100 Bible Verses about Self Discipline

Hebrews 12:11 ESV / 1,115 helpful votes

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Proverbs 25:28 ESV / 784 helpful votes

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV / 581 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 571 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV / 480 helpful votes

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 417 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 349 helpful votes

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV / 264 helpful votes

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 1:8 ESV / 227 helpful votes

But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Titus 2:12 ESV / 226 helpful votes

Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Proverbs 15:32 ESV / 212 helpful votes

Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV / 196 helpful votes

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 159 helpful votes

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 155 helpful votes

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 13:18 ESV / 153 helpful votes

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV / 151 helpful votes

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 148 helpful votes

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 122 helpful votes

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 122 helpful votes

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 120 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Galatians 5:23 ESV / 113 helpful votes

Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1 Peter 4:7 ESV / 109 helpful votes

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Romans 8:13 ESV / 108 helpful votes

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 106 helpful votes

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 18:9 ESV / 98 helpful votes

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 96 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Hebrews 12:1-29 ESV / 94 helpful votes

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. ...

Romans 8:18 ESV / 91 helpful votes

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 90 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.

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 81 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 76 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 73 helpful votes

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 71 helpful votes

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 71 helpful votes

A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Revelation 3:19 ESV / 69 helpful votes

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV / 67 helpful votes

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV / 65 helpful votes

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

Proverbs 13:1-25 ESV / 58 helpful votes

A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. ...

Romans 12:3 ESV / 57 helpful votes

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

2 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV / 52 helpful votes

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ...

Romans 13:14 ESV / 51 helpful votes

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 51 helpful votes

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV / 50 helpful votes

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 50 helpful votes

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

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV / 50 helpful votes

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

Titus 2:11-12 ESV / 49 helpful votes

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 48 helpful votes

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Corinthians 7:5 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

James 3:2 ESV / 46 helpful votes

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Psalm 119:9-11 ESV / 46 helpful votes

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 44 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV / 44 helpful votes

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Philippians 3:12-14 ESV / 43 helpful votes

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 ESV / 43 helpful votes

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:8 ESV / 42 helpful votes

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Colossians 3:12 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 40 helpful votes

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Ephesians 4:23-24 ESV / 39 helpful votes

And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Acts 24:25 ESV / 39 helpful votes

And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Proverbs 23:13 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 39 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

James 4:7 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 1:15 ESV / 37 helpful votes

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

Hebrews 5:14 ESV / 37 helpful votes

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

1 Corinthians 7:9 ESV / 37 helpful votes

But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Romans 8:7 ESV / 36 helpful votes

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

Titus 2:6 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

2 Timothy 3:3 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

1 Timothy 4:7-8 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

James 3:2-12 ESV / 33 helpful votes

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ...

James 1:12 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

1 John 2:16 ESV / 32 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 Peter 2:5 ESV / 32 helpful votes

You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV / 32 helpful votes

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 32 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Romans 6:12-13 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Daniel 1:1-21 ESV / 31 helpful votes

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. ...

Hebrews 12:5 ESV / 29 helpful votes

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 28 helpful votes

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

Matthew 16:25 ESV / 28 helpful votes

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 28 helpful votes

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

James 2:10 ESV / 27 helpful votes

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Ephesians 4:22 ESV / 27 helpful votes

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Romans 5:3-5 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 ESV / 25 helpful votes

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Philippians 4:12-13 ESV / 25 helpful votes

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ephesians 4:1-32 ESV / 25 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

Romans 14:20-21 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...

Revelation 3:11 ESV / 24 helpful votes

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Revelation 2:10 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 24 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 24 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.

Galatians 5:17 ESV / 24 helpful votes

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

1 Peter 5:4 ESV / 22 helpful votes

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

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