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From Pride to Humility: A Biblical Perspective by Dr Stuart Scott
Excerpted from The exemplary a biblical Bemidji, Focus, 2002.
Paperback
First published July 10, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 26, 2021
This book has some great principles and would be a good place to start for counseling. But you can definitely tell that it’s excerpts from a larger work. It was convicting but left me wanting more.
March 8, 2022
Practical. Includes hard, self-examinations: 1. To help identify areas of pride 2. To help identify areas for growth in humility. Great applications to apply to our lives as we grow and are sanctified.
March 3, 2025
I love Stuart Scott’s writing. This was such a good book. Convicting and insightful. I am preaching on pride and humility in a few weeks and this book will help me immensely. Recommended
December 17, 2025
“Pride is the beginning of every sin.”
I’ve never really thought deeply about that statement before but this book opened my eyes to how prideful I am. Honestly, that’s exactly what I needed. I wasn’t blind to it, but I see my sinfulness more clearly. Which is a good thing—it makes me want to the Lord even more.
I’ve never really thought deeply about that statement before but this book opened my eyes to how prideful I am. Honestly, that’s exactly what I needed. I wasn’t blind to it, but I see my sinfulness more clearly. Which is a good thing—it makes me want to the Lord even more.
December 13, 2024
Read this for my quiet time this morning- so many great reminders to come back to. Very precise!
April 19, 2009
"Of all the biblical examples of humility, the greatest by far is the example of Christ Himself." This book is a short study of moving from a life of pride to one of humility. A biblical perspective with a helpful list of manifestations of both pride and humility. You can't read this and not be challenged, encouraged, and humbled.
October 26, 2015
I read this for a group study with some Church friends. I found many points very convicting, even in just the cursory "quick read" I was able to give it. I plan to revisit this one to read through all the Scripture the book alludes to in order to dig more deeply into both these topics. This is definitely an area in which I could stand to improve.
February 28, 2022
Great little book offering a biblical overview on pride and humility. The hard part is not just reading it for its theology but actually doing the heart work in applying it (see page 26-27 for basic applications).
May 18, 2024
Uuuuhhhm ok. This is the most potent 40 pages (if that) on pride that I have ever read. Stuart Scott takes a scalpel and goes straight for the heart! Packed to the gills with scripture. Every, and I do mean every christian needs to read this little book. It feels like one of those little giveaway books you get in a goodie bag at a conference or something from the freebie table. Please dont be fooled by its size. Read it. Then... Read it again every month.
June 9, 2023
This made for an excellent read as I contemplated pride month, my own pride, and the winning way of humility. Working through the contemplative lists of how pride and humility show up in everyday life helped me to be realistic and honest about the pride problem in my own life.
February 11, 2019
A short (30 page) but incredibly honest and revealing look at the most dangerous sin (pride) and how to combat it (with humility)
March 3, 2020
Not the most fun read of course. But God does use it to expose sinful pride.
February 8, 2021
Good concepts, but I felt they were overshadowed by the school essay style writing.
March 18, 2022
Does this count as a book? More of a pamphlet… actually, it is made up of excerpts from The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective. It is more of a short workbook, and as such I found it helpful. There was nothing that I have not studied before, but the two surveys were very helpful in helping me look again at these warring aspects of my life. Probably not a bad idea to return periodically to evaluate my attitudes on a regular basis.
December 21, 2017
Wow; not only did this little book reveal so much to be about my pride, it outlined steps to replace pride with humility. Recognition is not the key to change; working towards change is true repentance. Each sentence was a lesson/principle to chew on.
August 11, 2017
Woooo boy. Don't be fooled by the size of this booklet; it is jam packed with Biblical exhortation and edification. Do not read this booklet unless you're really serious about having a floodlight aimed at your various manifestations of pride (even if you didn't know they were prideful, like self-pity or talking too much), ripping them all to tiny shreds, and having a swift and firm conviction of "it is NOT all about me!" bring you to your knees in adoration of the One it IS all about! If you are serious, however, by all means dive in and enjoy the working of the Holy Spirit that is sure to follow.
May 14, 2015
A succinct & ever so helpful little booklet on the severely neglected subject of pride & humility.
The author does an effective job of contrasting the two with lengthy descriptions of how pride & humility are manifest in people's lives.
Because the practical application is incalculable; I envision this being a powerful tool in the hand of a pastor, Christian counselor & lay person alike who sincerely desires to grow in true grace & humility.
An invaluable resource that I intend to use in counseling & more urgently ...in my own times of personal prayer & meditation to the glory of God.
The author does an effective job of contrasting the two with lengthy descriptions of how pride & humility are manifest in people's lives.
Because the practical application is incalculable; I envision this being a powerful tool in the hand of a pastor, Christian counselor & lay person alike who sincerely desires to grow in true grace & humility.
An invaluable resource that I intend to use in counseling & more urgently ...in my own times of personal prayer & meditation to the glory of God.
January 26, 2015
this pamphlet will open your eyes to the pride that is the root of all sin in your life. this is a hard truth but a necessary reality, because the sight of sin is the first step to repentance and restoration... therefore it can be a joyous thing rather than a condemning one.
January 9, 2008
READ THIS. Short but powerful and EYE-OPENING.
December 31, 2015
A good little booklet to walk you through some self-examination for the sin of pride. Thoroughly Scripture saturated. Probably worth revisiting every so often.
November 19, 2013
Clear, concise, Biblical, convicting. Thinking this should be an annual read.
June 10, 2015
A wonderful primer on removing pride and "putting on" humility.
June 1, 2016
An excellent primer on pride and humility. The 30 manifestations of pride are excellent and would by themselves make the book worth reading.
November 20, 2017
Good challenge to self exam ones motives and heart. A clear biblical definition of humility and pride and offers solutions to both. Its a small book some big application.
February 20, 2023
Favorite Take-Aways:
“When we fully embrace who we really are and live as God has commanded, we will have a proper view of self… we will be God- and others-focused.”
When we are humble “even [our] focus on others is out of a desire to love and glorify God. They have no need to be recognized or approved… a humble person’s goal is to elevate God and encourage others. (2 Corinth. 5:15
“Definition of Humility: the mind of Christ (a servants minds set; a focus on God and others, a pursuit of the recognition and the exaltation of God, and a desire to glorify and please God in all things and by all things He has given.”
“Humble people do not bemoan the fact that they are not as gifted as others. Neither do they exaggerate their own abilities.
“A humble person will speak will of others, not negatively. He will convey something negative abut someone only if he must do so in order to help that person.” (proverbs 11:13)”
“When we see ourselves rightly, in reference to God and others, we will shine with God’s glory.”
“Pride dies not die once… it must die daily.”
“Saving faith involves acknowledging the true reason for our existence and God’s full right to our lives and how we love them.”
“[When repenting, consider] your sins of motive, thought, words and deed.”
“If we live with heaven in our sites, we will please God, and be less likely to grow weary in the hardships of life…(Hebrews 11:8-10; 12:1-3) We should strive to keep an eternal perspective and place all our hope in our future with Christ.”
“When we fully embrace who we really are and live as God has commanded, we will have a proper view of self… we will be God- and others-focused.”
When we are humble “even [our] focus on others is out of a desire to love and glorify God. They have no need to be recognized or approved… a humble person’s goal is to elevate God and encourage others. (2 Corinth. 5:15
“Definition of Humility: the mind of Christ (a servants minds set; a focus on God and others, a pursuit of the recognition and the exaltation of God, and a desire to glorify and please God in all things and by all things He has given.”
“Humble people do not bemoan the fact that they are not as gifted as others. Neither do they exaggerate their own abilities.
“A humble person will speak will of others, not negatively. He will convey something negative abut someone only if he must do so in order to help that person.” (proverbs 11:13)”
“When we see ourselves rightly, in reference to God and others, we will shine with God’s glory.”
“Pride dies not die once… it must die daily.”
“Saving faith involves acknowledging the true reason for our existence and God’s full right to our lives and how we love them.”
“[When repenting, consider] your sins of motive, thought, words and deed.”
“If we live with heaven in our sites, we will please God, and be less likely to grow weary in the hardships of life…(Hebrews 11:8-10; 12:1-3) We should strive to keep an eternal perspective and place all our hope in our future with Christ.”
June 7, 2022
A brief, helpful, biblical explanation of how to move from pride to humility. It points to Christ as the example of humility, and describes how to imitate His humility. There are two useful self-evaluation quizzes to rate your pride and your humility. This is an excerpt of Scott's The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective.
The last part ("God's Provisions for Man") seems disconnected from the rest; it's an overview of salvation, sanctification, and glorification, and doesn't seem to fit the topic of pride and humility.
Notes
Introduction
Self-pity is pride because it's focusing on self too much. It's being discontent with what God has given you, and wanting others to serve, like, approve of you. It's thinking life is about you, rather than God's glory.
Definition of pride
• Mindset on self (thinking of self as master, not servant)
• Focus on self, service of self
• Pursuit of self-recognition, self-exaltation
• Desire to control and use all things for self
Manifestations of Pride
• Complaining against or passing judgment on God. Thinking, "Look what God has done to me."
• Lack of gratitude in general. Thinking you deserve what's good. Critical, complaining, discontent
• Anger. Outbursts, withdrawing, pouting, frustration, moody. Feeling rights and expectations aren't met.
• Seeing self as better than others. Easily disgusted, with little tolerance for differences.
• Inflated view of your importance, abilities.
• Focused on lack of gifts and abilities. "Woe is me," self-pity.
• Perfectionism. Seeking recognition of feeling good about self. Making things that are less important to be more important. Matt 23:24-28.
• Seeking independence or control. Rigid, stubborn, headstrong.
• Sarcastic, hurtful, degrading. Belittling others, even in jest.
• Lack of compassion. Rarely concerned for others and their concerns.
• Defensive or blame-shifting.
• Lack of admitting when wrong.
• Lack of asking forgiveness. Can't see sin or can't humble self enough to ask for forgiveness.
• Voicing preferences or opinions when not asked, usually without consideration for others. Phil 2:1-4.
• Minimizing your sin and shortcomings.
• Maximizing others' sin and shortcomings.
• Impatient and irritable with others. Concerned own schedule and plans are being ruined. Inflexible on preference issues. Eph 4:31-32.
• Jealous or envious. Having a hard time being glad for others' successes.
• Not having close relationships. Having no use for them, thinking trouble outweighs benefits. Thinking you're self-sufficient and don't need others.
A proper view of ourselves as having no worth in ourselves before God (Ps 8:1-4; John 15:5; Rom 3:10-18) yet loved anyway (Eph 2:4-7) will change us from focus on self to focus on God and others.
Bible speaks of righteous boasting (pride) which we can have when enjoying God's graces, and encouraging others (Jer 9:23-24; 1 Cor 1:26ff; Rom 15:17-18; 1 Cor 4:6-7; 2 Cor 7:4, 6, 13-16; Gal 6:14).
We cross the line from self-examination to introspection when we're constantly dissecting our soul, always talking about our problems and troubles, always frowning and saying we're in a great difficulty.
Definition of humility
• Mindset of Christ (servant)
• Focus on God and others
• Pursuit of recognition and exaltation of God
• Desire to glorify God in all things and by all things
Manifestations of Humility
• Recognize and trust God's character. In trials, thank God for reminder of how much you need Him, and for good He's doing through trial. Ps 119:66.
• See you have no right to question or judge God. He's the Creator; you're the creature. God is perfect and wise, may do whatever He pleases, and it will be for your good. Ps 145:17; Rom 9:19-23.
• Focus on Christ. There's no other thing or person you must have. Phil 1:21; Heb 12:1-2.
• Be overwhelmed with God's underserved grace and goodness. Recognize that you deserve Hell, and be grateful for forgiveness of so much. Ps 116:12-19.
• Be thankful and grateful in general toward others. Expect nothing, so you appreciate anything you receive. 1 Thess 5:18.
• Be gentle and patient. Col 3:12-14.
• See yourself as no better than others. Understand that you're capable of the worst sin. Rom 12:16; Eph 3:8.
• Have an accurate view of your abilities. Don't wish you had others' abilities. Rom 12:3.
• Be a good listener. Take an interest in others; ask questions and listen. Jas 1:19; Phil 2:3-4.
• Prefer others over yourself. Put others before yourself without first considering your rights. Rom 12:10.
• Be thankful for criticism or reproof. View it as good for you, and a way for God to teach you. Pro 9:8; 27:5-6.
• Build up others. Encourage others, and say only what edifies. Eph 4:29.
• Serve others. Gal 5:13.
• Be quick to admit when you're wrong. Pro 29:23.
• Be quick to grant and ask for forgiveness. Recognize how much you've been forgiven. Be a peacemaker. Col 3:12-14.
• Minimize others' sins or shortcomings compared to yours. See your sin as more important to deal with than others'.
• Be genuinely glad for others. Rejoice when good happens to others. Recognize that God has blessed you immeasurably. Trust God for what you don't have. Rom 12:15.
• Have close relationships. Being friendly and loving others will lead to friendships. Be willing to ask for help. Acts 20:31-38.
How to move from pride to humility
• Meditate on Gospel (Jas 4:7).
• Pray for God to help you repent of pride and become humble (Ps 139).
• Study Jesus' earthly life and humility (Gospels, Matt 11:28-30).
• Ask others to evaluate your pride.
• Worship God. Focus on God's love, demonstrated at Cross.
• Practice "one another" principles.
• Put off pride and put on humility in your thoughts and motives.
• Put off pride and put on humility in your communication.
• Put off pride and put on humility in your actions.
The last part ("God's Provisions for Man") seems disconnected from the rest; it's an overview of salvation, sanctification, and glorification, and doesn't seem to fit the topic of pride and humility.
Notes
Introduction
Self-pity is pride because it's focusing on self too much. It's being discontent with what God has given you, and wanting others to serve, like, approve of you. It's thinking life is about you, rather than God's glory.
Definition of pride
• Mindset on self (thinking of self as master, not servant)
• Focus on self, service of self
• Pursuit of self-recognition, self-exaltation
• Desire to control and use all things for self
Manifestations of Pride
• Complaining against or passing judgment on God. Thinking, "Look what God has done to me."
• Lack of gratitude in general. Thinking you deserve what's good. Critical, complaining, discontent
• Anger. Outbursts, withdrawing, pouting, frustration, moody. Feeling rights and expectations aren't met.
• Seeing self as better than others. Easily disgusted, with little tolerance for differences.
• Inflated view of your importance, abilities.
• Focused on lack of gifts and abilities. "Woe is me," self-pity.
• Perfectionism. Seeking recognition of feeling good about self. Making things that are less important to be more important. Matt 23:24-28.
• Seeking independence or control. Rigid, stubborn, headstrong.
• Sarcastic, hurtful, degrading. Belittling others, even in jest.
• Lack of compassion. Rarely concerned for others and their concerns.
• Defensive or blame-shifting.
• Lack of admitting when wrong.
• Lack of asking forgiveness. Can't see sin or can't humble self enough to ask for forgiveness.
• Voicing preferences or opinions when not asked, usually without consideration for others. Phil 2:1-4.
• Minimizing your sin and shortcomings.
• Maximizing others' sin and shortcomings.
• Impatient and irritable with others. Concerned own schedule and plans are being ruined. Inflexible on preference issues. Eph 4:31-32.
• Jealous or envious. Having a hard time being glad for others' successes.
• Not having close relationships. Having no use for them, thinking trouble outweighs benefits. Thinking you're self-sufficient and don't need others.
A proper view of ourselves as having no worth in ourselves before God (Ps 8:1-4; John 15:5; Rom 3:10-18) yet loved anyway (Eph 2:4-7) will change us from focus on self to focus on God and others.
Bible speaks of righteous boasting (pride) which we can have when enjoying God's graces, and encouraging others (Jer 9:23-24; 1 Cor 1:26ff; Rom 15:17-18; 1 Cor 4:6-7; 2 Cor 7:4, 6, 13-16; Gal 6:14).
We cross the line from self-examination to introspection when we're constantly dissecting our soul, always talking about our problems and troubles, always frowning and saying we're in a great difficulty.
Definition of humility
• Mindset of Christ (servant)
• Focus on God and others
• Pursuit of recognition and exaltation of God
• Desire to glorify God in all things and by all things
Manifestations of Humility
• Recognize and trust God's character. In trials, thank God for reminder of how much you need Him, and for good He's doing through trial. Ps 119:66.
• See you have no right to question or judge God. He's the Creator; you're the creature. God is perfect and wise, may do whatever He pleases, and it will be for your good. Ps 145:17; Rom 9:19-23.
• Focus on Christ. There's no other thing or person you must have. Phil 1:21; Heb 12:1-2.
• Be overwhelmed with God's underserved grace and goodness. Recognize that you deserve Hell, and be grateful for forgiveness of so much. Ps 116:12-19.
• Be thankful and grateful in general toward others. Expect nothing, so you appreciate anything you receive. 1 Thess 5:18.
• Be gentle and patient. Col 3:12-14.
• See yourself as no better than others. Understand that you're capable of the worst sin. Rom 12:16; Eph 3:8.
• Have an accurate view of your abilities. Don't wish you had others' abilities. Rom 12:3.
• Be a good listener. Take an interest in others; ask questions and listen. Jas 1:19; Phil 2:3-4.
• Prefer others over yourself. Put others before yourself without first considering your rights. Rom 12:10.
• Be thankful for criticism or reproof. View it as good for you, and a way for God to teach you. Pro 9:8; 27:5-6.
• Build up others. Encourage others, and say only what edifies. Eph 4:29.
• Serve others. Gal 5:13.
• Be quick to admit when you're wrong. Pro 29:23.
• Be quick to grant and ask for forgiveness. Recognize how much you've been forgiven. Be a peacemaker. Col 3:12-14.
• Minimize others' sins or shortcomings compared to yours. See your sin as more important to deal with than others'.
• Be genuinely glad for others. Rejoice when good happens to others. Recognize that God has blessed you immeasurably. Trust God for what you don't have. Rom 12:15.
• Have close relationships. Being friendly and loving others will lead to friendships. Be willing to ask for help. Acts 20:31-38.
How to move from pride to humility
• Meditate on Gospel (Jas 4:7).
• Pray for God to help you repent of pride and become humble (Ps 139).
• Study Jesus' earthly life and humility (Gospels, Matt 11:28-30).
• Ask others to evaluate your pride.
• Worship God. Focus on God's love, demonstrated at Cross.
• Practice "one another" principles.
• Put off pride and put on humility in your thoughts and motives.
• Put off pride and put on humility in your communication.
• Put off pride and put on humility in your actions.
January 6, 2026
“If pride is the epidemic vice, then humility is the endangered virtue. Humility is so rare because it is unnatural to man. Only a Christian who has the spirit of God can learn genuine humility. The more we learn humility, the more our lives will change. Just as pride is the root of every evil, humility is the root of every virtue.”
“Without humility, there can be no true repentance (change). In other words we have to humble ourselves before God and then we can walk in humbleness. It takes humility to learn humility. That initial humbling of one’s self is a response to the work of the Spirit of God. Once we have rightly humbled ourselves before God there are things that we can do (by God‘s grace) to stay humble”
🔥🔥🔥
“Without humility, there can be no true repentance (change). In other words we have to humble ourselves before God and then we can walk in humbleness. It takes humility to learn humility. That initial humbling of one’s self is a response to the work of the Spirit of God. Once we have rightly humbled ourselves before God there are things that we can do (by God‘s grace) to stay humble”
🔥🔥🔥
May 25, 2020
This book was excellent and eye opening to my heart condition and gave practical and Biblical ways to address it. The only thing I would change is to slightly revise some of the parts that are specific to men to include women as this is an excerpt from The Exemplary Husband: A Biblical Perspective. My ladies Bible study was really affected by this book, so including some examples for ladies would be great in this stand alone excerpt and would aid even more.
September 24, 2023
This is really a booklet, not a full book. It is actually a chapter out of a book. The topic is important. It was just missing something that I cannot put my finger, possibly it was me. The main thing I learned was that the root of all sin is pride. And made me think about how people sometimes mix up the verse about money and sin, which only says the love money is the root of all kinds of evil.
April 2, 2024
“As much as we may hate to admit it, we all have pride, each and every one of us. The question is not, ‘Do I have it?’ But, ‘Where is it?’ And ‘How much of it do I have?’”
The sample lists of pride and humility manifestations are very helpful for self reflection.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
The sample lists of pride and humility manifestations are very helpful for self reflection.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews