Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Ambition?

Here are 16 Bible verses about ambition, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.

  1. #1Luke 9:25

    For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

    BSBWhat does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?

  2. #2Matthew 23:12

    And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

    BSBFor whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

  3. #3Matthew 6:33

    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

    BSBBut seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

  4. #41 Timothy 6:9

    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

    BSBThose who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

  5. #5Philippians 2:4

    Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

    BSBEach of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

  6. #61 John 2:16

    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

    BSBFor all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

  7. #7John 5:44

    How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

    BSBHow can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

  8. #8James 4:1-2

    From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye 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.

    BSBWhat causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? 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.

  9. #9Philippians 2:3

    Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

    BSBDo nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.

  10. #10Romans 15:20

    Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

    BSBIn this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

  11. #11James 4:2

    Ye 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.

    BSBYou 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.

  12. #12Matthew 16:26

    For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

    BSBWhat will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

  13. #13Romans 12:16

    Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

    BSBLive in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited.

  14. #14Matthew 4:8-10

    Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

    BSBAgain, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

  15. #15Matthew 23:5-7

    But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

    BSBAll their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.

  16. #16Romans 2:8

    But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

    BSBBut for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.

Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).

Ambition in Torrey's Topical Textbook

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