PRIDE
(Iat. “superbia”).
A desire and claim for superiority over others, along with a refusal to submit to God; pretension of self-sufficiency and self-exaltation. It is a state opposite to that of humility (see HUMILITY).
The proud does not recognize the dependence of himself as a creature on his Creator, nor the mutual dependence with his fellow creatures.
It was Satan’s sin (Ez. 28; cf. Is. 14:1-23). He was the motive that led to the sin of disobedience in Eden (Gen. 3: 1-6).
He is the motive in fallen man, leading him to a constant struggle of emulation to achieve superiority and dominion over his fellow men.
The Christian is still susceptible to this sin (1 Tim. 3:6) and is exhorted against such a perverse state of mind (2 Cor. 12:20; Tit. 1:7; Jas. 4:6, 16; 1 P. 5:5).
Pride is the ideal of pagan man, who marches in search of the superman, idealizing strength, aggressiveness and mutual competition, disdaining compassion and helping the weak as counterproductive to what he considers to be the advance towards his “new man.” ยป.
Pride is a state peculiarly abhorred by God (Lev. 26:19; Num. 15:30; Ps. 31:23; Pr. 16:18; Is. 2:11, 17; Ezek. 7:24; Dan. 4:37; etc.) and leads to the most disastrous of ends (Prov. 15:25; Mal. 4:1).