On Humility

One of the most important teachers in the history of Christianity is Basil of Caesarea, also known as Saint Basil the Great (330–379). Together with his brother Gregory of Nyssa and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus, he helped to defend the doctrine of the Trinity. He is also known for his care for the poor, including organizing a food kitchen during a famine.

After giving several Old Testament examples of people who fell due to pride, he writes the following in his homily On Humility:

We should keep these and similar things before our minds as a safeguard against arrogance; humbling ourselves that we may be exalted, mindful of the Lord Who came down from heaven to our great lowliness, and was in turn raised up from lowliness to the sublimity that belonged to Him. All that the Lord has done, we shall find, is intended to instruct us in humility. As a Child He lay in a cave; and not in a bed, but in a manger. In the house of a carpenter, and of a poor mother, He was obedient to His mother and to her spouse. While being taught, He listened; learning what He had no need to learn. He asked questions, and, because of His wisdom, His questions instructed those who heard Him. He humbled Himself to John; that the Lord might be baptized by His servant. He resented no one who assailed Him; nor did He use against them the ineffable power that was His; but yielded as to higher power, and yielded to temporal authority the power that belonged to it.

He stood as a criminal before the High Priests. He was led before a judge; and when He could have silenced His calumniators He bore their accusations in silence. He was spat upon by the lowest servants and by slaves, and delivered over to be put to death, and to the most shameful death known to men. And it was in this way He passed His life from birth to death. And after these humiliations He manifested His glory; sharing His glory with those who were the companions of His lowliness. Of these the first are the blessed Disciples, who poor and naked travelled the world, not with the words of wisdom, not with a multitude of followers, but solitary wanderers, destitute, journeying over land and sea, scourged with whips, stoned, persecuted, and in the end put to death. These are the Paternal divine lessons we have been taught. Let us return to them, that through humility we may also come to eternal glory, the true and perfect gift of Christ.

Here’s a link the full sermon.

Les Bridgeman

I have served as a high school Bible teacher and counselor in Asia and the U.S. I am passionate about understanding and teaching the Bible. Here’s a link to my book page.