11 Bible Verses about Bigotry

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as zealous for God as are all of you. I persecuted the people who followed this Way to the point of death. I arrested men and women and threw them into prison.

Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest. He asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any there who belonged to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed to Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shined around him. read more.
He fell to the earth and heard a voice saying: Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me? Who are you Lord? He asked. The Lord said: I am Jesus whom you persecute.

I was convinced that I should oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

You heard about the way I lived as a Jew. How I persecuted the congregation of God beyond measure. In fact I tried to destroy it! I advanced as a Jew beyond many of my own age among my countrymen. I was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

Then some people brought little children to him. They wanted him to lay his hands on them and bless them. But the disciples tried to stop them.

People were bringing little children to him so he could touch them. His disciples turned them away.

They brought all their babes to him that he should touch them. When the disciples saw it they rebuked them.

Those circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of Holy Spirit was also poured out on the people of the nations.

When Peter went to Jerusalem, those who favored circumcision argued with him. They said: You went to the uncircumcised and ate with them.

Those who heard it glorified God. They said to him: You see brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed. They are all zealous for the law. They have been informed concerning you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the nations to forsake Moses. You tell them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs. What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you are here. read more.
Do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. Take these men and join in on their purification rites. Let them shave their heads. All will know there is no truth in the things they have heard about you, that you walk orderly and keep the law. Concerning those of the nations who have believed, we write: they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.

Some men came down from Judea to teach the brothers. They said: You cannot be saved unless you become circumcised according to the custom of Moses. Paul and Barnabas had an intense (harsh) dispute and debate with them. They concluded that Paul, Barnabas, and others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to settle this question. The congregation sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations. They brought great joy to all the brothers. read more.
Then they went to Jerusalem where the apostles and elders and congregation greeted them. They declared all the things that God had done for them. The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear?

Since we have heard, that certain ones who went out from us have troubled you with speeches, subverting you, saying: You must be circumcised, and keep the law. We gave no such commandment!

Titus was with me and he was not persuaded to be circumcised. He is a Greek. This occurred because of the false brothers brought in secretly. They came to spy out our liberty that we have in Christ Jesus. This was so they might bring us into bondage. We did not yield to them for a moment or an hour! That way the truth of the good news (the whole body of Christian teachings) might continue with you.

What then is the superiority of the Jew? What is the benefit of circumcision? Much in every way. First they were entrusted with the oracles of God. For what? If some have not believed, will their unbelief make the faith of God of no effect? read more.
Certainly not! But let God be true, and every man false. It is written: So that you should be proved righteous in your words and should overcome when you are judged. If our unrighteousness defines God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his anger is he? I speak in human terms. Not at all! For how will God judge the world? But what if my untruth serves God's glory by making his truth stand out more clearly? Why should I be condemned as a sinner? Why not say, Let us do evil so that good may come? Some people have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They should be condemned and they will be. Are we Jews in any better condition than the people of the nations? Not at all! I have already shown that Jews and the people of the nations are all under the power of sin. The Scriptures say: There is no one who is righteous, There is no one who has insight. No one seeks God! All have turned away from God; they have all done wrong. No one does what is right, not even one. (Psalm 53:3) Their throat is an open grave. They have practiced deceit with their tongues. The poison of snakes is under their lips. (Psalm 5:9) Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. (Psalm 10:7) Their feet are swift to shed blood. (Proverbs 1:15) Destruction and misery are in their ways. (Isaiah 59:7) They have not known the way of peace. (Isaiah 59:7, 8) There is no respect (reverence) for God before their eyes. (Psalm 36:1) We know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those under the law. Every mouth may be stopped and the entire world may become liable to God for punishment. No flesh will be justified before God by works of the law. Knowledge of sin comes from the law. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. God makes people righteous through their active faith in Jesus Christ. God does this to all who believe in Christ, because there is no difference at all. For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God

What shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? If Abraham was declared righteous by works, he could boast, but not to God. For what does the scriptures say? Abraham believed Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) read more.
The pay is counted to the man who works. It is not as grace but as a debt. He who does not work but believes in him who justifies (absolves) the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. David also pronounces blessing on the man, to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, saying: Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom, Jehovah will not impute sin. (Psalm 32:2) Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say: To Abraham his faith was counted for righteousness. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was not circumcised. That way he could be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them. The father of circumcision to those who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of faith of our father Abraham that he had when he was not circumcised. The promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world was not through the law but through righteousness by faith. If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. The law produces wrath (violent passion) (indignation). But where there is no law there is no sin. For this reason it is by faith that it may be according to grace (divine influence) (loving-kindness). The promise may be sure to all descendants! This is not only to that which is of the law, but to that also which is by the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was counted to him. It is also for our sake, to whom it shall be counted, who believe in him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification (acquittal).

John spoke up: Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in your name. We tried to stop him because he does not follow us. But Jesus said: Do not stop him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. For whoever is not against us is on our side.

John said: Master we saw some one casting out demons in your name. So we prevented him from doing this because he does not follow us. Jesus said: Do not forbid him for he that is not against you is for you.

The Pharisee saw it and thought to himself if this man were a prophet he would know what kind of woman touched him. She is a sinner.

Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained: This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!

When Jesus came to the place he looked up at Zacchaeus and said: Come down quickly for today I must visit your home. He hurried down to receive him joyfully. Many in the crowd complained saying: He is staying with a man who is a sinner.

They shouted: Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and defiled this holy place. They had previously been with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the Temple.

The people listened to Paul until he said this. Then they shouted at the top of their voices: Away with him! Kill him! He is not fit to live!

Then they spoke abusively to him: You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this man we do not know where he is from.

They answered: You were born in sin and you teach us? Then they threw him out.

A young man ran out to tell Moses what Eldad and Medad were doing. Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' helper since he was a young man, spoke up and said to Moses: Stop them, sir! Moses asked him: Do you think you need to stand up for me? I wish all Jehovah's people were prophets and that Jehovah would put his Spirit on them!

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'A gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Wisdom is justified by its actions.

The Pharisee wondered about Jesus not bathing before dinner. The Lord said: You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter. Yet your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They did not please God and are contrary to all men. They hindered us from speaking to the nations so that they may be saved. The result was that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

The days were approaching for his ascension. He was determined to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of him. They entered the village of the Samaritans to get ready for him. They did not receive him because he traveled to Jerusalem. read more.
When his disciples James and John saw this they said: Lord, do you want us to request fire from heaven to consume them? He turned and rebuked them. They went to another village.

He sent messengers ahead of him. They entered the village of the Samaritans to get ready for him. They did not receive him because he traveled to Jerusalem.

The woman of Samaria asked: How is it that you being a Jew ask for a drink from me? I am a woman of Samaria. [The Jews did not associate with Samaritans.] (Not in early manuscripts.)

His disciples came and wondered why he talked with the woman. Yet no one asked: What are you looking for? Why did you talk to her?

I testify that they have zeal for God, but not according to [precise and correct] knowledge. They are ignorant of God's righteousness. They seek to establish their own righteousness and have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

The Jews intensified their efforts to kill him for these reasons: he broke the Sabbath and he also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Everyone in the synagogue was angry when they heard these things.