Humility Philippians 2:1-11, 1 Peter 5:5-11

CONTENT

• Significance of Humility to the Church
• St. Paul’s Teaching on Humility Philippians 2:1-11
• St. Peter Teaching on Humility
• Significance and Importance of Humility
• How Christians Express Humility

Humility, simply put, is that state of mind depicting a modest opinion of oneself.  It is one of the greatest attributes of a christian, without which one’s claim to be in Christ is not genuine.

St. Paul’s Teaching on Humility Philippians 2:1-11

Paul’s teaching to the Philippians was to give them a sense of humility among themselves. As at the time, Paul wrote the message, great disunity existed among the church members as a result of lack of humility.

Paul used the case of Jesus Christ to show them what humility is all about.  He said Jesus was in the form of God, but He did not count Himself equal with God.  He took the form of an ordinary servant and was born in the likeness of man.

In the human form, he humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even on the cross which was considered as one of the worst forms of death.  For this reason, he said, “God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus, every kneel must bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus is the Son of God to the glory of God the Father’’ (Phil 2:9-11).

EVALUATION

1. Describe Paul’s teaching on humility.
2. What is the role of humility in the harmony of the church?

St. Peter teaching on Humility

Peter also gave words of exhortation to Christians, especially the youths.  He advised the youth to be loyal to their elders and clothe themselves with humility.  This is because God rejects  the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  People should therefore, humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, so that in due times, He will exalt them.  Christians should cast all their anxieties on God for He cares for them.  They should be sober and watchful, for Satan, their adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

Peter was saying in essence that christian should resist Satan at all cost, knowing fully  well that suffering and temptations are part of the things a christian might have to pass through.  If they are able to endure these with humility,  the God of all grace who has called them to His glory in Christ would Himself restore, establish and strengthen them.

Significance and Importance of Humility

1. God loves the humble-minded and exalts him but he debases  the proud.
2. God gives grace to the humble, he or she reaps the reward of his humility.
3. Humility creates understanding and progress in the society.
4. A humble person renders selfless service to the society. He puts the interest of the society first in whatever he or she does.

EVALUATION

1. Define humility.
2. Explain Paul’s teaching on humility.

How Christians Express Humility

Christians can demonstrate humility in their lives by:

1. Respecting themselves and others.
2. Rendering selfless service to the society they belong to.
3. Showing love to the needy.
4. Showing forgiveness to others who might have offended them.
5. Ensuring peace and harmony in the society in which they belong.
6. Being law abiding.
7. Contributing to the welfare of the society.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. What are the attributes of and rewards for humility as stated in the epistles?
2. What are the significance and implications of humility?
3. Summarize Paul’s teaching on humility as contained in the epistle to the Philippians.
4. Mention habits that are not expected of a humble person.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Essential Christian Religious Knowledge for SS1-3 By Edmond Ugochukwu pg 193 – 194

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This teaching of Peter emphasizes A. faithfulness B. uprightness      C. humility D. obedience
2. Paul taught that as a result of his humility and death on the cross, Jesus gained A. salvation for all men

B. adoption as the son of God  C. praise and loyalty  D. exaltation as Lord.

• Paul’s teaching on humility demanded all the following except that we should
  A. not be selfish B. not regard ourselves as being better than others  C. not allow others to take advantage of us in anything D. show positive interests in the affairs of others .
• Which of the following did Paul admonished the Philippians  to manifest as a virtue of humility?

A. counting other people as being better than themselves  B. taking the highest position in any gathering C. regarding themselves as being superior to others   D. counting equality with God’s rulers.

• Paul’s example of humility in his epistle to the Phillipians is A. Jesus taking the form of a servant

B. counting oneself as superior to others  C. Jesus equality with God  D. reckoning what is best for oneself.

THEORY

1. Explain St. Paul’s teaching on humility.
2. How can Christians show humility in their daily lives?