Being Proud / Pride (2 Corinthians 7:4)

[CatholicSpirit]

If someone is suffering from scruples, they might take words that cause “good feelings” and not use them due to stress that comes from it. Of course, pride or proud is constantly associated with Satan for the misinformed. As it turns out, it is actually perfectly fine to be proud of someone and even use that word directly. I just learned this from Saint Paul the Apostle in 2 Corinthians 7:4. He says he is actually proud of the reader and there seems to be nothing wrong with it after all.

Does anyone else or has anyone else ever suffered with this word in their spirituality? Maybe others we can investigate?

 

[Kei]

I for one don’t like to say “fool” or say “praise” or “adore” in any aspect that is not worship.

 

[CatholicSpirit]

The word adore I apply to babies like “so adorable.” There was a loss of it’s meaning slightly for some with a smashing pumpkins song though, applying it to screwed up relationships is not a good idea imo. Worship is a majorly serious word which I’m glad still retains meaning. To me it’s sad if a person is afraid to show how proud they are of someone because they associate it with evil, scruples are hard on everyone I guess.

 

[RandomAlias]

1 Corinthians 7:4

You meant 2 Corinthians 7:4.

I have great confidence in you, I have great pride in you; I am filled with encouragement, I am overflowing with joy all the more because of all our affliction.
New American Bible, Revised Edition

Compare that to an older translation:

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
King James Version

Evidently Paul was filled with joy and satisfaction with the Corinthians, and he wanted to praise them. He may have been pleased with himself, that he played a part in their repentance and spiritual growth. This is a kind of pride. However, it was tempered with humility, which consists of knowing the truth about yourself and your place in God’s plan. Paul was well aware that all his efforts would amount to nothing if not for the power of God which was at work in the Corinthian Christian community.

 

[RandomAlias]

Getting back to your question: Like Paul, we too can be pleased, and rightly so, with our growth in faith and holiness, as long as we recognize that we can only accomplish it with God’s gift of grace. God provides what we need, and he is always there to lead us on the right path.

But it’s not just God. We play a part too. When we cooperate in God’s plan, things work better, and it’s okay to feel good about that. It’s okay to recognize the good in ourselves. It is okay to feel joy and peace when we are in a right relationship with God.

 

[CatholicSpirit]

Amen, God shows his best through us in many ways. I believe through considerate prayers for others.