The question “What is strife in the Bible?” leads us to a deep and necessary theme: human behavior in the face of conflict. The Bible speaks many times about strife, warning God’s people about the dangers of discord, rivalry, and pride. Understanding this concept is essential for anyone who wants to live in peace, in fellowship, and with wisdom.
Quick Summary: What is strife in the Bible
The expression what is strife in the Bible reveals the spiritual danger of quarrels, divisions, and disputes fueled by pride. God’s Word teaches that where there is love and humility, there is no room for rivalry. Cultivating peace is an act of faith and Christian maturity.
In short, learn to live by the biblical principles of harmony:
✦ Recognize that discord is born from ego and lack of forgiveness
✦ Pray and be silent before reacting impulsively
✦ Forgive from the heart to restore relationships
✦ Value love more than the desire to be right
✦ Seek wisdom and gentleness in every situation
The Bible teaches in Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” This is the essence of those who understand what strife is in the Bible — living in fellowship, with a heart guided by the peace of Christ.
Table of Contents – Straight to the Point
What is strife in the Bible
The word strife means quarrel, argument, or dispute driven by pride, envy, or lack of love. In the Bible, this term appears in different contexts to express the breaking of unity and harmony among people.
Proverbs 13:10 says: “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” This verse shows that strife is born of arrogance, the desire to impose one’s own will, and the difficulty of listening to counsel.
Strife in the Bible is therefore the opposite of the peace God desires for His children. It is seen as a work of the flesh, while peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
The origins of strife according to Scripture
🕊️ Human desires and passions
James 4:1 asks a direct question: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”
Strife is born within the human heart, from disordered desires and wounded ego. When a person seeks to be right at any cost, the result is conflict and separation.
💢 Pride as the root of strife
Pride is the fuel of strife. It blocks forgiveness, hinders reconciliation, and makes people want to prove superiority. In contrast, humility opens the way to peace and understanding.
❤️ Lack of meekness and self-control
The Bible teaches that the fruit of the Spirit are love, peace, patience, gentleness, and self-control. Where these fruit are lacking, strife sets in. The absence of self-control turns small differences into major divisions.
Examples of strife in the Bible and their lessons
✦ Abraham and Lot: the wisdom of peaceful separation
In Genesis 13:7, strife arose between the herdsmen of Abraham and those of Lot. Guided by peace, Abraham said: “Let there be no strife between you and me, for we are brothers.”
He yielded his rights and gave Lot the freedom to choose his path. This gesture reveals that true strength lies in self-denial, not in dispute.
✦ The disciples and the pursuit of greatness
In Luke 22:24, the disciples argued about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus corrected this strife by teaching that “the greatest among you should be the servant.” The lesson is clear: those who seek power sow division, but those who serve bring unity.
✦ Paul and Barnabas: a difficult separation
In Acts 15:36–40, Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking Mark on a missionary journey. The strife led them to follow different paths, but God turned that separation into an expansion of the Gospel. Even in conflicts, the Lord can act with purpose.
The spiritual dangers of strife
Strife destroys relationships and wounds fellowship among brothers and sisters. In James 3:16 we read: “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” This means unresolved conflict opens doors to chaos and the enemy’s work.
Among the main dangers are:
✦ Spiritual weakening
✦ Broken friendships and families
✦ Disunity within the church
✦ Hardness of heart and lack of forgiveness
✦ Loss of Christian witness
Avoiding it preserves the environment where the Holy Spirit operates freely.
How to overcome strife according to the Bible
✦ Practice silence and prayer
Not every response needs to be spoken. Often, silence is more powerful than argument. Before reacting, pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.
✦ Respond with gentleness
Proverbs 15:1 teaches: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Answering calmly is the key to preventing a small conflict from becoming strife.
✦ Forgive without holding grudges
Forgiving sets the heart free. Forgiveness breaks the cycle of strife, heals old wounds, and restores inner peace.
✦ Ask for divine wisdom
God grants wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5). With it, we learn to handle difficult people and delicate situations without creating new conflicts.
✦ Avoid useless arguments
Much strife begins over trivial matters. Paul warned Timothy: “Avoid quarrels about words, because they are of no value.”
Before arguing, ask: “Does this truly glorify God?”
Strife within the church
Even among Christians, strife can arise for reasons such as:
✦ Spiritual vanity
✦ Leadership disputes
✦ Doctrinal differences
✦ Lack of forgiveness and dialogue
Such attitudes weaken the body of Christ. Paul rebuked the Corinthians for saying: “I follow Paul” and “I follow Apollos.” He reminded them that all served the same Lord.
When love is replaced by competition, the focus is lost.
The church grows only when unity and fellowship reign.
Difference between strife and fraternal correction
Many confuse strife with correction. However, they are opposite attitudes.
Fraternal correction seeks to restore; strife seeks to win.
See the difference:
✦ Correction is done in love
✦ Strife is done in anger
✦ Correction edifies
✦ Strife destroys
✦ Correction is guided by the Spirit
✦ Strife is guided by the flesh
The mature Christian knows how to correct without striving and how to disagree without losing peace.
How to cultivate peace and eliminate strife
True peace is a state of soul that does not depend on external circumstances, but on a deep relationship with God. Living in harmony is a daily choice that requires surrender, wisdom, and a willingness to act differently from the world. The Bible teaches that peace must be pursued and preserved diligently, for it is a direct reflection of love and spiritual maturity.
Cultivating peace means allowing the Holy Spirit to govern our thoughts, words, and attitudes. It is not just about “avoiding fights,” but about living in such a way that the environment around us is transformed by inner serenity. Below are practical principles based on God’s Word to develop this peaceful lifestyle.
✦ Exercise humility daily
Humility is the foundation of peace. A humble person recognizes that they do not need to be right all the time and that the other’s worth does not depend on agreeing with them. Jesus, the greatest example of humility, showed that true power lies in serving, not in dominating.
When the heart is shaped by meekness, words and reactions are guided by wisdom, not emotion. Humility makes room for dialogue and closes the doors of pride that generate friction.
✦ Practice forgiveness sincerely
Forgiving is freeing the heart from the weight of the past. Many disagreements linger because forgiveness is denied or delayed. Biblical forgiveness does not mean forgetting what happened, but deciding not to harbor resentment or a desire for retaliation.
Jesus taught us to forgive “seventy times seven”, that is, without limits. When we forgive, we give the Holy Spirit the chance to heal emotional wounds and restore relationships. Forgiveness is the bridge that leads from pain to peace.
✦ Be patient with others’ flaws
Patience is a rare but essential virtue. Everyone fails, and those who understand this learn to respond with compassion. Spiritual patience goes beyond mere tolerance; it involves empathy and understanding.
In Ephesians 4:2, Paul advises:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
This attitude prevents small annoyances from becoming major divisions.
✦ Avoid gossip and grumbling
Words have power — they build up or tear down. Grumbling and spreading negative comments are attitudes that contaminate environments and hearts. The Bible warns in Proverbs 16:28:
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
The Christian who seeks peace learns to be silent when the subject does not edify. Choosing not to comment on another’s mistake protects that person’s reputation and maintains group harmony. Wise silence is a sign of spiritual maturity.
✦ Value relationships over being right
Many arguments drag on because someone wants to “be right” at all costs. But before God, what is more valuable: proving a point or preserving a bond?
Peace requires yielding, choosing love over pride, and understanding that relationships are more important than momentary victories.
Jesus could have proved His innocence before Pilate, but chose silence and sacrifice, showing that redemption is greater than argument.
When love is the priority, even disagreements become opportunities for spiritual growth.
✦ Nurture communion with God
There is no true peace without a constant life of prayer. In times of intimacy with God, the heart is aligned with His will and learns to respond with serenity.
Philippians 4:6–7 says:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Communion with the Lord makes us sensitive to His voice and less reactive to external provocations.
✦ Practice empathy and brotherly love
Empathy is the ability to see through another’s eyes. When we understand what someone feels, we judge less and love more.
Romans 12:15 encourages us:
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
This kind of compassion generates unity and prevents misunderstandings from growing. Love covers a multitude of sins and creates an environment where peace naturally flourishes.
✦ Seek wisdom from above
Peace is the result of wisdom that comes from God. James 3:17 describes it:
“The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit.”
Those who act under this wisdom do not act hastily, do not speak without thinking, and do not react on impulse. Such a stance defuses tense situations before they cause greater harm.
The fruit of the Spirit and the end of strife
In Galatians 5:22, Paul teaches that the fruit of the Spirit — love, peace, gentleness, and self-control — are antidotes to strife.
When the Holy Spirit governs our emotions, there is no room for disputes.
Living by the Spirit is choosing peace even when the world expects confrontation.
Turning strife into fellowship
Strife can be overcome through forgiveness and reconciliation. Jesus teaches us that before offering a sacrifice, we should reconcile with our brother (Matthew 5:23–24).
Restoration is more important than winning an argument.
When we ask for forgiveness and seek love above being right, God turns pain into fellowship.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
What is strife according to the Bible?
It is any form of quarrel, disagreement, or argument born of pride that destroys peace among people.
Is strife a sin?
Yes, because it is a work of the flesh and goes against the command to love your neighbor.
How do I overcome spiritual strife?
Through prayer, humility, forgiveness, and the practice of the meekness taught by Christ.
Why does God abhor strife?
Because it divides His people, destroys fellowship, and hinders the move of the Holy Spirit.
Are there examples of overcoming strife in the Bible?
Yes. Abraham and Lot, Paul and Barnabas, and even the disciples learned to replace conflict with love and wisdom.
Conclusion
To understand what strife is in the Bible is to grasp God’s call to peace.
Strife is born of pride and lack of love, but peace is born of God’s presence.
Every Christian is invited to be a peacemaker, to be silent when necessary, and to choose forgiveness over quarrel.
Those who sow peace reap fellowship, and those who avoid strife draw closer to the heart of Christ.
READ ALSO:
- Exodus 15: The Song of Moses and the Victory of God’s People
- Meet the Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Faith That Does Not Bow Before the Fire
- What Is the Difference Between the Regular Bible and the Women’s Bible?
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
I hope you enjoyed it.
Leave your message of faith below!
