"Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil" (I Timothy 3:6).

This sober warning is in the listed qualifications expected of a bishop (probably the same church office as pastor or elder). Such church leaders should never assume they are "lords over God's heritage," but rather "ensamples to the flock" (I Peter 5:3). It could be applied also to any other Christian leader. Pride in one's position, or wealth, or education, or anything else can become a real danger if such achievements are not kept in proper perspective.

But the pride spoken of in the above text is a particularly deadly type of pride. It was the pride which led Satan to think he could actually take the place of God, resulting in his age-long war against God. It is the Greek word tupho, defined as "to make a smoke" (Strong's Concordance). Some translations render it as "puffed up."

It is used only two other times in the New Testament, once in reference to men who reject God's words. "If any man . . . consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud [Greek, tupho], knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh . . . evil surmisings" (I Timothy 6:3-4).

The other is in Paul's list of the anti-God characteristics of many men of the last days: "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, . . . . heady, highminded [Greek, tupho]" (II Timothy 3:2,4).

This type of pride is not mere conceit or boasting, though these are sinful enough. This is the sin which has led Satan and multitudes of men and women to believe they can reject or ignore the words of their Creator, in effect becoming little "gods" themselves. "From such turn away" (II Timothy 3:5). HMM