What Does the Bible Say About Character Development?

Romans 5:3-5 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 32 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 19 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

Acts 3:19 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Romans 8:7 ESV / 17 helpful votes

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

2 Peter 1:1-10 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ...

Romans 7:1-25 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ...

1 Timothy 4:12-13 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Proverbs 16:6 ESV / 11 helpful votes

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

James 1:2-4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 54:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Luke 15:1-32 ESV / 8 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 5:44 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Psalm 113:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!

1 John 1:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

John 17:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

John 14:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 10:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

2 Peter 1:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

John 8:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Psalm 131:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Ephesians 4:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Romans 8:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

John 8:58 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Genesis 3:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Luke 24:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

38 Bible Verses about Character Development

Romans 5:3-5 ESV / 77 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 27 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 3:19 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:7 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:1-10 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 7:1-25 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 4:12-13 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:6 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:2-4 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 54:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 15:1-32 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:44 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 113:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 17:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 10:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 131:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:58 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 24:47 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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