Literally, “being above,” “excelling.” Compare on Rom. 12:10. Humility fixes its eye upon another’s excellences and judges him from this point of view. The truly humble man is sensible of his own defects, but realizes that he does not have the same clear view of the defects of others. It is natural for those who have any just sense of the defects of their own souls to hope that it is not so with others and to believe that they have purer hearts. This leads them to feel that others are deserving of greater respect than themselves. A truly pious man will always be a humble man and will wish that others should be preferred in office and honor. This will not make him blind to other’s defects when they are manifested, but he will personally be modest and unobtrusive. This Christian standard rebukes inordinate love of office and helps to produce contentment wherever the providence of God may have cast our lot (cf. on Phil. 4:11, 12).

Rather, “others.”

Gr. hēgeomai, “to consider,” “to deem,” implying a weighing of the facts.

 Gr. tapeinophrosunē, “humility,” “modesty,” from tapeinos, “humble,” “lowly,” and phroneō, “to think,” hence, to have a humble opinion of oneself. Tapeinophrosunē is used in a derogatory sense by secular writers, and Paul, in Col. 2:18, 23, employs it for humility wrongly directed. But in Acts 20:19; Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12, the word bears its special Christian meaning of “humility of mind.” Christianity has raised lowliness to a new position, as one of the most attractive features of the character. The one who is truly humble is not aware of his humility. He simply estimates himself rightly in his relation to God and the plan of salvation.

Gr. kenodoxia, “empty pride,” “groundless self-esteem,” “conceit,” from kenos, “empty,” and doxa, “opinion.” Nothing of permanent good will be accomplished through work done in such a spirit as Paul here describes. We are to form no plan and aim at no goal that is prompted by selfish ambition or a desire to outdo others. Nothing, not even for an end that is good in itself, is pleasing to God if prompted by these motives.

Gr. eritheia, “selfishness,” “selfish ambition,” “partisanship,” “factiousness.”