κενοδοξία (kenodoxia)
kenodoxia
empty conceit
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun kenodoxia describes a vain or groundless conceit, often translated as "empty pride" or "vainglory." It combines the idea of emptiness with opinion or reputation, pointing to an inflated self-view that lacks substance. This is not merely confidence; it is a hollow ambition for status that distracts from genuine humility.
Its single New Testament appearance in Philippians 2:3 instructs believers to "count others better than yourselves," directly opposing this spirit of empty pride. The context suggests that such conceit disrupts unity, whereas the alternative is a selfless regard for others. By rejecting kenodoxia, Christians are called to replace vain rivalry with mutual honor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word kenodoxia paints a picture of pride that is hollow at its core. It describes an inflated sense of self-worth that seeks attention but offers nothing of substance to others. When we chase this kind of empty reputation, we find ourselves isolated and anxious, constantly comparing our worth to those around us.
Philippians 2:3 offers a gentle but firm correction to this spirit. It invites us to shift our focus from our own status to the genuine value of others. This is not about thinking less of yourself, but about thinking of yourself less often. By counting others as significant, we break the cycle of rivalry that so easily divides communities.
Choosing humility does not mean denying your own gifts. It means using them to serve rather than to elevate yourself. This simple shift in perspective can bring peace to your relationships and clarity to your daily interactions, grounding your confidence in love rather than in the fleeting approval of people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- vain conceit1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κενοδοξίαν1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 2:3
doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
This verse explicitly links conceit with rivalry, showing how empty pride fuels competition and disrupts communal unity.