Conflict

Conflict is strife and quarreling between people. Wars and fightings come from the lusts within, a soft answer turns away wrath, and believers are to go to an offended brother, be reconciled and, as much as lies in them, live peaceably with all men.

Where quarrels come from

• James 4:1-2
  ¹From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? ²Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
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• Proverbs 13:10
  Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
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• Proverbs 15:18
  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
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• Proverbs 26:20-21
  ²⁰Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. ²¹As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
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Avoiding strife

• Proverbs 15:1
  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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• Proverbs 17:14
  The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
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• Proverbs 20:3
  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
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• 2 Timothy 2:23-24
  ²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. ²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
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• Philippians 2:14
  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:Do everything without complaining or arguing,
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Going to your brother

• Matthew 5:23-24
  ²³Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
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• Matthew 18:15
  Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
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Reconciliation and peace

• Romans 12:17-18
  ¹⁷Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
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• Hebrews 12:14
  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
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• Ephesians 4:26
  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
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• Ephesians 4:31-32
  ³¹Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. ³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
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• Colossians 3:13
  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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Peacemakers

• Matthew 5:9
  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
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• James 3:17-18
  ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. ¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
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• Genesis 13:8-9
  ⁸And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers. ⁹Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
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See also

• Peace
• Forgiveness
• Anger
• Lawsuits
• Unity

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.