We come now to the third evil attribute, boastful, followed closely by the next attribute, arrogance. We may note that the first two attributes, to be lovers of self and lovers of money are directed only to self for self-pleasure. It is a self-idolatry or self-worship. Now, in addition to this self-pleasure and self-idolatry, men also in these evil times take on the evils of boastfulness and arrogance, which is more outgoing—or an evil designed to build up self.
The term boastful comes from the Greek word alazones and has the meaning of “empty pretender.” In other words, it is a person that tries to exaggerate his importance or greatness. He is an empty braggart, but tries desperately to convince others of his greatness. The fourth attribute arrogance has a similar meaning: to speak pridefully of themselves; but they genuinely believe they are better than others; hence, this word for arrogance, hypereephanoi, may also be translated “haughty.” While the boastful man tries to impress others with words, the arrogant or haughty person is convinced (by deception) of his own greatness and acts with contempt toward those around him.
Now, let’s concentrate on this attribute boastful. The Greek word for boastful is found only in 2 Timothy 3:2 and in Romans 1:30. In the Romans passage you really get the flavor for its evil. In this passage (from verses 24 to 32) it speaks of those whom God gives up to their degrading passions: those with a depraved mind, who are filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents…”
As you can see, this Romans list is very similar to the list in 2 Timothy. And so, we may conclude that they are both speaking of what people are like in the last days—which are these days, and which are getting worse and worse.
Here are a few more verses on boasting that I found in the Old Testament that may also shine some light on its basic meaning. In all the following verses the word translated boast and boastful are from the Hebrew word halal having the meaning, “To shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus, to be foolish.” This word seems similar to the Greek word alazones; and so, in a general sense of its pridefulness, I think we can use both Hebrew and Greek words for ideas of its basic meaning.
Psalm 49:5-6
Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
6 Even those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
Here we see the obvious difference in this Old Testament word Halal. Boasting is boasting; it is prideful and foolish. And here it is in one’s wealth. In 2 timothy and Roman it is more in the person of the one boasting.
Psalm 75:3-5
3 “The earth and all who dwell in it melt;
It is I who have firmly set its pillars. Selah.
4 “I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn;
5 Do not lift up your horn on high,
Do not speak with insolent pride.'”
Here the one boasting is a wicked man. He does not believe in God. He obviously is boasting about his own strength and beliefs, and he lifts up his “fists in defiance at heaven.” (NLT of the Bible). God plainly tells us not to do that; that He is our creator.
God obviously is against the boastful man of these last times. He is boastful because he is an unbeliever and he is rebelling against God our creator. He boasts because he is making himself a god. He is lifting himself above the true God.
Psalm 97:7
7 Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images,
Who boast themselves of idols;
Worship Him, all you gods.
All of us must be ashamed to have idols (things that we put before God). In the end (in His kingdom) all things will be subject to Him—will give Him worship. We must not boast and brag of all those things, and also about all our gifts and talents and strengths that we have received from God.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
Verse 23 is very close to the boasting of men in the last days. They will boast in their wisdom, their might and their riches. And they will not think about what they really should boast in—the Lord.
Stephen Nielsen 