ACC ~ 1 Timothy 3 v6b

SUBVERTING THE TYRANNY OF PRIDE. CHRYSOSTOM: Indeed, nothing so estranges from the mercy of God and gives over to the fire of hell as the tyranny of pride. … Therefore, let us check this puffing up of the soul, and let us cut out this tumor, if we wish to be pure and be rid of the punishment prepared for the devil. Listen to Paul declaring that the proud must suffer those very penalties: “Not a new convert, lest he be puffed up with pride and incur the condemnation passed on the devil.” HOMILIES ON JOHN 9.2.

LOSING THE BLESSING PROMISED TO HUMILITY. BASIL THE GREAT: His rank should not arouse feelings of pride in the superior, lest he himself lose the blessing promised to humilityor “lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the judgment of the devil.” THE LONG RULES, Q.30.R.

CONDEMNED WITH THE DEVIL. AUGUSTINE: What does Paul mean by saying “or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil”? It doesn’t mean he is to be judged by the devil but that he is to be condemned with the devil. The devil, after all, won’t be our judge. He himself fell through pride. Like him, one who has become godless on account of pride will be condemned to everlasting fire. We are to consider carefully, Paul is saying, to whom a position of eminence is given in the church, lest the person being lifted up should through pride fall into the very judgment into which the devil fell. SERMONS 340A.2.

PRIDE INJURES OTHERS. JEROME: Realize how evil pride is from the very fact that there is no excuse for it. Other vices harm only those who commit them. Pride inflicts far more injury on everyone. I am saying all this lest you consider pride a trifling sin. What, in fact, does the apostle say? “Lest he incur the condemnation passed on the devil.” The man who is puffed up with his own importance falls into the judgment of the devil. HOMILIES 95.

1 Tim