Strife is a common theme throughout the Bible, serving as a cornerstone of many lessons and teachings. The concept of strife includes conflict, disagreement, fighting, and discord amongst individuals or groups. By exploring several biblical passages focusing on this theme, one can gain significant insights into how the Bible views strife and how individuals are guided to handle it.
What Does the Bible Teach About Dealing with Strife?
The Bible imparts wisdom indicating that strife often stems from a place of pride and encourages stepping away from conflict rather than escalating it. It advocates for peaceful conflict resolution and emphasizes focusing on understanding and compassion rather than holding onto anger and resentment. Bible also advises against breeding strife, suggesting that inciting conflict contributes to a cycle of negativity and drives one away from spiritual enlightenment and peace.
Why Does the Bible Encourage Avoidance of Strife?
The Bible associates strife with destructive emotions such as anger, envy, and pride which are seen as detrimental to one’s spiritual journey. The Bible urges individuals to dispel strife and cultivate a peaceful mindset to foster positive interpersonal relationships and maintain a balanced spiritual life. By refraining from strife, one can channel their energy towards creating harmony, understanding, and love within their community.
Who Can Help Mitigate Strife According to the Bible?
While the Bible emphasises personal responsibility in avoiding and resolving strife, it also highlights the importance of community involvement. It suggests that wise and discerning individuals within a community play a crucial role in peacefully resolving conflicts. Their wisdom, rooted in biblical teachings, can be instrumental in mediating disagreements, ensuring that strife does not escalate into more profound discord within the group.
When Does the Bible Advise Addressing Strife?
The Bible advises addressing strife immediately, to prevent it from festering and leading to larger issues. It advocates for open communication and dialogue when conflicts arise. By doing this promptly and honestly, individuals can resolve their differences and prevent further strife. The Bible encourages forgiveness and reconciliation, urging individuals to reconcile with their adversaries, fostering peace and positive relations.
Where Should the Bible’s Teachings on Strife Be Applied?
The Bible’s teachings on strife can be applied in all aspects of life including personal relationships, social interactions, and community dealings. It urges individuals to exercise wisdom, understanding, tolerance, and peace, not just in their immediate surroundings, but in every interaction with others. By adopting these principles, the Bible suggests individuals can create a harmonious environment, thus enhancing their spiritual growth and contributing to a peaceful community.
Below is the full list of bible verses on strife (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Strife
2 Timothy 2:23-25
“23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;”
Proverbs 10:12
“12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Love Hate Forgiveness
Proverbs 16:28
“28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
Related Themes: Gossip Criticism Friendship Morals
Proverbs 20:3
“3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.”
Related Themes: Arguing Peace Bitterness Quarreling
James 3:14-16
“14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Related Themes: Bitterness Envy And Jealousy Lying
Proverbs 29:22
“22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”
Related Themes: Arguing Bitterness Anger Complaining
Proverbs 26:20
“20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
Related Themes: Gossip Bitterness Meddling
Proverbs 17:14
“14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”
Related Themes: Fighting Arguing Resolving Conflict Negativity
Galatians 5:19-21
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Related Themes: Lust Abomination Lust Bitterness Adultery
Proverbs 28:25
“25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.”
Related Themes: Pride Greed Money Finances Prosperity
Proverbs 22:10
“10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”
Proverbs 6:16-19
“16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Related Themes: Gossip Abomination Lying Pride
Proverbs 15:18
“18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.”
Related Themes: Patience Frustration Arguing Bitterness Anger
James 4:1
“1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”
Related Themes: Lust Complaining Arguing
Matthew 18:15-17
“15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Criticism Resolving Conflict Gossip
Titus 3:1-3
“1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
Proverbs 18:6
“6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.”
Mark 3:24
“24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.”
Related Themes: Division
Romans 14:19
“19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Romans 16:17
“17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
Related Themes: Holiness Division Narcissism Judging Others Church
Proverbs 13:10
“10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”
Related Themes: Pride Arguing Complaining Humility Wisdom
Proverbs 26:17
“17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.”
Related Themes: Gossip Arguing Meddling Quarreling
Philippians 2:3
“3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
Related Themes: Pride Humility Respecting Your Parents
Proverbs 21:19
“19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.”
Proverbs 17:1
“1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.”
1 Corinthians 3:3
“3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
Related Themes: Arguing Envy And Jealousy Division Jealousy
Proverbs 30:33
“33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.”
Proverbs 17:19
“19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.”
Related Themes: Pride
Proverbs 26:21
“21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.”
Galatians 5:15
“15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”
Related Themes: Criticism Drama Fighting Complaining
