The Bible has a lot to say about diversity and how we should think about and relate to people who are different from us. Here are some of the key themes that emerge from Scripture on this topic:
1. All people are created in God’s image
The Bible teaches that every single human being is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This applies regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, social status, ability, or any other factor. Because all people reflect God’s image, all people have inherent dignity and worth. As image-bearers of God, we are all equal before Him.
Bible verses:
Genesis 1:26-27 – Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Acts 17:26 – And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.
2. God values diversity and wants us to embrace it
The Bible showcases the vast diversity within God’s creation and among His people. God did not create a monolithic humanity; from the beginning diversity was part of His design. In the Old Testament Israel was called to be a light to the nations, suggesting God’s plan was inclusive of all people (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6). At Pentecost, the early church included Parthians, Medes, Cretans, Arabs, and Romans – a diverse community united by the Spirit (Acts 2:1-12). God intentionally brings diversity into the Body of Christ.
Bible verses:
Revelation 7:9 – After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 – For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:14-16 – For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
3. We must love our neighbor as ourselves
Jesus taught that the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). The Bible makes it clear our “neighbor” includes people from different backgrounds than our own. Loving our neighbor means seeking their good and welfare. It pushes us to look beyond external differences to the shared humanity underneath. Love requires active effort to understand and empathize with our diverse neighbors.
Bible verses:
Luke 10:25-37 – The parable of the good Samaritan teaches that our “neighbor” includes those outside our own groups.
Philippians 2:1-4 – Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Romans 12:9-13 – Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
4. Do not show favoritism or partiality
Scripture condemns favoritism, treating someone differently because of external characteristics. The Bible rejects prejudice, unfair discrimination, and judging by appearances. Followers of Christ are to look past surface differences to the heart. We cannot show partiality based on social status, ethnicity, gender, or any other human distinction.
Bible verses:
James 2:1-9 – My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Proverbs 28:21 – To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
Acts 10:34-35 – So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”
5. Be humble, gentle, and patient with others
Engaging diversity requires humility to recognize we have more to understand. It requires gentleness and patience as we navigate differences and disagreements. Scripture urges us to be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). We should interact with humility and grace, rather than arrogance or harshness towards those we perceive as “other.”
Bible verses:
Ephesians 4:2 – Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Colossians 3:12-14 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
6. Seek unity amidst diversity; diversity enriches the Body of Christ
Scripture envisions profound unity among God’s diverse people. Our shared identity in Christ transcends human divisions. The Bible’s image of the church is an integrated but multi-ethnic, multi-class body joined together in Christ. Our differences help us understand God’s grace and more fully display Christ’s beauty.
Bible verses:
1 Corinthians 12:12-20 – Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.
Ephesians 4:11-13 – So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Revelation 7:9-10 – After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
7. Live at peace with others as much as possible
While embracing diversity, Scripture also recognizes the reality of conflict and disagreement. We are called to “make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19). As far as it depends on us, Christians should seek to live at peace with people of all backgrounds. We can disagree without being disagreeable.
Bible verses:
Romans 12:18 – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Hebrews 12:14 – Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Romans 14:1 – Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.
Romans 15:5-6 – May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8. Call out and address injustice, oppression, and discrimination
While seeking peace, Scripture also calls us to champion justice. Christians must speak out against partiality, mistreatment, and oppression of minority groups. We cannot remain silent in the face of prejudice, discrimination, or marginalization. Followers of Jesus must actively work to address injustice in our societies.
Bible verses:
Proverbs 31:8-9 – Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Isaiah 1:17 – Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
9. Remember our primary identity is in Christ
As Christians, our core identity is not tied to ethnicity, nationality, or any other human distinction. We are citizens of God’s kingdom first. Worldly categories that divide people hold little ultimate significance compared to our shared identity as children of God. In Christ, human differences fade as people from every nation are united in one family.
Bible verses:
Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:11 – Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
1 Peter 2:9-10 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
10. Our mission is to make disciples of all nations
Jesus commissioned his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The Great Commission makes it clear the gospel is for people from every human culture. Our mission as the church is global and multi-ethnic. To reach diverse peoples for Christ requires crossing social boundaries with the hope of the gospel.
Bible verses:
Matthew 28:19 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Revelation 5:9 – And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
In conclusion, the Bible provides rich insight into how Christians should engage diversity and relate to people of different backgrounds. Scripture calls us to love all people as image-bearers of God, reject favoritism, embrace diversity in the church, actively seek justice, and share the gospel with people from every nation. Our primary identity is in Christ, which unites diverse peoples into one integrated body.