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.

Welcome to Biblical Perspectives on Narcissism.
This blog began with one simple burden: to understand pride, self-exaltation, and relational destruction in light of God’s Word. Over time, it has grown into a deeper journey—one that traces how God diagnoses the problem of the proud heart and offers a path toward healing and humility.

The Bible has always spoken about what modern psychology calls narcissism. Scripture calls it insolent pride—a heart that refuses correction, seeks its own glory, and resists the gentle authority of God. From Pharaoh to the Pharisees, from Haman to Herod, pride has always been at the root of ruin. Yet in every generation, God continues to oppose the proud and give grace to the humble.

This blog is not about labeling people. It’s about learning God’s ways—how He humbles the proud, lifts up the lowly, and teaches His children to reflect His character rather than our own image. Each post explores a different angle of that truth—sometimes from Scripture, sometimes from life, and often from hard-won lessons in relationships where pride collides with grace.

The journey flows out of what I explored in The First Will Be Last: that God’s kingdom reverses everything we think we know about greatness. The proud rise only to fall. The humble fall only to rise. In that reversal, we see both the justice and the mercy of God at work.

Whether you are studying narcissism biblically, walking through a painful relationship, or confronting your own pride before God, my hope is that you find here both truth that convicts and grace that restores.

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More by DC Robertsson

“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” — Psalm 13:1

David doesn’t start this psalm with faith. He starts with frustration. He doesn’t begin by declaring God’s goodness—he questions it. Four times he says, “How long?” He feels forgotten. Abandoned. Unheard.

And he tells God about it.

Sometimes we think faith is silent endurance. But the Bible shows us something else. Real faith brings its pain to God. Real trust laments. David wasn’t punished for this prayer—he was recorded in Scripture for it.

God can handle your questions. He’s not threatened by your honesty. He doesn’t withdraw when you bring your raw emotion to Him—in fact, that’s when He often draws near.

David ends the psalm not in despair, but in trust: “But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” He didn’t deny his pain. But he refused to let it define his view of God.

If God is silent, it does not mean He is absent. If He delays, it does not mean He doesn’t care. And if your prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, remember—they are still heard. Sometimes, the deepest prayers are those we barely manage to utter. Sometimes, God’s answer begins with our surrender.

When God doesn’t answer, don’t stop praying. Don’t stop hoping. Don’t stop trusting.

Cross-References:

• “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” — Psalm 40:1

• “Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice.” — Psalm 55:17

• “The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” — Psalm 34:17

Prayer Prompt:
Tell God exactly how you feel today—then choose to trust His heart.

📖 From the book: When God Is Silent: A 30-Day Devotional

(Updated and Expanded)

Jesus dealt with narcissists often. He didn’t use the word “narcissist,” of course. He used clearer ones—hypocrite, blind guide, whitewashed tomb, fool. But He knew what kind of people He was dealing with.

He didn’t try to counsel them into humility. He didn’t enter long, therapeutic conversations. He didn’t chase after them to win them back. He exposed them. He rebuked them. And then He walked away.

If you’re dealing with narcissists in your own life, Jesus gives you a model.

1. He Recognized Their Pride and Called It What It Was

Jesus didn’t flinch from naming what He saw. He told the Pharisees:

“You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.”
— Luke 16:15

They looked spiritual, but they were driven by image. They sat in the best seats and prayed long prayers—not because they loved God, but because they loved how they looked.

Jesus saw through it. And He called it detestable.

2. He Confronted Them Directly—Not Indefinitely

Jesus didn’t stay quiet. He confronted the narcissistic leaders of His day again and again—with precision and clarity.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.”
— Matthew 23:25

But He didn’t spend His whole ministry on them. He confronted them. Then He turned back to those who would listen.

He didn’t cast pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). He exposed the proud—but He didn’t entrust Himself to them.

3. He Walked Away from the Unrepentant

In John 8, after confronting the Pharisees with truth, He eventually left the temple. In Luke 23, when Herod tried to bait Him, Jesus answered him nothing.

There comes a time to stop talking.

Jesus modeled a boundary not rooted in bitterness, but in discernment. He wasn’t afraid of conflict—but He never let narcissists dictate the terms.

4. He Focused on the Willing, Not the Proud

Jesus didn’t waste His ministry trying to change hardened hearts. He said:

“It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
— Mark 2:17

Narcissists don’t believe they’re sick. So Jesus spent His time with the broken, the humble, the receptive.

He still does.

Takeaway: You Don’t Have to Fix the Narcissist

If you’re exhausted from trying to win over the narcissist in your life—stop. Follow Jesus’ example.

• See them for who they are

• Speak truth when needed

• Don’t get caught in endless arguments

• Let go and walk away when the Spirit leads

• Focus on the ones God has actually called you to love and serve

Jesus never begged narcissists to understand Him. And you don’t need to either.