Arrogance: General Scriptures Concerning
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Arrogance, often synonymous with pride and haughtiness, is a disposition that the Bible consistently warns against. It is characterized by an inflated sense of self-worth and a disdainful attitude towards others. Scripture provides numerous admonitions and teachings regarding the dangers and consequences of arrogance.

Old Testament References

1. Proverbs 8:13 · "To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech." This verse highlights that arrogance is detestable to God and is associated with evil behavior and speech.

2. Proverbs 16:18 · "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Here, the inevitable downfall that follows arrogance is emphasized, serving as a warning to those who elevate themselves.

3. Isaiah 2:11-12 · "The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled." This passage speaks to the ultimate humbling of the arrogant by God’s sovereign power.

4. Obadiah 1:3-4 · "The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, whose habitation is high, who say in your heart, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?' Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD." The prophet Obadiah warns of the deceptive nature of arrogance and God’s ability to bring down the proud.

New Testament References

1. Mark 7:21-23 · "For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man." Jesus lists arrogance among the evils that originate from the human heart, defiling a person.

2. Romans 12:3 · "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you." Paul advises believers to maintain humility and self-awareness, countering arrogance with sober judgment.

3. James 4:6 · "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" James reiterates the biblical principle that God stands against the proud but favors the humble, encouraging believers to seek humility.

4. 1 Peter 5:5 · "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'" Peter echoes the teaching that humility is essential in the Christian community, as God opposes arrogance.

Theological Implications

Arrogance is fundamentally at odds with the Christian virtues of humility and servanthood. It reflects a self-centeredness that disregards the sovereignty of God and the value of others. The biblical narrative consistently portrays arrogance as leading to downfall and separation from God’s favor. Believers are called to emulate Christ’s humility, recognizing their dependence on God and the importance of valuing others above themselves.
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1 Samuel 2:3
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
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Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the fraudulent mouth, do I hate.
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Isaiah 13:11
And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
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Library

Eusebius: Constantine. General Index.
... magnificence, conceit, humility, arrogance(?), jealousy, suspiciousness ... father, friend,
as general, legislator, statesman ... copies of the Scriptures, [3533]548 ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/eusebius constantine general index.htm

Erroneous Opinions Imputed to the Apostles.
... To those who think that the Scriptures lead us to believe ... side of the question, it
would be arrogance in me ... even they who think it was a general, but erroneous ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter ii erroneous opinions imputed.htm

Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ...
... this sure confidence is not free from arrogance and presumption ... religion which is
delivered in the Scriptures, and which ... is just a kind of general pestilence in ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/of passages from the holy.htm

General Index.
... Advent message, proclamation of, timely, 351-354. general proclamation of, 355-374.
result of receiving, 379. ... arrogance of, 50, 60. ... see also Bible; Scriptures. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /general index.htm

General Index to Socrates' Ecclesiastical History.
... Areobindus, a Roman general, [197]162 ... Arius, Eusebius of Nicomedia, and Theognis,
[545]13-15; his letter to Eusebius Pamphilus on copying the Scriptures, [546]16 ...
/.../general index to socrates ecclesiastical.htm

Concerning "Good," "Light," "Beautiful," "Desire," "Ecstasy ...
... For (as the infallible Scriptures say), a good tree ... unto their state, providing,
both in general and in ... The arrogance and cruelty of the Germans has been their ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter iv concerning good light.htm

Trinity Sunday the Article of Faith on the Trinity.
... I must say a few words in general concerning it here ... It was because of his arrogance
that the devil was ... The Scriptures teach us that all creation is the work of ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/trinity sunday the article of.htm

On the Roman Pontiff, and the Principal Titles which Are
... his and she neither disowns the arrogance of this ... (1.) In its general meaning, whether ...
dogmas concerning the insufficiency of the scriptures without traditions ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 21 on the roman.htm

Introduction
... of the Antichrist in the prophetic Scriptures will at ... is the one who is responsible
for the general neglect in ... of the Son of God, and his arrogance, his impiety ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/introduction.htm

On Charity
... high conceits, engendering pride;" all arrogance and overweaning ... particularly knowledge
of the Holy Scriptures, in which ... seems to be the general sentiment, not ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 91 on charity.htm

Resources
What is the pride of life? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Nabal in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about ego? | GotQuestions.org

Arrogance: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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