Boastfulness
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Boastfulness, often synonymous with pride and arrogance, is a recurring theme in the Bible, where it is generally portrayed as a negative trait that stands in opposition to the humility and meekness that God desires from His followers. The Bible provides numerous warnings against boastfulness, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's dependence on God rather than one's own abilities or achievements.

Old Testament Insights

In the Old Testament, boastfulness is frequently associated with the wicked and those who oppose God. The Psalms often highlight the futility and danger of boasting. Psalm 10:3 states, "For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD." This verse illustrates how boastfulness is linked to a rejection of God and a focus on selfish desires.

The wisdom literature, particularly the Book of Proverbs, offers numerous admonitions against pride and boasting. Proverbs 27:1 advises, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." This proverb underscores the uncertainty of life and the folly of placing confidence in one's own plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament continues to address the issue of boastfulness, often contrasting it with the humility exemplified by Jesus Christ. In the Gospels, Jesus teaches against self-exaltation and encourages His followers to adopt a posture of humility. In Luke 18:14 , Jesus concludes the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector by saying, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

The Apostle Paul frequently addresses the topic of boasting in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 1:31 , Paul writes, "Therefore, as it is written: 'Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.'" Here, Paul redirects the focus of boasting from oneself to God, emphasizing that any reason for boasting should be rooted in what God has done rather than personal accomplishments.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 , Paul further explains, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage highlights the foundational Christian doctrine that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of human effort, thereby eliminating any grounds for personal boasting.

Theological Implications

Boastfulness is often seen as a manifestation of the sin of pride, which is considered one of the seven deadly sins in Christian theology. Pride, and by extension boastfulness, is viewed as a barrier to a right relationship with God because it places the self above God and others. The Bible consistently calls believers to humility, recognizing that all good things come from God and that human strength and wisdom are limited.

Practical Applications

For Christians, the biblical teachings on boastfulness serve as a call to cultivate humility and gratitude. Believers are encouraged to acknowledge their dependence on God in all aspects of life and to give Him the glory for any successes or achievements. This perspective fosters a community of believers who support and uplift one another, recognizing that all are equal before God and reliant on His grace.

In summary, the Bible's treatment of boastfulness serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and the dangers of pride. By focusing on God's greatness rather than personal accomplishments, believers can align themselves more closely with the character of Christ and live in a manner that honors God.
Greek
212. alazoneia -- boastfulness
... boastfulness. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: alazoneia Phonetic
Spelling: (al-ad-zon-i'-a) Short Definition: boasting, show, arrogant display ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/212.htm - 7k
Library

Whether the Daughters of Vainglory are Suitably Reckoned to be ...
... OF VAINGLORY (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether the daughters of vainglory are suitably reckoned
to be disobedience, boastfulness, hypocrisy, contention, obstinacy ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the daughters of vainglory.htm

I Will Follow the Order of Your Letter, and Subjoin Your Very ...
... my Preface; and I would praise it again now were it not that contrary to the advice
of your Tully, you make it hateful by excessive boastfulness." Where have I ...
/.../6 i will follow the.htm

Commandment Eighth. We Ought to Shun that which is Evil, and do ...
... from unlawful revelling, [203] from wicked luxury, from indulgence in many kinds
of food and the extravagance of riches, and from boastfulness, and haughtiness ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/commandment eighth we ought to.htm

2 Timothy iii. 7-Jan
... "Covetous." From covetousness springs boastfulness, from boastfulness pride,
from pride blasphemy, from blasphemy defiance and disobedience. ...
/.../homily vii 2 timothy iii.htm

A Blow at Self-Righteousness
... We can overcome lust itself, and anger, and the fierce passions of the will better
than we can ever master the proud boastfulness which rises in our hearts and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/a blow at self-righteousness.htm

Book viii. The Blessed Apostle Paul in Laying Down the Form for ...
... Hence we must utter our voice against arrogant wickedness and boastful arrogance
and seductive boastfulness,"yes, we must speak against such things through ...
/.../book viii the blessed apostle.htm

The Way of Death.
... double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy
talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; 2. persecutors ...
/.../various/the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter v name way of.htm

Treatise ix. On the Advantage of Patience.
... God"it is evident that the patience is not real among them where there is the insolent
audacity of an affected liberty, and the immodest boastfulness of an ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/treatise ix on the advantage.htm

Argument. --That God is the Founder of all Things, their Lord and ...
... 5029] that He may show that He whom the world does not contain is much less contained
in a temple; and He says these things not for boastfulness of Himself ...
/.../chapter iii argument that god is.htm

The Mighty Man
... Here again we have mention of his boastfulness (v.1), his deceitfulness (v.2), his
depravity (v.3), his egotism (v.4), his riches (v.7). His doom is also ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/8 the mighty man.htm

Thesaurus
Boastfulness (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Boastfulness (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles
25:19 Thou hast said, Lo, I have smitten Edom; and thy heart ...
/b/boastfulness.htm - 6k

Boastfully (6 Occurrences)

/b/boastfully.htm - 8k

Boasting (42 Occurrences)

/b/boasting.htm - 18k

Vainglory (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Excessive vanity; empty pride; vain show;
boastfulness. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VAINGLORY. ...
/v/vainglory.htm - 8k

Offscouring (2 Occurrences)
... of licentious idolaters. The haughty, cruel, cutting boastfulness of the
victors covered Israel with contumely. In 1 Corinthians ...
/o/offscouring.htm - 8k

Glory (590 Occurrences)
... occasion of praise; excellency; brilliancy; splendor. 3. (n.) Pride;
boastfulness; arrogance. 4. (n.) The presence of the Divine ...
/g/glory.htm - 71k

Arrogancy (16 Occurrences)
... ARROGANCY. ar'-o-gan-si: Excessive pride, leading to boastfulness and insolence
(1 Samuel 2:3 Proverbs 8:13 Isaiah 13:11 Jeremiah 48:29). ...
/a/arrogancy.htm - 11k

Atheism
... In many cases, however, it resulted from a loose use of the word, careless definition,
and sometimes from the spirit of boastfulness. (4) Practical atheism. ...
/a/atheism.htm - 13k

Resources
Boastfulness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Boastfulness (1 Occurrence)

2 Chronicles 25:19
Thou hast said, Lo, I have smitten Edom; and thy heart hath lifted thee up to boast; now, abide in thy house, why dost thou stir thyself up in evil, that thou hast fallen, thou, and Judah with thee?'
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Boastfulness

Related Terms

Boast (86 Occurrences)

Brag (6 Occurrences)

Proud (96 Occurrences)

Sphere (3 Occurrences)

Behalf (140 Occurrences)

Nobody (21 Occurrences)

Boastful (18 Occurrences)

Arrogance (30 Occurrences)

Sincerity (17 Occurrences)

Abundantly (73 Occurrences)

Fool (95 Occurrences)

Case (138 Occurrences)

Ashamed (131 Occurrences)

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)

Nay (92 Occurrences)

Pride (277 Occurrences)

Confidence (103 Occurrences)

Foolish (259 Occurrences)

Ground (538 Occurrences)

Folly (68 Occurrences)

Lest (282 Occurrences)

Shame (412 Occurrences)

Least (76 Occurrences)

Rather (176 Occurrences)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Void (64 Occurrences)

Naught (40 Occurrences)

Nought (104 Occurrences)

Unprepared (1 Occurrence)

Utter (111 Occurrences)

Overflow (43 Occurrences)

Ours (63 Occurrences)

Observing (28 Occurrences)

James (40 Occurrences)

Labors (27 Occurrences)

Labour (119 Occurrences)

Labours (19 Occurrences)

Limits (69 Occurrences)

Leavens (2 Occurrences)

Limit (115 Occurrences)

Lump (7 Occurrences)

Grows (46 Occurrences)

Gracious (106 Occurrences)

Wantonness (6 Occurrences)

Worldly (25 Occurrences)

Influence (13 Occurrences)

Increased (165 Occurrences)

Increasing (61 Occurrences)

Increase (184 Occurrences)

Increases (24 Occurrences)

Inferior (14 Occurrences)

Foolishness (30 Occurrences)

Furnish (8 Occurrences)

Furnishing (3 Occurrences)

Fleshly (15 Occurrences)

Foolishly (20 Occurrences)

Reliance (6 Occurrences)

Respects (13 Occurrences)

Recognized (37 Occurrences)

Reckless (8 Occurrences)

Regions (22 Occurrences)

Relations (92 Occurrences)

Reaches (26 Occurrences)

Exceed (14 Occurrences)

Excluded (14 Occurrences)

Especially (23 Occurrences)

Enlarged (21 Occurrences)

Exhibit (7 Occurrences)

Expand (3 Occurrences)

Eminent (9 Occurrences)

Disappointed (69 Occurrences)

Districts (22 Occurrences)

Deprive (17 Occurrences)

Dough (15 Occurrences)

Due (93 Occurrences)

Drove (89 Occurrences)

Merit (5 Occurrences)

Motives (13 Occurrences)

Boastfully
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