I did not find the word “Narcissist” in the Bible. However, I did discover that the word was developed from Greek mythology in around the time of Christ, so it would not have made itself into the Old Testament. However, synonyms of narcissist are ego-maniac, self-centered and egotist. I could not find any of those words precisely in the versions of the Bible I frequent, but I did find the old reliable: selfish.
Selfish is mentioned several times in the Bible so it could be synonymous with the more modern terns, including narcissist.
Here are some examples from Scripture that mention “selfish”.
Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
And do not desire his delicacies;
7 For as he calculates in his soul, so he is.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
But his heart is not with you. – Proverbs 23:6-7
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger. 9 There will be affliction and turmoil for every soul of man who works out evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek. – Romans 2:7-9
19 All this time you think we are defending ourselves to you. We speak in Christ in the sight of God. And all these things, beloved, are for your building up. 20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality which they have practiced. – 2 Corinthians 12:19-21
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. – Galatians 5:19-21
16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me affliction in my chains. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. – Philippians 1:16-18
2 fulfill my joy, that you think the same way, by maintaining the same love, being united in spirit, thinking on one purpose, 3 doing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves, 4 not merely looking out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. – Philippians 2:2-4
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. -James 3:13-15
15 This wisdom is not coming down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruits, without doubting, without hypocrisy. – James 3:15-17
The following examples are rooted in selfish or narcissistic attitudes. Some might resonate with you:
Let me talk about me
Now you can talk about… me
You are not meeting my needs
Another word that is frequently points to narcissistic attitudes: A person who tends towards believing they are entitled to special treatment.
Before we start looking at specks in other people’s eyes, know that, we all fall short of the glory of God. We are all sinners and need God’s grace in order to be saved.
We’ve all have a natural tendency to want to save our own hides. Some may call self-preservation a natural behavior. It’s the anti-social to chronically not help others for the sake of preserving one’s own self interests. Correcting sinful behavior desires self-awareness and repentance.
For those who do and have been self-sacrificial to protect the well-being of others, that shows you the ability to steer in the right direction, but if you are self-sacrificing without seeking obedience to God, your noble behavior is in danger of being idolatrous behavior. This can happen when we think our intentions are “good” like when we place our children or other self-interest higher than obedience to God’s will.
We may feel noble just because our feelings and our conscience have been appeased. If you stray from the objective moral laws defined by God, and believe in your own goodness, you are highly likely guilty of idolatry, violating the Second Commandment.
Christ is holy and righteous and came to live a sinless life. In the Gospels, Christ offers examples for us to gravitate towards to become more like Christ. Christ is also referred to being a “suffering servant” (Isaiah 53).
Jesus often taught the disciples important lessons in humility. Arrogance and self-pride are at odds with being a follower of Christ.
Following Jesus, the disciples mistakenly had the idea that they would be high officials in the upcoming reign of the Messiah. They thought the Savior, as many of the Jews believed, would free Israel from the rule of the Roman Empire. In other words, most people’s idea of a Messiah was one of a a political leader who would free Israel from their pagan conquerors.
It was not until after the Resurrection that the disciples would understand that there was something far greater than liberation from the Romans. It was the ability for every man, no matter from which people, nation, tribe or tongue, to be restored in a right eternal relationship with God. It is by faith in Christ’s and His work for our Salvation, that we can be restored a right relationship with God and to avoid hell (eternal separation from God).
One of the most famous anti-selfish lessons Jesus offered His disciples and to us in when he washed the disciples’ feet.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He tied it around Himself.
5 Then He *poured water into the washbasin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel which He had tied around Himself. 6 So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not realize now, but you will understand afterwards.” 8 Peter *said to Him, “You will never wash my feet—ever!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and [b]you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 18 I do not speak about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 From now on I am telling you before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives anyone I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” – John 13:1-20
If the Creator of the universe, the Lord of lords and King of kings sees fit to perform the task of a slave, we must alarm ourselves when exhibiting arrogance, narcissistic attitudes, self-pride, and selfishness in our efforts to serve others and to fulfill God’s will.
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
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Bible passages from the Legacy Standard Version
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1-26-24