Bible Strands
Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Philippians, pressing the call to unity (2:2) into concrete behavioral terms. The verse sits between the demand to be like-minded and the command to look to others' interests (2:4).
The words — ἐριθεὺς (eritheian, "self-interest") and κενοδοξία (kenodoxian, "vain conceit") name the two vices Paul forbids. The BSB softens them to "selfish ambition" and "empty pride," but the Greek is more pointed: eritheia is rivalry driven by self, kenodoxia is hollow self-glorification.
The thread — Romans 12:10 and Ephesians 5:21 press the same direction: mutual honor and submission. Galatians 5:26 warns against the opposite—conceit and envy among believers.
Why it lands — It names the two impulses that fracture a community and replaces them with a single orientation: others first. It is the condition for the unity Paul has just demanded, not an optional refinement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Cross-references
- Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
- Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- 1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- James 3:14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
- James 4:5 Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?
- Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
- Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Galatians 5:15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.