Humility is a uniquely Christian virtue

The ancient Greeks and Romans did not have a word for humility. The reason is that they did not see it as a virtue. It was the way slaves and the conquered thought of themselves. In an honor-based culture where status and reputation was everything, this was abhorrent and to be avoided at all costs.

But the Apostle Paul and the early Christians flipped this value system upside down. Paul coined a new word tapeinophrosune [ταπεινοφροσύνη] which literally means “lowliness of mind.” It means to have a low opinion of your own status and importance. The early Christian took this trait which was tinged with shame and weakness, associated with the enslaved, and said, no, this is true greatness. This is the mind of Christ.

One of the earliest songs of the Christian church was the “hymn of Christ” in Philippians 2:5-11. It said that Jesus, though he possessed the very nature of God, yet he did not cling to it, but became a lowly servant, born in a manger, and ultimately, went down to the vilest and most shameful death in the ancient world — crucifixion. Jesus died the death of a slave.

This shows us that humility lies at the very heart of God. The infinitely great God is humble — this boggles the mind. And in the end, God raised Jesus from the dead and gave him the name that is above every name. Humility leads to glory.

Humility is not just one of the virtues in Christianity. It is the cardinal virtue. It is the foundational virtue from which all other virtues flow. It is the mind of Christ, who out of love and obedience, lowered himself in service and sacrifice for his beloved people. And thus he sets an example for all who would follow him.