version (British and American) "puffed up"; compare 1 Timothy 3:6; 1 Timothy 6:4). "No one can be highminded without thinking better of himself, and worse of others, than he ought to think" (Crabb, English Synonyms).

W. L. Walker

5309. hupselophroneo -- to be high-minded
... be proud, high-minded. From a compound of hupselos and phren; to be lofty in mind,
ie Arrogant -- be highminded. see GREEK hupselos. see GREEK phren. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5309.htm - 7k

Psalm LXXXVI.
... hold such a rank in the world: only let them remember the Apostle's words: "Charge
those who are rich in this world, that they be not highminded." [3943] For ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxxvi.htm

John xiii
... the thief, and that close to the time of the betrayal, and incurable as he was,
made him a partaker of His table; and art thou highminded, and dost thou draw ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxi john xiii.htm

Philippians ii. 4-Jan
... "Why are earth and ashes proud?" (Ecclus. x.9.) Art thou highminded, O man? and
why? ... Whence art thou highminded against those of thine own kind? ...
/.../homily v philippians ii 4-jan.htm

1 Thessalonians v. 19-22
... For the healthy man who continually enters here will not be highminded on account
of his bodily health; and the sick man will receive no slight consolation. ...
/.../homily xi 1 thessalonians v.htm

1 Cor. Iv. 3, 4
... But many a poor man, leading a strict life despises them; and we are not therefore
to call him arrogant but highminded: just as, on the other hand, if any be ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xi 1 cor iv.htm

1 Cor. Iii. 18, 19
... for all things are yours." He comes again to the former topic, pointing out that
not even for their spiritual things ought they to be highminded, as having ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily x 1 cor iii.htm

Letter cvi. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople, in Rebuke of ...
... "Be not highminded," brother, "but fear [456] ," and cease to disquiet with
unwarrantable demands the pious ears of Christian princes, who I am sure will be ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter cvi to anatolius bishop.htm

His Great Controversy
... The proud Romans, the highminded Greeks, would never have consented to be circumcised
and to cramp their life within the narrow limits of Jewish tradition; a ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter ix his great controversy.htm

Letter Lxxix. To Salvina.
... 2405] we are taught by the counsel of the apostle who thus writes to Timothy:""charge
them that are rich in this world that they be not highminded, nor trust ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxix to salvina.htm

John v. 31, 32
... beholders? or if he give alms with exactness and according to God's pleasure,
yet be lifted up by this very thing, and be highminded ? ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xl john v 31.htm

Highminded (3 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HIGHMINDED. ... that they be not highminded"); of tuphoo
"to wrap in mist or smoke," trop., to wrap in conceit, to make proud, etc. ...
/h/highminded.htm - 8k

Pleasures (18 Occurrences)
... for the rest. (BBE). 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God; (KJV WBS). Titus 2:12 ...
/p/pleasures.htm - 11k

Giveth (378 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly ...
/g/giveth.htm - 35k

Standest (6 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS). Romans 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off,
and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/s/standest.htm - 8k

Trust (201 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded,
nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly ...
/t/trust.htm - 38k

Highly (48 Occurrences)

/h/highly.htm - 20k

Heady (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Heady (1 Occurrence). 2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/h/heady.htm - 7k

High-minded (3 Occurrences)
High-minded. Highminded, High-minded. Highness . Noah Webster's Dictionary
1. (a.) Proud; arrogant. ... Highminded, High-minded. Highness . Reference Bible
/h/high-minded.htm - 7k

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