How do we put on humility (Colossians 3:12)?

In Colossians 3:12, the apostle Paul calls believers to “put on humility” as part of a broader transformation, where Christians embrace their new identity in Jesus by adopting Christlike virtues. Paul employs the metaphor of donning new clothes to depict the change that occurs when one becomes a follower of Christ. As Christians, we discard our “old sinful nature” and “former way of life, which is corrupted” by sin and put on our “new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:22–24, NLT; see also Romans 13:12–14; Colossians 3:5–10; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

Putting on humility involves cultivating an inward attitude of meekness and lowliness. Paul used the Greek noun tapeinophrosynēn, translated as “humility.” It literally suggests “lowliness of mind” and requires more than an outward show of humility. What’s needed is a genuine inner disposition that acknowledges one’s spiritual bankruptcy and complete dependence on God’s grace. Paul used the word again in another epistle: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3–4).

The apostle Peter gave similar instructions: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5). Putting on humility shows our willingness to place the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ before our own.

True Christian humility is rooted in the example of Jesus Christ. In obedient submission to His Father, Jesus humbled Himself for humanity’s sake: “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being . . . and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8, NLT). Jesus laid down all self-interest to serve others.

To put on humility, we must copy the pattern Christ set:

Obedience

We put on humility through obedience. Jesus was obedient to His human parents (Luke 2:51) and to His heavenly Father in every way (John 5:30; Philippians 2:8). He submitted to God, even when it hurt and cost Him everything (Matthew 26:39; 1 Peter 2:23). Our Savior calls us to do the same (Matthew 19:17; John 15:10; 1 John 2:5; Ephesians 6:6).

Dependence on God

We put on humility when we recognize our human helplessness, both physical and spiritual, and depend wholly on God (Psalm 46:1; Mark 10:14–15; John 5:19, 30; 17:7; Romans 5:6). We admit that everything we have is a gracious gift from God and that we cannot boast in our own merit or worthiness (John 3:27; Ephesians 2:5, 8–9; 1 Corinthians 1:28–29; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5; James 1:17). We understand that God can be trusted to meet our needs (Psalm 18:6; Hebrews 4:16; Philippians 4:19), keep us safe (Psalm 23; Hebrews 13:6), and give us strength (Philippians 4:13). When we humbly submit to the Lord’s sovereignty, we acknowledge that our life, our plans, and our future are ultimately in His hands.

Forgiveness

We put on humility when we appreciate the costly significance of God’s forgiveness of us through Jesus Christ and extend that forgiveness to others. When someone offends us, we should do everything in our power to seek reconciliation and graciously offer forgiveness (see Matthew 18:15–20; Luke 6:37; Colossians 3:13). Paul urged the Ephesians to “be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32, NLT).

Service

We put on humility when we follow Christ’s example of servanthood. Jesus told His disciples, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11) and “whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:44–45). True greatness in God’s kingdom belongs to those with a heart to serve others (see Mark 9:35). When Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:1–20), that humble act showed us how we are to love and serve one another in lowliness of heart and mind (see John 13:15–17).

We put on humility by adopting the same attitude and mindset as Jesus Christ (see Philippians 2:5). We “walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2). We become imitators of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:6) who humbly “follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).