HUMILITY   
in CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY
and THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES:

 

 

 

 


FROM
CONTEMPTABLE
VULNERABILITY
to
DIVINE ATTRIBUTE
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1_CLASSICAL_ANTIQUITY

 

 

 

 

 


 1. NOT ALWAYS A VIRTUE:
HUMILITY in 
CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY
 

 The School of Athens, Raphael, Rome

 


HUMILITY (tapeinophrosýnē / ταπεινοφροσύνη) described the undesirable condition state of being “lowly,” “mean,” “servile,” “insignificant,” “weak,” and “poor.”  In Genesis 34.2 the verb “to humble” (LXX. tapeinoō/ταπεινόω ) is a euphemism in the Septuagint for “to sexually abuse.”  It implies limited or absent freedom (eleuthería; ἐλευθερία).

[Note contrast to west. trad. of Virgin Mary as uniquely free]

ALASDAIR MacIntyre has noted that “humility, thrift and conscientiousness could appear in no Greek list of the virtues.” Indeed, “in the only place in Aristotle’s account of the virtues where anything resembling humility is mentioned, it is as a vice,”(After Virtue, 3rd ed., UND Pr. 2007, pp. 136, 177)

“Aristotle would certainly not have admired Jesus Christ and he would have been horrified by St Paul,”(After Virtue, p. 184).

 

 

WHAT, THEN, is “A VIRTUE?”

 

 

IN classical antiquity the word virtue (ἀρετή / aretē ; Latin: virtus) meant “excellence”, especially athletic, military, or artistic excellence, attained by askēsis (ἄσκησις), exercise, practice, training.  For Aristotle virtue is a mean or balance.

THE modern philosopher, Paul Bloomfield, maintains that humility is not a true virtue (in the aristotelian sense), but rather a corrective of arrogance, leading to the virtue of justice.

[He understands humility as awareness / acknowledgement of one’s limitations, but not necessarily of one’s gifts / capacities.]

(The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Humility, ch. 3,pp. 36-46) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3_OLD_TESTAMENT_TRANSFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 


 2. HUMILITY in THE OLD TESTAMENT:
 REVERANT AWE and A PRELUDE
to TRANSFORMATION
 

 Moses on Sinai
 Medieval MS illum.

 


IN the Old Testament humility, understood as awe, reverence, or pious fear, is the proper response of humankind to the majesty of God.

BUT such humility is a prelude to the loving response of God Who raises those who honor God, or who are in a state of base subjection:

And we cried to the Lord our God,

and the Lord heard our voice, and saw our humiliation (ταπείνωσιν), Deut. 26.7, LXX.

For You will save the lowly (ταπεινὸν) people,

and will humble (ταπεινώσεις) the eyes of the proud, Ps. 17(18):28, LXX.

The Lord is near to those of a contrite heart;

 and will save the humble (ταπεινοὺς), Ps. 33(34):18, LXX.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4_Incarnation_New_Testament_Humility_of_God

 

 

 

 

 


 3. THE INCARNATION: 
THE HUMILITY of GOD
in THE NEW TESTAMENT
 

 The Nativity
 Orthodox Icon

 


IN the New Testament humility becomes a divine attribute through the Incarnation of God in Christ Jesus.  The Christian who reveres and receives the Humble God is thereby transformed.

PHILIPIANS 2:5-11

5 HAVE this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

5 Τοῦτο φρονεῖτε ἐν ὑμῖν ὃ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

6 ὃς ἐν μορφῇ θεοῦ ὑπάρχων οὐχ ἁρπαγμὸν ἡγήσατο τὸ εἶναι ἴσα θεῷ,

7 but emptied himself,

7 ἀλλὰ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσεν

taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος·

8 And being found in human form

καὶ σχήματι εὑρεθεὶς ὡς ἄνθρωπος

he humbled himself

8 ἐταπείνωσεν ἑαυτὸν

and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

γενόμενος ὑπήκοος μέχρι θανάτου, θανάτου δὲ σταυροῦ.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,

9 διὸ καὶ ὁ θεὸς αὐτὸν ὑπερύψωσεν καὶ ἐχαρίσατο αὐτῷ τὸ ὄνομα τὸ ὑπὲρ πᾶν ὄνομα,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

10 ἵνα ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ πᾶν γόνυ κάμψῃ ἐπουρανίων καὶ ἐπιγείων καὶ καταχθονίων

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

11 καὶ πᾶσα γλῶσσα ἐξομολογήσηται ὅτι κύριος Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς εἰς δόξαν θεοῦ πατρός.

 

 

CHRIST RECOMMENDS and  APPLIES THE VIRTUE of HUMILITY to HIMSELF

28 COME to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,

28 Δεῦτε πρός με πάντες οἱ κοπιῶντες καὶ πεφορτισμένοι,

and I will give you rest

κἀγὼ ἀναπαύσω ὑμᾶς.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;

29 ἄρατε τὸν ζυγόν μου ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς καὶ μάθετε ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

ὅτι πραΰς εἰμι καὶ ταπεινὸς τῇ καρδίᾳ,

and you will find rest for your souls.

καὶ εὑρήσετε ἀνάπαυσιν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν·

30 For my yoke is easy,

30 ὁ γὰρ ζυγός μου χρηστὸς

and my burden is light.

καὶ τὸ φορτίον μου ἐλαφρόν ἐστιν.

(Mat 11:28-30)

 
   
11 He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;

11  ὁ δὲ μείζων ὑμῶν ἔσται ὑμῶν διάκονος.

12 whoever exalts himself will be humbled,

12  ὅστις δὲ ὑψώσει ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται

and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

καὶ ὅστις ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.

(Mat 23:11-12)

  
   

 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying,“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

1  2 Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ προσῆλθον οἱ μαθηταὶ τῷ Ἰησοῦ λέγοντες· τίς ἄρα μείζων ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν;

2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them,

καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος παιδίον ἔστησεν αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν

3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

3  καὶ εἶπεν· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε καὶ γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.

 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child,
he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

4  ὅστις οὖν ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὡς τὸ παιδίον τοῦτο, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ μείζων ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.

5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; ”

5  καὶ ὃς ἐὰν δέξηται ἓν παιδίον τοιοῦτο ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐμὲ δέχεται.

(Mat 18:1-5)

  

 

 

AT the Annunciation (Luke 1:38) The Virgin Mary applies to herself the humble title dule kuriou (δούλη κυρίου), servant (or slave) of the Lord.  And in her Magnificat (Luke 1:47-55) she is the humble one who represents all the humble whom the Lord raises up:

47 AND MARY said,
My soul magnifies the the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

46 Καὶ εἶπεν Μαριάμ͵
Μεγαλύνει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν κύριον͵

47 καὶ ἠγαλλίασενῃ τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπὶ τῷ θεῷ τῷ σωτῆρί μου͵

48 for he has regarded the humble state of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;

48 ὅτι ἐπέβλεψεν ἐπὶ τὴν ταπείνωσιν τῆς δούληςῃ αὐτοῦ. ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μακαριοῦσίν με πᾶσαι αἱ γενεαί·

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

49 ὅτι ἐποίησέν μοι μεγάλα ὁ δυνατός͵ καὶ ἅγιον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ͵

50 And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.

 50 καὶ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ εἰς γενεὰς καὶ γενεὰς τοῖς φοβουμένοις αὐτόν.

51 He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,

51 Ἐποίησεν κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ͵ διεσκόρπισεν ὑπερηφάνους διανοίᾳ καρδίας αὐτῶν·

52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the humble [ones];

52 καθεῖλεν δυνάστας ἀπὸ θρόνων καὶ ὕψωσεν ταπεινούς͵

53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.

53 πεινῶντας ἐνέπλησεν ἀγαθῶν καὶ πλουτοῦντας ἐξαπέστειλεν κενούς.

54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

54 ἀντελάβετο Ἰσραὴλ παιδὸς αὐτοῦ͵ μνησθῆναι ἐλέους͵

55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.

55 καθὼς ἐλάλησεν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν͵ τῷ Ἀβραὰμ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

(Luke 1:47-55)

 

 

 

 

CHRISTIAN humility is thus a posture of reverent, receptive listening. In the monastic authors it becomes especially a willingness to be taught and to change.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORONATION

 HUMBLE HUMANITY and INCARNATE HUMILITY

The Coronotion of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Heaven
Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry, 15th Cent. MS illum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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