Topics

Strife

Strife is a work of the flesh that damages relationships and communities, while Scripture calls believers to pursue peace and unity through humility and wisdom.

Overview

Strife—quarreling, contention, and conflict—is repeatedly condemned in Scripture as destructive to both personal relationships and the church. God desires His people to live in harmony, recognizing that strife often stems from pride, foolishness, and failure to walk by the Spirit. Overcoming strife requires intentional pursuit of peace and submission to God's wisdom.

Key Scriptures

"An angry man stirs up strife, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression" (Proverbs 15:18, NASB). "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions" (Galatians 5:19–20, ESV). "The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil" (2 Timothy 2:24, ESV).

Application

When conflict arises, respond with humility and a commitment to preserve unity in the Spirit rather than winning an argument or asserting your position.

Scripture References 40

Proverbs 26:21 Galatians 5:20 1 Corinthians 3:3 Proverbs 15:18 Genesis 13:8 Ephesians 4:3 1 Timothy 3:3 2 Timothy 2:24 2 Timothy 2:14 2 Timothy 2:23 Titus 3:9 Leviticus 24:10 Leviticus 24:11 Matthew 12:15 Matthew 12:16 Matthew 12:17 Matthew 12:18 Matthew 12:19 Luke 9:52 Luke 9:53 Luke 9:54 Luke 9:55 Luke 9:56 Isaiah 42:2 1 Peter 2:23 James 3:16 1 Corinthians 1:11 1 Corinthians 6:6 1 Timothy 6:4 2 Timothy 2:23 Proverbs 26:17 Proverbs 17:14 Luke 22:24 Philippians 2:14 Proverbs 23:29 Proverbs 23:30 Proverbs 17:19 Galatians 5:20 Galatians 5:21 1 Corinthians 1:11

Full Topical Reference List 147 total — Nave's Topical Bible

A contentious disposition

A work of the flesh

An evidence of a carnal spirit

1 Corinthians 3:3

Appeased by slowness to anger

Avoid

1 Timothy 3:3 2 Timothy 2:24 Ephesians 4:3 Genesis 13:8

Avoid questions that lead to

2 Timothy 2:14 2 Timothy 2:23 Titus 3:9

Blasphemy

Leviticus 24:10 Leviticus 24:11

Christ, an example of avoiding

1 Peter 2:23 Isaiah 42:2 Luke 9:52 Luke 9:53 Luke 9:54 Luke 9:55 Luke 9:56 Matthew 12:15 Matthew 12:16 Matthew 12:17 Matthew 12:18 Matthew 12:19

Confusion and every evil work

James 3:16

Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:11 1 Corinthians 6:6

Curious questions

1 Timothy 6:4 2 Timothy 2:23

Danger of joining in-Illustrated

Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it

Disciples

Luke 22:24

Do all things without

Philippians 2:14

Drunkenness

Proverbs 23:29 Proverbs 23:30

Evidences a love of transgression

Excludes from heaven

Galatians 5:20 Galatians 5:21

Existed in the church

1 Corinthians 1:11

Fools engage in

Proverbs 18:6

Forbidden

Proverbs 3:30 Proverbs 25:8

Frowardness

General references

1 Corinthians 1:10 1 Corinthians 1:11 1 Corinthians 1:12 1 Corinthians 1:13 1 Corinthians 3:3 1 Corinthians 3:4 1 Corinthians 4:6 1 Corinthians 4:7 1 Corinthians 6:1 1 Corinthians 6:2 1 Corinthians 6:3 1 Corinthians 6:4 1 Corinthians 6:5 1 Corinthians 6:6 1 Corinthians 6:7 1 Corinthians 11:16 1 Corinthians 11:17 1 Corinthians 11:18 1 Corinthians 11:19 Isaiah 41:11 Isaiah 41:12 Luke 12:51 Luke 12:52 Luke 12:53 Luke 12:58 Luke 12:59 Mark 3:24 Mark 3:25 Matthew 5:39 Matthew 5:40 Matthew 5:41 Matthew 10:34 Matthew 10:35 Matthew 10:36 Matthew 18:15 Matthew 18:16 Matthew 18:17 Proverbs 6:12 Proverbs 6:13 Proverbs 6:14 Proverbs 6:16 Proverbs 6:17 Proverbs 6:18 Proverbs 6:19 Proverbs 23:29 Proverbs 23:30 Proverbs 26:20 Proverbs 26:21 Romans 16:17 Romans 16:18

Hatred

Herdmen of Abram and of Lot

Genesis 13:7

Herdmen of Gerar and of Isaac

Genesis 26:20

Hypocrites make religion a pretence for

Isaiah 58:4

Injustice

Habakkuk 1:3 Habakkuk 1:4

Israelites

Deuteronomy 1:12

It is honourable to cease from

Proverbs 20:3

Judah and Israel

2 Samuel 19:41 2 Samuel 19:42 2 Samuel 19:43

Judaising Teachers

Acts 15:2

Laban and Jacob

Genesis 31:36

Lusts

James 4:1

Mutual destruction

Not act from

Philippians 2:3

Not preach through

Philippians 1:15 Philippians 1:16

Not walk in

Romans 13:13

Paul and Barnabas

Acts 15:39

Pharisees and Sadducees

Acts 23:7

Praise God for protection from

2 Samuel 22:44 Psalms 18:43

Pride

Proverbs 13:10 Proverbs 28:25

Promoters of, should be expelled

Punishment for

Psalms 55:9

Reprove

1 Corinthians 1:11 1 Corinthians 1:12 1 Corinthians 3:3 1 Corinthians 11:17 1 Corinthians 11:18

Saints kept from tongues of

Psalms 31:20

Scorning

Seek God's protection from

Jeremiah 18:19 Psalms 35:1

Shameful in saints

2 Corinthians 12:20 James 3:14

Strength and violence of-Illustrated

Proverbs 17:14 Proverbs 18:19

Submit to wrong rather than engage in

1 Corinthians 6:7 Matthew 5:39 Matthew 5:40 Proverbs 20:22

Tale-bearing

Temporal blessing embittered by

Proverbs 17:1

Two Hebrews

Exodus 2:13

Violence

Exodus 21:18 Exodus 21:22

Warn against

1 Corinthians 1:10 2 Timothy 2:14

Wrath

Proverbs 15:18 Proverbs 30:33

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