Topical Encyclopedia Vainglory, a term often associated with excessive pride or boastfulness, is a concept that is addressed throughout the Bible. It is considered a sin that reflects a person's desire for undue recognition and admiration, often at the expense of humility and truth. The Bible warns against vainglory as it leads individuals away from the virtues of humility and selflessness that are central to Christian teachings.Biblical References: 1. Philippians 2:3 : "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves." This verse directly addresses the issue of vainglory by urging believers to act out of humility rather than seeking personal glory or recognition. 2. Galatians 5:26 : "Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another." Here, the Apostle Paul warns against conceit, which is closely related to vainglory, as it can lead to discord and jealousy among believers. 3. Matthew 6:1 : "Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." Jesus cautions against performing good deeds for the sake of being seen and praised by others, highlighting the emptiness of vainglory. 4. Proverbs 25:27 : "It is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory." This proverb uses the metaphor of honey to illustrate the dangers of seeking one's own glory, suggesting that it is excessive and ultimately harmful. Theological Insights: Vainglory is often seen as a manifestation of pride, one of the seven deadly sins. It is the pursuit of personal glory and recognition, which can lead to a distorted sense of self-worth and a departure from the teachings of Christ. The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of humility and the dangers of pride, as seen in James 4:6 : "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" Historical Context: In the early Christian church, vainglory was a significant concern as it could disrupt the unity and fellowship among believers. The early church fathers, such as Augustine and Gregory the Great, wrote extensively on the dangers of vainglory, often linking it to the fall of Satan, who sought glory for himself rather than giving glory to God. Practical Application: Christians are encouraged to cultivate humility and to seek the glory of God rather than their own. This involves recognizing the gifts and talents given by God and using them to serve others, as instructed in 1 Peter 4:10 : "As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another." By focusing on serving others and glorifying God, believers can avoid the pitfalls of vainglory and live in accordance with the teachings of Christ. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (n.) Excessive vanity; empty pride; vain show; boastfulness.International Standard Bible Encyclopedia VAINGLORYvan-glo'-ri (kenodoxia): "Vainglory" is the translation of kenodoxia, "empty glory" or "pride," nearly akin to vanity in the modern sense (Philippians 2:3). Kenodoxos is "vainglorious" (Galatians 5:26, "Let us not be desirous of vainglory," the Revised Version (British and American) "Let us not become vainglorious"). In 1 John 2:16 the Revised Version (British and American) has "the vainglory of life" (alazoneia tou biou) for "the pride of life"; compare James 4:16, "Ye glory in your vauntings" (alazoneia). Kenodoxia is translated "vainglory" (The Wisdom of Solomon 14:14, "For by the vain glory of men they (idols) entered into the world," the Revised Version (British and American) "vaingloriousless"); alazoneia occurs in The Wisdom of Solomon 5:8, translated "vaunting." "Pride is applicable to every object, good or bad, high or low, small or great; vanity is applicable only to small objects; pride is therefore good or bad; vanity is always bad; it is always emptiness or nothingness" (Crabb, English Synonymes). Greek 2754. kenodoxia -- vainglory ... vainglory. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kenodoxia Phonetic Spelling: (ken-od-ox-ee'-ah) Short Definition: vainglory, empty pride Definition ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2754.htm - 6k Library Whether Vainglory is a Mortal Sin? Whether Vainglory is Opposed to Magnanimity? Whether Vainglory is a Capital vice? Whether Discord is a Daughter of Vainglory? Whether Contention is a Daughter of Vainglory? Whether the Daughters of Vainglory are Suitably Reckoned to be ... Of Vainglory (Five Articles) Whether Presumption Arises from Vainglory? Whether Presumption is Caused by Vainglory How Vainglory May be Useful to Us. Thesaurus Vainglory (2 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Excessive vanity; empty pride; vain show; boastfulness. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VAINGLORY. ... /v/vainglory.htm - 8k Vanity (100 Occurrences) Vainglorious (1 Occurrence) Vain-glorious (2 Occurrences) Vanities (14 Occurrences) Vain-glory (3 Occurrences) Lowliness (9 Occurrences) Factiousness (1 Occurrence) Faction (4 Occurrences) Esteem (25 Occurrences) Resources What are capital sins? | GotQuestions.orgVainglory: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Vainglory (2 Occurrences)Philippians 2:3 Ezekiel 7:20 Subtopics Related Terms |
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