Narcissism is not new.
Long before psychology gave it a name, Scripture described it with precision: “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)

The Bible calls narcissism what it truly is — insolent pride. It is more than arrogance or selfishness; it is a deep inner posture that resists dependence on God and elevates the self as the ultimate standard. From Lucifer’s rebellion to Pharaoh’s hardness of heart, the pattern is the same: self-worship, self-justification, and eventually, self-destruction.

Modern language tends to soften narcissism into a personality pattern, but Scripture exposes it as a spiritual condition. It is the natural bent of the human heart apart from grace — “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25)

The proud heart does not simply want attention; it wants to be God-like without God. It refuses correction, deflects conviction, and blames others for the fallout of its own sin. And yet, even here, the mercy of God breaks through. The same God who opposes the proud also offers grace to the humble (James 4:6). His goal is not merely to expose pride but to redeem the person trapped in it.

In The First Will Be Last, I explored how God’s kingdom reverses the order of pride and humility. Narcissism exalts self and ends in ruin; humility surrenders self and ends in glory. God humbles the proud so that He may lift them up. This reversal is not punishment — it is redemption in motion.

When God allows the proud to fall, it is His severe mercy calling them to repentance. And when He raises up the humble, it is His gracious reward for hearts that have learned dependence.

So what is narcissism? It is the old lie of Eden, repackaged for every generation: “You will be like God.” (Genesis 3:5) And yet, through Christ, God offers a new way — to become like Christ instead. The path downward becomes the path upward. The cross becomes the cure for the disease of pride.