What does the Bible say about strife?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible warns that strife springs from sinful hearts and destroys peace, calling God’s people instead to pursue humility, self-control, truth, and reconciliation. Proverbs 10:12 teaches that hatred stirs up conflict, while love covers offenses; Proverbs 16:28 and 26:20 warn that gossip and quarrelsome speech spread division. James 3:14-16 identifies bitter jealousy and selfish ambition as earthly wisdom, producing disorder and evil. Christians are therefore to avoid foolish controversies and to correct opponents with gentleness, as 2 Timothy 2:23-25 directs. Because the works of the flesh include enmity, strife, and fits of anger in Galatians 5:19-21, believers depend on God’s grace to mortify sin and seek the peace that honors Christ.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 2 Timothy 2:23-25
[23] But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife. [24] The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, [25] in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,
- Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all wrongs.
- Proverbs 16:28
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
- Proverbs 20:3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling.
- James 3:14-16
[14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
- Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirs up strife, And a wrathful man abounds in sin.
- Galatians 5:19-21
[19] Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, [21] envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
- Proverbs 26:20
For lack of wood a fire goes out; Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
- Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, Therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
- Proverbs 28:25
One who is greedy stirs up strife; But one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- General scriptures concerning Genesis 13:8; Genesis 45:24; Deuteronomy 1:12; Psalms 31:20; Psalms 55:9; Psalms 80:6; Proverbs 3:20; Proverbs 6:12-14; Proverbs 6:16-19; Proverbs 10:12; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 15:18
- See ANGER
- See ENVY
- See JEALOUSY
- See MALICE
- INSTANCES OF
- Between Abraham and Lot’ s herdsmen Genesis 13:6; Genesis 13:7
- Abimelech’ s Genesis 21:25
- Isaac’ s and those of Gerar Genesis 26:20-22
- Laban and Jacob Genesis 31:36
- Israelites Deuteronomy 1:12
- Jephthah and his brothers Judges 11:2
- Jephthah and the Ephraimites Judges 12:1-6
- Israel and Judah, about David 2 Samuel 19:41-43
- Disciples, over who could be the greatest Mark 9:34; Luke 22:24
- Jews, concerning Jesus John 10:19
- Christians at Antioch (in Syria), about circumcision Acts 15:2
- Paul and Barnabas, about Mark Acts 15:38; Acts 15:39
- Pharisees and Sadducees, concerning the general resurrection Acts 23:7-10
- The Corinthian Christians 1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 6:6
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Christ, an example of avoiding Isaiah 42:2; Matthew 12:15-19; Luke 9:52-56; 1 Peter 2:23
- Forbidden Proverbs 3:30; Proverbs 25:8
- A work of the flesh Galatians 5:20
- An evidence of a carnal spirit 1 Corinthians 3:3
- Existed in the church 1 Corinthians 1:11
- Excited by
- Hatred Proverbs 10:12
- Pride Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 28:25
- Wrath Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 30:33
- Frowardness Proverbs 16:28
- A contentious disposition Proverbs 26:21
- Tale-bearing Proverbs 26:20
- Drunkenness Proverbs 23:29; Proverbs 23:30
- Lusts James 4:1
- Curious questions 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Timothy 2:23
- Scorning Proverbs 22:10
- Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it Proverbs 17:14
- Shameful in saints 2 Corinthians 12:20; James 3:14
- Saints should
- Avoid Genesis 13:8; Ephesians 4:3
- Avoid questions that lead to 2 Timothy 2:14
- Not walk in Romans 13:13
- Not act from Philippians 2:3
- Do all things without Philippians 2:14
- Submit to wrong rather than engage in Proverbs 20:22; Matthew 5:39; Matthew 5:40; 1 Corinthians 6:7
- Seek God’s protection from Psalms 35:1; Jeremiah 18:19
- Praise God for protection from 2 Samuel 22:44; Psalms 18:43
- Saints kept from tongues of Psalms 31:20
- Ministers should
- Avoid 1 Timothy 3:3; 2 Timothy 2:24
- Avoid questions that lead to 2 Timothy 2:23; Titus 3:9
- Not preach through Philippians 1:15; Philippians 1:16
- Warn against 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Timothy 2:14
- Reprove 1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 11:17; 1 Corinthians 11:18
- Appeased by slowness to anger Proverbs 15:18
- It is honourable to cease from Proverbs 20:3
- Hypocrites make religion a pretence for Isaiah 58:4
- Fools engage in Proverbs 18:6
- Evidences a love of transgression Proverbs 17:19
- Leads to
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