What does the Bible say about diversity?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that human diversity is part of God’s wise creation and is meant to display his glory through humble, loving unity in Christ. Colossians 1:16-17 grounds every people, gift, and creature in Christ’s creating and sustaining power, while Revelation 7:9-10 foresees a redeemed multitude from every nation worshiping the Lamb. In Christ, earthly distinctions do not determine our standing before God, for Colossians 3:11 declares that Christ is all and in all. James 2:1-26 forbids favoritism, and Romans 12:16 calls believers to associate humbly with all. The church is one body with many necessary members, using diverse gifts for mutual edification, as 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 and 14:26 teach.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Revelation 7:9-10 8 votes
[9] After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. [10] They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
- James 2:1-26 4 votes
[1] My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. [2] For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your assembly, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in; [3] and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, "Sit here in a good place;" and you tell the poor man, "Stand there," or "Sit by my footstool;" [4] haven't you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? [5] Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him? [6] But you have dishonored the poor man. Don't the rich oppress you, and personally drag you before the courts? [7] Don't they blaspheme the honorable name by which you are called? [8] However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. [9] But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. [10] For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he has become guilty of all. [11] For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," said also, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. [12] So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom. [13] For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. [14] What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him? [15] And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, [16] and one of you tells them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled;" and yet you didn't give them the things the body needs, what good is it? [17] Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself. [18] Yes, a man will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. [19] You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder. [20] But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead? [21] Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? [22] You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;" and he was called the friend of God. [24] You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith. [25] In like manner wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? [26] For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.
- Colossians 1:16-17 3 votes
[16] For by him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. [17] He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
- Romans 12:16 3 votes
Be of the same mind one toward another. Don't set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don't be wise in your own conceits.
- Romans 14:1-23 3 votes
[1] Now receive one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions. [2] One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. [3] Don't let him who eats despise him who doesn't eat. Don't let him who doesn't eat judge him who eats, for God has received him. [4] Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand. [5] One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind. [6] He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks. He who doesn't eat, to the Lord he doesn't eat, and gives God thanks. [7] For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself. [8] For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. [10] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. [11] For it is written, "'As I live,' says the Lord, 'to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.'" [12] So then each one of us will give account of himself to God. [13] Therefore let's not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion for falling. [14] I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself; except that to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. [15] Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don't destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. [16] Then don't let your good be slandered, [17] for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. [18] For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. [19] So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up. [20] Don't overthrow God's work for food's sake. All things indeed are clean, however it is evil for that man who creates a stumbling block by eating. [21] It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak. [22] Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves. [23] But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it isn't of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. (14:24) Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, (14:25) but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; (14:26) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 3 votes
What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
- 1 Corinthians 14:10 3 votes
There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
- Colossians 3:11 3 votes
where there can't be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
- 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 2 votes
[12] For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. [13] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. [14] For the body is not one member, but many. [15] If the foot would say, "Because I'm not the hand, I'm not part of the body," it is not therefore not part of the body. [16] If the ear would say, "Because I'm not the eye, I'm not part of the body," it's not therefore not part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? [18] But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. [19] If they were all one member, where would the body be? [20] But now they are many members, but one body. [21] The eye can't tell the hand, "I have no need for you," or again the head to the feet, "I have no need for you." [22] No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. [23] Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; [24] whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, [25] that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. [26] When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. [27] Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. [28] God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. [29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? [30] Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret?
- Psalms 117:1-2 2 votes
[1] Praise Yahweh, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples! [2] For his loving kindness is great toward us. Yahweh's faithfulness endures forever. Praise Yah!
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