What Does the Bible Say About Intellectual Pursuits?

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

James 1:1-27 ESV / 13 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 9 helpful votes

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

John 14:6 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

1 John 2:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But test everything; hold fast what is good.

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ...

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

John 5:39 ESV / 6 helpful votes

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

John 3:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 22:37 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Genesis 1:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

James 1:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 1:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Galatians 4:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ...

Romans 12:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 14:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ...

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 5:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Psalm 3:1-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. ...

Leviticus 20:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...

Titus 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

John 8:58 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

1 John 4:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ...

James 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Galatians 5:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

John 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

42 Bible Verses about Intellectual Pursuits

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:1-27 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 5:39 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:37 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 1:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 4:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:1-31 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 3:1-8 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 20:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 2:5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 8:58 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Titus 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)