What does the Bible say about resolving conflict?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls believers to pursue peace through humble, truthful, and forgiving reconciliation, trusting God to restrain sinful anger and heal broken relationships. Jesus directs us to address personal offenses privately first, then seek wise help from the church if needed, always aiming to win back a brother or sister (Matthew 18:15-17). We are to speak gently, forgive as Christ forgave us, and refuse bitterness, malice, and revenge (Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32; Colossians 3:13). Though conflicts reveal the selfish desires in our hearts, God gives grace to the humble who repent and seek peace (James 4:1-6).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Matthew 18:15-17 8 votes
“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
- Ephesians 4:31-32 6 votes
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
- Proverbs 15:1 5 votes
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Matthew 18:15 3 votes
“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
- Matthew 5:9 3 votes
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
- Colossians 3:13 3 votes
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.
- Ephesians 4:26 3 votes
“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
- James 4:1-6 3 votes
Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don’t they come from your pleasures that war in your members? You lust, and don’t have. You murder and covet, and can’t obtain. You fight and make war. You don’t have, because you don’t ask. You ask, and don’t receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Luke 17:3 2 votes
Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
- Matthew 5:24 2 votes
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
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