What Greeks Hate
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:3-5 NASB
Humility of mind – Even this translation indicates how much we as Westerners hate the idea of tapeinos. The Greek text does not include “of mind.” That has been added by the translators. One must ask why. What is the difference between tapeinos as “humility” and tapeinos as “humility of mind”? Obviously, the second does not require outward physical demonstration. All I have to do is think of myself as less than another. I am not required to actually demonstratesubservience. This tiny change is perhaps the result of a very long Western hatred of self-abasement, as we shall see.
The Greeks used tapeinos in usually negative fashion. For them it meant weakness, poverty of character, insignificance. The Greeks prized personal liberty. Tapeinos was exactly the opposite, a word that described someone who was servile, hindered in becoming truly free and virtuous, someone who was oppressed and humiliated. These conditions were intolerable to the Greeks and so tapeinos was never a state they would deliberately seek.
The LXX, however, uses tapeinos is a very different way. While it translated several Hebrew terms, tapeinos generally describes the action, not the state, of humbling oneself before a superior or before God. It is not about denigrating character. It is a decision to show respect, to bow down, to demonstrate a humble attitude of heart. In Hebrew thought, tapeinos is something I do, not something I am. In fact, showing humility is a positive expression of character. Of course, this is not just a cognitive event. It has real physical consequences. In Greek I might be humble in mind, but in Hebrew I will have to bend my knee.
In the end it comes down to ego. In a Greek world, ego reduction is considered a sign of weakness. “Stand up and fight for yourself” is the Greek idea of character building. Deliberately placing yourself in a subservient position only means you are a coward, a weakling, unworthy. No self-respecting person would even allow someone else to walk all over him and anyone who does is considered undeserving of honor. In the Greek world, ego reigns supreme. Of course, Christians have been taught that humility is a good thing. We inherited the Hebrew way of viewing this word. But Christian teaching doesn’t always result in transformed lives, especially when we live in a culture that prizes ego boasting and debases weakness. We find it difficult, uncomfortable and perhaps demeaning to lower ourselves in front of others. Our egos rebel. We want to be recognized as important, not as weaklings. The Greek world that surrounds us often overcomes our religious education. People rarely win ego battles. When Paul used tapeinos, he basically insulted every Greek reader. I wonder if we feel the same barb.
Topical Index: tapeinos, humility, ego, Philippians 2:3-5
