Dr Paul Allen

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” ( Philippians 2:3 ) In this verse, Paul challenged us to refrain from any “strife” or “vainglory”—words that seem a bit stern in the colloquial terms of our day. Eritheia  is the Greek word for “strife”—a contentious political maneuvering for greater power. “ Vainglory ” is similar. It comes from the Greek word  kenodoxia , an empty pride or groundless glory. Both are rather unpleasant descriptions of the foolish and sinful human behavior that is seen all too often among God’s people: “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” ( Galatians  5:26 ). On the contrary, we are challenged to “esteem” the others in our fellowship as “better than” ourselves. The precise words in this instruction insist that we are to use deliberate and careful judgment in our evaluation of others in our relationships as being more “excel