Last updated: 2026-05-01
Is Pride and Arrogance a Sin?
Quick Answer
Yes, pride and arrogance is considered sin in Christianity.
Author: IsItASin Editorial Team · Last updated:
Yes, pride and arrogance is considered sin in Christianity. Proverbs 16:18 — 'Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.' This is a sin matter in Christianity with clear guidance for believers.
What Christianity Teaches About Pride and Arrogance
Christianity considers Pride and Arrogance to be a sin — a subject of guidance in the biblical tradition.
Wondering what other faiths teach?
Christian Denominations: How They Differ on Pride and Arrogance
Catholic Church
Pride is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins. The Catechism (1866) lists it first among the capital sins. St. Augustine called pride 'the commencement of all sin.' It is the sin that turned Lucifer from an angel to the devil.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Protestant Churches
Proverbs 16:18 ('Pride goes before destruction') and James 4:6 ('God opposes the proud') are central. Protestant theology, especially Reformed traditions, strongly emphasizes human depravity and the need for humility.
Holy Bible (Protestant canon)
Eastern Orthodox
Pride (hyperphania) is considered the root of all passions in Orthodox theology. St. John Climacus places it as the last and worst step of the Ladder. The Philokalia, a central Orthodox spiritual text, extensively discusses humility as the cure for pride.
Orthodox Church Tradition
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What Christianity Teaches About Pride and Arrogance
Pride holds a unique position in Christian theology as the original sin — the root from which all other sins grow. Augustine taught that it was pride that caused the angels to fall, and Thomas Aquinas called pride the 'queen of all vices.' Pride is the refusal to acknowledge one's dependence on God, the assertion of self-sufficiency, and the elevation of self above others and above God. It manifests in many ways: intellectual pride (knowing better than God), moral pride (thinking yourself better than others), and spiritual pride (using religious devotion to feel superior). The Christian antidote is humility — modeled perfectly by Jesus, who 'humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross' (Philippians 2:8).
Biblical References
- Proverbs 16:18 — 'Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.'
- James 4:6 — 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'
- Proverbs 6:16-17 — 'There are six things the Lord hates... haughty eyes.'
- Philippians 2:3 — 'Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.'
Key Teachings
| Teaching | Scripture Reference | Practical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. | Proverbs 16:18 | Pursue humility in all relationships. |
| God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. | James 4:6 | Pursue humility in all relationships. |
| There are six things the Lord hates... haughty eyes. | Proverbs 6:16-17 | Pursue humility in all relationships. |
| Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. | Philippians 2:3 | Pursue humility in all relationships. |
What You Should Do
- Examine yourself honestly — where does pride show up in your life? In your achievements? Your appearance? Your knowledge? Your religious devotion?
- Christian: Meditate on Philippians 2:3-8. Practice serving others anonymously. Confess your pride to God and ask for the gift of humility.
- Find someone to be honest with about your struggles — pride thrives in isolation and secrecy.
- Serve in ways that receive no recognition. Volunteer behind the scenes. The practice of hidden service kills pride.
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Is self-confidence the same as pride?
No.
No. All three faiths distinguish between healthy self-respect (recognizing your God-given worth and abilities) and sinful pride (believing you are inherently superior to others or independent of God). Confidence says 'I can do this.' Pride says 'I am better than you.'
What about taking pride in your work or children?
Being pleased with accomplishment or your children's achievements is natural and good.
Being pleased with accomplishment or your children's achievements is natural and good. The sin is when this pleasure becomes an inflated sense of self, or when you look down on others whose achievements are different.
Can pride be the root of other sins?
Christian theology specifically teaches this — pride leads to envy (I deserve what they have), anger (how dare they slight me), greed (I deserve more), and so on.
Christian theology specifically teaches this — pride leads to envy (I deserve what they have), anger (how dare they slight me), greed (I deserve more), and so on.
