The idea of calling God the “ultimate narcissist” may seem alarming or even uncomfortable at first. Narcissism is often associated with arrogance and selfishness in humans and seems at odds with our understanding of a loving Creator. However, when applied to God, the term takes on a profoundly different meaning.

Understanding Narcissism in Human Terms

Narcissism originates from the Greek myth of Narcissus, a man who loved so much his own reflection that he died looking at it. In modern psychology, narcissism is defined as an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. While these traits are destructive in humans, applying them to God brings up an interesting theological question: could God’s self-focus actually be a logical outcome of His infinite perfection?

God’s Self-Centeredness

The Bible shows God’s self-centeredness in many passages. Isaiah 42:8 states, “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” God’s ultimate concern is His own glory, and rightly so, for He alone is holy and perfect. Unlike human narcissism, which seeks validation, God’s self-focus reflects the reality of who He is: the Creator and sustainer of all things.

God’s self-glorification is an expression of His nature as the ultimate good. Jonathan Edwards, an 18th-century theologian, described this as a fountain overflowing with goodness: God’s self-glorification leads to the greatest possible joy and fulfillment for His creation. By glorifying Himself, God invites us into a relationship with Him, where we can experience the fullness of His love and purpose.

Philosophical Perspectives on Divine Narcissism

The concept of divine self-focus is not limited to theology; philosophers throughout history have also reflected on this idea.

1. Plato

Plato’s concept of the Form of the Good aligns with divine self-glorification. The Good is the highest ideal, self-sufficient and perfect, and all things are drawn to it. This reflects a divine self-focus that is not selfishness but the natural result of ultimate perfection.

2. Aristotle

In Metaphysics, Aristotle described God as the Unmoved Mover, existing in perfect self-contemplation as “the thought of thought.” God’s self-love is necessary because He is the highest being, and His self-focus is an expression of His perfection.

3. Plotinus

In Neoplatonism, The One is the infinite source of all existence, utterly self-sufficient and self-focused. Plotinus emphasized that The One’s self-glorification is not selfish but reflects its overflowing perfection, the source of creation.

4. Stoicism

The Stoics viewed the universe as governed by logos, a rational and self-sufficient divine principle. This self-contained perfection reflects the vision of divine self-focus as necessary and life-giving.

5. Kant’s Perspective

Immanuel Kant further developed these ideas in the Enlightenment era. He argued that God, as the supreme being and moral lawgiver, must act according to His own nature as the highest good (summum bonum). God’s self-focus is not vanity but a rational necessity. As the ultimate source of moral and rational order, His self-glorification sustains the coherence of the universe.

Kant also warned against humanizing God. While human narcissism is rooted in insecurity and relational harm, divine self-focus reflects God’s perfection and moral supremacy. From a Kantian perspective, God’s “narcissism” is a logical and necessary aspect of His infinite nature.

Why God’s Self-Glorification is Good

1. God’s Glory is the Ultimate Good:
   God’s self-glorification is not selfishness but the highest good. Psalm 16:11 says, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” God glorifies Himself to show His goodness to humanity, inviting us to share in His glory.
2. God’s Self-Glorification Reflects His Love:
   Biblical love seeks the best good for others. God leading us to worship Him is the ultimate act of love, since He is the source of life, joy, and truth as stated in John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
3. Jesus as the Perfect Reflection of God’s Glory:
   Jesus, God in the flesh, humbled himself, submitting to the Father while glorying Him. In John 17:4–5, Jesus prayed, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Jesus’ life demonstrates that God’s self-glorification is inseparable from His love and redemptive mission. 
4. God’s Glory Establishes Righteousness:
   God’s self-glorification establishes moral order in the universe. Habakkuk 2:14 envisions a world where “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” By glorifying Himself, God maintains His righteous character as the standard for justice and goodness. His glory sets the foundation for human ethics and a life of integrity.
5. God’s Glory Secures Salvation:
    Ephesians 1:12 teaches that we are saved “to the praise of His glory.” God’s self-glorification ensures that His plan of redemption is not only perfect but also unshakable. By glorifying Himself, God guarantees that salvation is rooted in His sovereign will and not in human effort, giving believers assurance and hope.

Conclusion

To call God the “ultimate narcissist” is indeed a troubling statement, but from a biblical and philosophical perspective, God’s self-focus is not a flaw but a reflection of His infinite perfection and goodness, deserving of our worship and reverence. Philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, and Kant present views that affirm God’s self-focus as necessary, rational, and life-giving.

Rather than God’s self-glorification diminishing His love, it actually enhances it. When God glorifies Himself, He reveals His nature to man, drawing us into the fullness of His joy and purpose. In this sense, divine “narcissism” is not vanity but the ultimate expression of truth, love, and beauty.

Our highest calling, then, is to worship God and align ourselves with His glory, finding our deepest joy in glorifying Him. In God’s perfect self-focus, we see the ultimate source of meaning, purpose, and eternal hope.