Jesus prayed that His followers "all may be one" so the world would believe (John 17:21-23). "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). Believers are one body with many members (1 Corinthians 12:12; Romans 12:4-5), share "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:4-6), and are called to be likeminded with no divisions (1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:2).
Unity is one of the clearest things Jesus prayed for, and one of the hardest for His people to live. These twelve King James passages focus on unity in the church and among believers: why it matters, how the body fits together, and what being of one mind looks like. For family and sibling bonds, see our brother page; for loving the people around you, see loving thy neighbor.
That they all may be one
1. John 17:21
"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
Hours before the cross, Jesus prayed for future believers—including us—that they would be one as the Father and Son are one. Unity is a witness: "that the world may believe."
2. John 17:23
"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."
Christian unity is meant to be "made perfect," or complete, and it shows the world that God loves His people as He loves His Son.
3. Psalms 133:1
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
A song of ascents, sung as worshipers traveled to Jerusalem together. Unity among God's people is both good and pleasant; the psalm compares it to anointing oil and refreshing dew.
4. Ephesians 4:4-6
"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."
Seven "ones": one body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God and Father. Christians do not create unity; they recognize it and work to keep it (Ephesians 4:3).
One body, many members
5. 1 Corinthians 12:12
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."
Paul's picture of the church as one body with many members. Different gifts are not a threat to unity; they are its design.
6. Romans 12:4-5
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."
Different roles ("office"), one body—and "every one members one of another." You belong to each other, not just to a group.
7. 1 Corinthians 12:26
"And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."
Unity means shared feelings: when one member suffers, all suffer; when one is honoured, all rejoice.
8. Galatians 3:28
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
In Christ, ethnic, social, and gender lines lose their power to rank people. Differences remain, but all are "one in Christ Jesus."
Of one mind in practice
9. 1 Corinthians 1:10
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."
The church in Corinth was splitting into fan clubs around favorite leaders. Paul pleads for no divisions and for being "perfectly joined together in the same mind."
10. Philippians 2:2
"Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Same love, one accord, one mind. The next verses explain how: do nothing through strife or vainglory, and look to the interests of others.
11. Romans 15:5-6
"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Unity is a gift to pray for. The God of patience and consolation grants likemindedness so that with one mind and one mouth His people glorify Him.
12. Acts 4:32
"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
The first believers were "of one heart and of one soul," and it showed in how they shared possessions. Unity became practical generosity.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, You prayed that we would be one. Heal the divisions in my church, my family, and my own heart. Help me value the gifts of others, suffer and rejoice with them, and keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, so the world may believe that the Father sent You. In Your name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Download our free SOAP study page · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What Bible verse talks about unity?
Psalm 133:1, John 17:21-23, Ephesians 4:3-6, 1 Corinthians 1:10, and Philippians 2:2 are the most-shared unity verses.
What did Jesus pray about unity?
In John 17:21-23 He prayed that all believers would be one, as He and the Father are one, so the world would believe and know God's love.
Does Christian unity mean agreeing on everything?
No. Paul expected differences on some matters (Romans 14) while calling believers to keep "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3) around one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.
What Bible verse is good for a church or team unity theme?
Psalm 133:1, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Philippians 2:2, and Ecclesiastes 4:12 ("a threefold cord is not quickly broken") work well for themes and banners.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about brother · Bible verses about loving thy neighbor · Bible verses about relationships · Bible verses about friendship · Bible verses about love
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
