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God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble: James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5

What Christian writers said, from about AD 370 to 1930.

45 passages · 27 writers · 8 centuries

The short answer

The writers say God sets himself against the proud and gives grace to the humble, and several note that Scripture says this in Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5. Calvin says God announces himself as the enemy of the proud, Spurgeon says that wherever God sees pride lifting itself on high he resolves to level it in the dust, and Watson says the proud man is the mark God shoots at. Law says the resistance is on man's side, since pride rejects God and humility opens the heart to him, and Aquinas says humility removes the obstacle of pride so that a man is open to grace. Barnes says the humble receive grace because they feel their need, Spurgeon says humility is the Grace that attracts more Grace, and Tauler says he who would receive from above must place himself beneath in true humility. Augustine fears that a man pleased with himself will not please God, who resists the proud, and Whitefield says that being proud of grace is the most ready way to lose it.

God sets himself against the proud

20 passages · 12 writers · 300s to 1800s

Calvin, Spurgeon, Watson, and Augustine say God opposes the proud. Calvin and Spurgeon say he brings down their pride, and Augustine says he is rightly called the adversary of those whom he resists.

413–426 · Augustine of Hippo, City of God 19.27

Amidst these temptations, therefore, of all which it has been summarily said in the divine oracles, “Is not human life upon earth a temptation?” who but a proud man can presume that he so lives that he has no need to say to God, “Forgive us our debts?” And such a man is not great, but swollen and puffed up with vanity, and is justly resisted by Him who abundantly gives grace to the humble. Whence it is said, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.”

1561 · John Calvin, Commentary on Daniel, part 1 (chapters 1-6) 4.30

As Nebuchadnezzar here extols himself and opposes the strength of his fortitude to God and his grace, this boasting was by no means to be endured. Hence it happened that God was so very angry with him. And thus we perceive how this example proves to us what Scripture always inculcates, — God’s resistance of the proud, his humbling their superciliousness, and his detestation of their arrogance. (Psalm 18:27.) Thus God everywhere announces himself as the enemy of the proud, and he confirms it by the present example, as if he set before us in a mirror the reflection of his own judgment.

1692 · Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity, Contained in Sermons upon the Westminster Assembly's Catechism 5.6

The proud man is the mark which God shoots at, and he never misses the mark. He threw proud Lucifer out of heaven; he thrust proud Nebuchadnezzar out of his throne, and turned him to eat grass. Dan 4:45. Oh then be like Christ in humility!

1883 · Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons, Volume 29 (1883) 1733

Wherever God sees pride lifting itself on high, He resolves to level it in the dust! He draws His bow, He fits His arrow to the string—and pride is the target that He shoots at. The more pride enters into the Christian's heart, the less Grace will enter there—and the more opposition from God will come—for pride is never so hateful to God as when He sees it in His own people.

Grace given to the humble

16 passages · 13 writers · 300s to 1900s

Barnes says God gives grace to the humble because they feel their need of his favor. Wright says grace, as opposed to disgrace, is honour, and that where God gives grace to be humble he will give more grace. Tauler says he who would receive from above must place himself beneath in true humility, and Boston says humility and lowliness of spirit qualify us for friendly communion with God in Christ.

c. 392–422 · Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms (Enarrationes in Psalmos) 94.12

For in another Psalm he thus saith, “Thou hast cast them down, while they were being exalted.” He said not, Thou hast cast them down, because they were exalted; or, Thou hast cast them down, after they were exalted; so that the period of their exaltation be one, of their casting down another: but in the very act of their exaltation were they cast down. For in proportion as the heart of man is proud, so doth it recede from God; and if it recede from God, it sinketh down into the deep. On the other hand, the humble heart bringeth God unto it from heaven, so that He becometh very near unto it.

c. 1714 · S. Wright, Commentary on James 4.1-10

The honour and help God gives to the humble. Grace, as opposed to disgrace, is honour; this God gives to the humble; and, where God gives grace to be humble, there he will give all other graces, and, as in the beginning of this sixth verse, he will give more grace. Wherever God gives true grace, he will give more; for to him that hath, and useth what he hath aright, more shall be given. He will especially give more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, will pray for it and be thankful for it; and such shall have it.

1834 · Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible: James 4.6

But giveth grace unto the humble - The meaning is, that he shows them favor; he bestows upon them the grace needful to secure their salvation. This he does: (1) because they feel their need of his favor; (2) because they will welcome his teaching and value his friendship; (3) because all the arrangements of his grace are adapted only to such a state of mind. You cannot teach one who is so wise that he already supposes he knows enough; you cannot bestow grace on one who has no sense of the need of it. The arrangements of salvation are adapted only to an humble heart.

The text, its source, and why it is so

9 passages · 8 writers · 300s to 1900s

Owen says it is asserted three times in Scripture, in Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, and 1 Peter 5:5, and Robertson says the Greek word for "resisteth" is an old military term meaning to range in battle against. Law says the resistance is on the part of man, and Aquinas says humility expels pride and makes man open to receive grace.

391–430 · Augustine of Hippo, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (Sermones 51-147) 81.3

And therefore Holy Scripture teaching us humility saith by the Apostle, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” And lest hereupon they should attribute ought to themselves, because he said, “Work,” he subjoined immediately, “For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” “It is God who worketh in you;” therefore “with fear and trembling,” make a valley, receive the rain. Low grounds are filled, high grounds are dried up. Grace is rain. Why dost thou marvel then, if “God resist the proud, and giveth grace unto the lowly”? Therefore, “with fear and trembling;” that is, with humility.

1265–1273 · Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica II-II, q. 161, a. 5, ad 2

First by way of removing obstacles: and thus humility holds the first place, inasmuch as it expels pride, which "God resisteth," and makes man submissive and ever open to receive the influx of Divine grace. Hence it is written (James 4:6): "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." In this sense humility is said to be the foundation of the spiritual edifice.

1749–1750 · William Law, The Spirit of Prayer 2.2

We are told, that "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." This is not to be understood, as if God, by an arbitrary will, only chose to deal thus with the proud and humble man. Oh no. The true ground is this, the resistance is on the part of man. Pride resisteth God, it rejects him, it turns from him; whereas humility leaves all for God, falls down before him, and opens all the doors of the heart for his entrance into it. This is the only sense, in which God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

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