Retrieving Humility

“Steve Pardue brings years of meditation and research on humility to bear in this incredibly clear, rich, accessible, and practical guide. He not only clarifies what humility is through thoughtful engagement with Scripture and the Christian tradition but also shows in a compelling way how cultivating humility helps us navigate modern issues like interreligious dialogue and information overload. Pardue is a very wise guide, and I highly recommend his brief but deep book.”
—Uche Anizor, Professor of Theology, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

“In Retrieving Humility, Dr. Pardue skillfully weaves together voices from church history, philosophy, and Scripture as he explores the inward and outward tensions that arise in our understanding and pursuit of humility. With both scholarly depth and pastoral warmth, he offers insights that challenge the mind and nourish the soul. This book will be a delight to both the thoughtful scholar and the casual reader alike.”
—Chad Williams, Senior Pastor, Union Church of Manila

“Once there was no humility. Then Jesus and the Christian movement instilled humility at the center of public virtue. More recently, discontents have raised a number of serious charges against humility even as wider culture devalues it. Steve Pardue helps all of us retrieve the true nature of humility modelled on Christ’s own and to learn from responding to its varied critics.”
—Michael Allen, John Dyer Trimble Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

“Retrieving Humility is a timely and thoughtful work that brings together theological depth and pastoral insight with remarkable balance. Grounded in Scripture and enriched by the wisdom of the early church, Stephen T. Pardue calls the global church to rediscover humility as a Christ-shaped way of life. This is not an appeal to passivity, but an invitation to a posture formed by Jesus that nurtures faithful discipleship, sustains courageous witness, and restores communities fractured by pride and fear. Written with care and precision, the book speaks across cultures and ministry contexts. It will serve pastors, leaders, students, and believers who seek to follow Christ with conviction, gentleness, and integrity, offering a vision of faith that is both truthful and transformative.”
—Finny Philip, Vice President, Filadelfia Bible College, Udaipur, India

“Over the years, many people have asked me to recommend a book that could serve as an ‘antidote’ to pride. While we have access to profound wisdom from both Scripture and church history, these insights often require a bridge to help them speak clearly to the challenges of our times. I have finally found a book that does exactly that. It draws from some of the best biblical and historical sources while grappling with the real-world complexities of humility and pride—particularly within the Christian experience. Whether you tend to take humility for granted or view it with suspicion, this book will reawaken your interest in the virtue and highlight its essential role in both faithful discipleship and bearing joyful witness to the gospel.”
—Beatrice Victoria Ang, Director, Center for Theological Inquiry in Asia