What Does the Bible Say About Causing Division?

Titus 3:10 ESV / 84 helpful votes

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

Romans 16:17 ESV / 83 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Romans 16:18 ESV / 62 helpful votes

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV / 37 helpful votes

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 33 helpful votes

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Ephesians 4:3 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

John 17:1-26 ESV / 17 helpful votes

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. ...

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Matthew 7:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Proverbs 6:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

Luke 12:53 ESV / 12 helpful votes

They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Acts 18:24-26 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

John 14:6 ESV / 9 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.

2 John 1:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,

1 John 4:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Galatians 2:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

John 10:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.

Matthew 3:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Judges 4:1-24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord after Ehud died. And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, for he had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. ...

Revelation 2:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

2 Peter 1:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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,

Titus 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Genesis 9:18-27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. ...

John 9:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

Matthew 23:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.

Numbers 16:1-50 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. ...

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

John 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

32 Bible Verses about Causing Division

Titus 3:10 ESV / 84 helpful votes

Romans 16:17 ESV / 83 helpful votes

Romans 16:18 ESV / 62 helpful votes

1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV / 37 helpful votes

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:3 ESV / 25 helpful votes

John 17:1-26 ESV / 17 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Matthew 7:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Proverbs 6:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Luke 12:53 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Acts 18:24-26 ESV / 10 helpful votes

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

John 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

2 John 1:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

1 John 4:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Galatians 2:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

John 10:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Matthew 3:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Judges 4:1-24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Revelation 2:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

2 Peter 1:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Titus 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Genesis 9:18-27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 9:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 23:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Numbers 16:1-50 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

John 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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32 Bible Verses about Causing Division

Titus 3:10 ESV / 84 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 16:17 ESV / 83 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 16:18 ESV / 62 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV / 37 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:3 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 17:1-26 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 6:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 12:53 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 18:24-26 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 John 1:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 10:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 3:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Judges 4:1-24 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 2:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 9:18-27 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 9:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 16:1-50 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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Titus 3:10 ESV / 84 helpful votes

Romans 16:17 ESV / 83 helpful votes

Romans 16:18 ESV / 62 helpful votes

1 Timothy 6:3-5 ESV / 37 helpful votes

2 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:3 ESV / 25 helpful votes

John 17:1-26 ESV / 17 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Matthew 7:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Proverbs 6:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Luke 12:53 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Acts 18:24-26 ESV / 10 helpful votes

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

John 14:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

2 John 1:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

1 John 4:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Galatians 2:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

John 10:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Matthew 3:7 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Judges 4:1-24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Revelation 2:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

2 Peter 1:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Titus 1:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 1:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Genesis 9:18-27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 9:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 23:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Numbers 16:1-50 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

John 8:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes