Division and discord can arise within the body of believers, hindering the church's witness and effectiveness. The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians about the dangers of strife and quarrels, which can lead to spiritual harm (2 Corinthians 12:20). The wisdom literature of Proverbs cautions that a hot-tempered person stirs up strife, while a quarrelsome person is like a leak in a dam, difficult to stop (Proverbs 29:22, 17:14). Jesus taught His disciples to address conflicts in a spirit of love and restoration, following a process of private rebuke, mediation, and ultimately, church involvement (Matthew 18:15-17). The Bible also advises believers to avoid foolish controversies and quarrels, which can lead to further division and harm (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
9 Bible Verses on Strife in the Church
9 verses
Relevance Score
21%
For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and semantics, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony 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, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
If anyone is inclined to dispute this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God. In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved.
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them.
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.