The Pursuit of God · Character

Self

The ego or carnal nature that must be surrendered to God.

minor

Also known as It

First appearance: II: The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing

Self's tie to The Godhead is one of the pressures that moves The Pursuit of God—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

The 'self-life' is identified as the enemy within, characterized by possessiveness and needing to be denied and crucified.

In the storyII: The Blessedness of Possessing NothingOpen this moment free

See Self in II: The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With The Godhead (psychological): The self is portrayed as the inner person striving to surrender and unite with the Godhead through spiritual discipline. With Jesus Christ (psychological): Jesus Christ is the model and goal for the self's transformation, calling the self to die and be reborn in Him. With Unknown Narrator (psychological): The self is the internal subject of the narrator's introspection, representing the human soul in its quest for God.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Self sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Self in II: The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing

Character Web

14 connections

A slice of how Self sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Psychological
Other

Character groups

Patriarchal Faith and Self
Divine and Mystical Voices
Protagonist
Biblical and Historical Examples

+9 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This chapter serves as the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the tex…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

The Godhead
psychological · positive
The self is portrayed as the inner person striving to surrender and unite with the… How this plays out →
Jesus Christ
psychological · positive
Unknown Narrator
psychological · ambivalent
The Godhead
psychological · positive
The self is portrayed as the inner person striving to surrender and unite with the… How this plays out →
Jesus Christ
psychological · positive
Jesus Christ
psychological · positive

The Godhead
The self is portrayed as the inner person striving to surrender and unite with the Godhead through spiritual discipline.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the model and goal for the self's transformation, calling the self to die and be reborn in Him.
Unknown Narrator
The self is the internal subject of the narrator's introspection, representing the human soul in its quest for God.
The Godhead
The self is portrayed as the inner person striving to surrender and unite with the Godhead through spiritual discipline.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the model and goal for the self's transformation, calling the self to die and be reborn in Him.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the model and goal for the self's transformation, calling the self to die and be reborn in Him.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Self in II: The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing

In the story

Self appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II: The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing
The 'self-life' is identified as the enemy within, characterized by possessiveness and needing to be denied and crucified.
VII: The Gaze of the Soul
Referred to as the self-regarding focus that sin has twisted inward; faith redirects sight away from self to God.
Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation
The self is to be surrendered and decreased so that God may be exalted; the flesh whimpers against God's rigor.
IX: Meekness and Rest
The inner self that struggles with pride, pretense, and the desire to defend its own honor. The chapter addresses the burden of self-love.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Self unlock in the free preview.

See Self in II: The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing