What Does the Bible Say About Sportsmanship?
Here are 13 Bible verses about sportsmanship, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 24:17-18
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
BSBDo not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
- #2Philippians 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.
- #32 Timothy 2:5
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
BSBLikewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
- #4Proverbs 25:27
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
BSBIt is not good to eat too much honey or to search out one’s own glory.
- #5Romans 15:2
Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
BSBEach of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
- #6Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
BSBWhatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men,
- #7Proverbs 27:2
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
BSBLet another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.
- #8Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
BSBI can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- #9Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
BSBDo everything without complaining or arguing,
- #101 Timothy 4:7-8
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
BSBBut reject irreverent, silly myths. Instead, train yourself for godliness. For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
- #111 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
BSBSo whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
- #121 Corinthians 9:24-27
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
BSBDo you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
- #13Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
BSBBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).