Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Selfishness?

Here are 14 Bible verses about selfishness, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.

  1. #1Philippians 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.

  2. #22 Timothy 3:2-4

    For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

    BSBFor men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

  3. #31 John 3:17

    But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

    BSBIf anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

  4. #41 Corinthians 10:24

    Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

    BSBNo one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

  5. #5Philippians 2:3-4

    Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

    BSBDo nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

  6. #6James 3:16

    For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

    BSBFor where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

  7. #7Philippians 2:21

    For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

    BSBFor all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

  8. #81 Corinthians 13:4-6

    Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

    BSBLove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.

  9. #9Galatians 6:2

    Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

    BSBCarry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

  10. #10James 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.

  11. #11Romans 15:1-3

    We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

    BSBWe who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

  12. #12Hebrews 13:16

    But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

    BSBAnd do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

  13. #13Luke 6:32-34

    For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

    BSBIf you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

  14. #14Romans 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).

Selfishness in Torrey's Topical Textbook

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