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100 Bible Verses about Strife In The Church

2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV / 42 helpful votes

For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 37 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV / 34 helpful votes

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Proverbs 17:14 ESV / 31 helpful votes

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

Romans 16:17 ESV / 29 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 29 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

1 Corinthians 11:16-19 ESV / 27 helpful votes

If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God. But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 25 helpful votes

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Matthew 18:15 ESV / 24 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Matthew 18:16 ESV / 23 helpful votes

But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 22 helpful votes

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

James 4:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Galatians 6:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Proverbs 26:17 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 20 helpful votes

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

Proverbs 30:33 ESV / 19 helpful votes

For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

Hebrews 12:15 ESV / 18 helpful votes

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Proverbs 22:10 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

Titus 3:10 ESV / 17 helpful votes

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

Philippians 2:1-30 ESV / 17 helpful votes

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ...

Matthew 16:19 ESV / 17 helpful votes

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Proverbs 28:25 ESV / 17 helpful votes

A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

Proverbs 10:12 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 16 helpful votes

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 15 helpful votes

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 15 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

James 1:19-20 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Galatians 5:20 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV / 13 helpful votes

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. ...

Romans 12:18 ESV / 13 helpful votes

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Acts 20:28 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Acts 5:29 ESV / 13 helpful votes

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Matthew 18:1-35 ESV / 13 helpful votes

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ...

1 Peter 3:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,

James 4:1-17 ESV / 12 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? ...

James 1:19 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Proverbs 13:10 ESV / 12 helpful votes

By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

1 John 4:19 ESV / 11 helpful votes

We love because he first loved us.

1 Timothy 5:19 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 3:3 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?

Proverbs 16:7 ESV / 11 helpful votes

When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

James 3:14-16 ESV / 10 helpful votes

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

1 John 3:18 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

James 1:2 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 9 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Acts 6:1-7 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. ...

Luke 17:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

Luke 15:1-32 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. ...

Matthew 18:17 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

1 Peter 5:1-3 ESV / 8 helpful votes

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

James 4:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

James 4:7 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 3:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

James 3:14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

James 1:1-27 ESV / 8 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Hebrews 12:14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

1 Timothy 5:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

1 Timothy 1:1-20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ...

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Philippians 2:14-16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Acts 2:1-47 ESV / 8 helpful votes

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ...

John 13:35 ESV / 8 helpful votes

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 3:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 19:3-9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” ...

1 John 5:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 Peter 5:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 7 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:2-3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Ephesians 4:2 ESV / 7 helpful votes

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

1 Corinthians 5:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—

Romans 16:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Romans 15:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

Romans 14:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

John 13:34 ESV / 7 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Matthew 18:15-35 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ...

Proverbs 21:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes

It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

1 John 4:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Proverbs 25:24 ESV / 6 helpful votes

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

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