The Imitation of Christ · Chapter
That Man Hath No Good in Himself, and Nothing Whereof to Glory explained
The chapter reflects on human nothingness and the utter dependence on God for any good.
What happens
The chapter reflects on human nothingness and the utter dependence on God for any good. It contrasts human vanity and inconstancy with God's eternal goodness, urging the soul to reject self-glory and human praise, seeking only glory in God.
Themes in this chapter
Humility and Self-Denial
The chapter centers on the confession that man has no good in himself and must reject all self-glory.
Contempt for the World
Human glory and temporal honor are dismissed as vanity and folly compared to God's eternal glory.
Grace and Divine Dependence
The soul acknowledges that without God's help it is nothing, and only through grace can it be strengthened.
Characters to notice
- The Disciple
The speaker humbly confesses his own nothingness and lack of good, acknowledging his need for God's help.
- God the Father
Addressed as the eternal, good, righteous, and holy Lord who alone can strengthen and comfort the soul.
- Jesus Christ
Implied as the source of grace and the one through whom the soul seeks true glory.
- St. Paul
Quoted indirectly: 'save only in my infirmities' (2 Corinthians 12:5) as a model of humility.
Key passages
“Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that Thou visitest him?”
Why does God pay any attention to insignificant humanity?
The disciple expresses astonishment at God's care for such a lowly creature.
“I am nothing, I have nothing that is good of myself, but I fall short in all things, and ever tend unto nothing.”
I possess no inherent goodness; I am deficient in everything and constantly drift toward nothingness.
A stark confession of human emptiness apart from God.
“Verily vain glory is an evil plague, the greatest of vanities, because it draweth us away from the true glory, and robbeth us of heavenly grace.”
Seeking praise for oneself is a destructive disease that steals true honor and divine favor.
Warns against the spiritual danger of pride and self-exaltation.