Article April 9, 2007 Issue

humble saves the day

BY ELAINE FOLLIS

OK, HOW DOES this sound: Captain Humility, Superhero—maybe clad in beige burlap, with a "kick me" sign stuck to his back.

It doesn't sound quite right, does it? These days, people in the spotlight usually don't exemplify humility; it isn't a quality our culture values very highly. One reason may be a misunderstanding of what humility actually is. Wearing a "kick me" sign is the very antithesis of humility.

Humility and meekness are practically synonymous. Words such as modesty, respect, patience, and gentleness are close associates. In both Hebrew and Greek, the relevant words are derived from the idea of being or becoming low. George Mendenhall, a scholar specializing in early Hebrew history, notes that at a time when social class was strongly emphasized in Near Eastern cultures, the Hebrews rejected the idea of human aristocracy, in favor of subordination to divine authority. He adds that in New Testament literature, humility rarely refers to a person's property or other externals, but rather to the manner of his or her conduct toward God and toward other people. Humility, Mendenhall writes:"... does away with selfish pride, arrogance, and especially violence, and furnishes the possibility of peace and harmony within the community. It also, however, withdrew the normal foundations of authority in human society, which are usually to be found in prestige and power" (The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, vol.2, p. 659).