Humility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character

by Dennis R. Edwards

Publisher:

IVP Academic

, 2023

Overview

The modern church is immersed in a competitive, polarized, and status-driven society. It’s hard to have conversations about important issues when so many are defensive and unwilling to learn. Too often, Christians fall into these same traps. The health and witness of the church urgently depend on recovering an essential biblical virtue: humility.

New Testament scholar Dennis R. Edwards illuminates humility as a, if not the, distinctive identity marker of followers of Jesus. Tracing the theme throughout Scripture, he demonstrates how true humility is grounded in submission to God and becomes manifest in all areas of life. Edwards defuses common misconceptions about humility and explores its role in Christian community, conflict, leadership, suffering, worship, and stewardship.

As we learn from and honor the humble instead of the power-hungry, humility paradoxically empowers God’s people—including those who are often marginalized. Filled with stories from the author’s ministry experience, Humility Illuminated addresses common areas of leadership failure and how to avoid them, applies biblical texts on humility to multiethnic ministry and justice work, and issues a compelling challenge to the church.

Biblical humility is not a tactic, and it's not just “being nice.” It’s a revolutionary path to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Key Features

• Demonstrates how true humility is grounded in submission to God and becomes manifest in all areas of life
• Addresses common areas of leadership failure and how to avoid them
• Traces the theme of humility throughout Scripture

Contents

• Introduction: Rediscovering Humility for Our Times
• 1. Yielding: Where Humility Starts
• 2. Embodying: The Example of Jesus
• 3. Communing: Mutual Love Instead of Self-Promotion
• 4. Reconciling: Navigating Conflict
• 5. Shepherding: Setting an Example Through Service
• 6. Enduring: Putting Our Suffering into Perspective
• 7. Worshiping: Glorifying God with Our Whole Selves
• 8. Stewarding: Attitude More Than Obligation
• 9. Empowering: Power to the People Who Are Poor in Spirit
• Conclusion

Praise for the Print Edition

Dennis Edwards eloquently writes that the (all-but-extinct) virtue of humility ‘brings truth’s light by throwing back the shutters of arrogance and opening the window of curiosity.’ Similarly, this wonderful book—by someone who embodies its subject—offers a window into the multifaceted Christian identity marker of humility before God and others, throwing back the shutters of distortion and misunderstanding. Well-researched, wise, and highly readable, this is a timely book for all Christians in an age of competition, self-promotion, and division.

—Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, Maryland

Our ultracompetitive culture encourages us to outstrip others in quests for social status and prestige, and these temptations affect individual Christians and the ethos of church communities. In Humility Illuminated, Dennis Edwards provides a rich treatment of how Scripture prizes humility as both internal disposition and social practice. He draws on his many years of pastoral experience to wisely counsel readers on how to follow Jesus in the way of humility, which enriches our common humanity, connects us intimately to others, and generates hope.

—Timothy Gombis, author of Power in Weakness: Paul’s Transformed Vision for Ministry

Product Details

• Title: Humility Illuminated: The Biblical Path Back to Christian Character
• Author: Dennis R. Edwards
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2023
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 188
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Humility › Religious aspects--Christianity; Humility › Biblical teaching; Character › Religious aspects--Christianity; Character › Biblical teaching; Christian leadership
• ISBNs: 9781514000441, 9781514000458, 151400044X, 1514000458
• Resource ID: LLS:HMLTYILLMNTD
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-11-02T17:29:15Z

About Dennis R. Edwards

Dennis R. Edwards is Associate Professor of New Testament at North Park Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL) and the author of 1 Peter in the Story of God Bible Commentary series. Dennis has served as a pastor in Minneapolis, MN, Washington, DC, and Brooklyn, NY. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering (Cornell University) and has been a high school science and math teacher. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree in Urban Ministry (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) as well as Master of Arts and PhD degrees in Biblical Studies (Catholic University of America). Dennis is married to Susan Steele Edwards, and they are the parents of four children. Dennis enjoys playing his flute and saxophone, as well as weightlifting, cycling, and playing racquetball as much as possible.