A positive assessment of one's own abilities and resources. Scripture censures excessive self-confidence, in that such an attitude lacks humility and fails to recognise the role of God's grace in the Christian life.
Excessive self-confidence
In one's own abilities
Isaiah 28:15; Matthew 26:33–35 parallels Mark 14:29–31, Luke 23:33–34, John 13:37–38 See also Luke 22:33–34; Judges 16:20; 1 Kings 20:11; 2 Kings 19:23–24; Job 8:13–14; Psalm 49:5–6; Jeremiah 17:5; Hosea 12:8
For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.”
Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.
Excessive self-confidence leads to pride
Isaiah 9:9–10; Obadiah 1:3 See also Genesis 11:4, Genesis 37:5; Exodus 15:9; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Proverbs 16:18; Isaiah 16:6; Ezekiel 28:2; Acts 8:9; Romans 11:17–18; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 1 John 2:16
All the people will know it — Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say: “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’
Challenges to excessive self-confidence
Nehemiah 6:16; 1 Corinthians 4:7 See also Psalm 49:12–13, Psalm 52:7; Proverbs 3:5–7, Proverbs 11:28, Proverbs 28:26; Isaiah 5:21, Isaiah 14:13–15; Jeremiah 49:7, Jeremiah 49:4–5; James 4:13–16
When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and disheartened, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God.
For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Excessive self-confidence is a barrier to justification
Accurate self-confidence
Of one's natural advantages
Philippians 3:4–6 See also Acts 22:3, Acts 22:28
though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
Of one's experience of God
2 Corinthians 12:2 See also Acts 22:4–21; 2 Corinthians 12:1, 2 Corinthians 13:5–6; Galatians 1:13–17, Galatians 6:4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows.
Of one's calling to serve
2 Corinthians 10:8 See also 2 Corinthians 10:13–17; Galatians 2:7
For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.
Of one's service
Acts 20:19; Romans 12:3 See also Acts 20:18, Acts 20:20–21; 1 Corinthians 9:15–18; 2 Corinthians 1:12; Philippians 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:1–12
I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, especially in the trials that came upon me through the plots of the Jews.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
Of one's own weakness
2 Corinthians 11:29–30 See also 2 Corinthians 11:21–28, 2 Corinthians 12:9
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with grief? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Accurate self-estimates lead to justification
Justified self-confidence may appear as pride
In this confident boasting of mine, I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
Jesus Christ's accurate assessment of himself
Matthew 16:15–17 parallels Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20–21 See also Matthew 26:62–64; John 13:13
“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
The proper source of all confidence
Jeremiah 9:23–24 See also Psalm 34:2, Psalm 44:6–7; Isaiah 10:15; 1 Corinthians 1:27–31
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth — for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.