Triple Threat

The New Testament rejects boasters (Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:2), and so it is not surprising that it also condemns the sin of boasting. The word is aladzoneia, and is rendered as boasting once and as pride once. The man who thinks he controls his own life, and who is going to go here or there, do this or that, and make money, and all without reference to God, is guilty of a great sin. “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil” (James 4:16). And John condemns this particular swelling as well. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). This triad of sins matches the first temptation in the Garden nicely — the forbidden fruit was good to eat (lust of the flesh), delightful to look upon (lust of the eyes), and able to make one wise (pride of life). There is also a strong connection to our triple enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil.