Bible Verses About Identity

Who you are is settled by God, not by your failures or the world's labels. These verses about identity declare who you are in Christ.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” — 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people — four titles taken from Israel's charter and applied to scattered Gentile believers. The reason given is to shew forth praises.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” — Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained. The works are described as prepared in advance, not invented.

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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.” — Galatians 3:26-28 (KJV)

Neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female — three of the sharpest social divisions of the first century. The claim is not that they vanish but that they do not determine standing.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” — 1 John 3:1 (KJV)

Behold what manner of love, that we should be called the sons of God — the writer interrupts his own argument to marvel. The next clause explains why the world does not recognise us.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” — Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee — said to a young man objecting that he could not speak. Identity is asserted against his own self-assessment.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,” — Ephesians 1:4-5 (KJV)

He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world — the timing places belonging before existence. Adoption is the image used.

“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” — Psalm 100:3 (KJV)

It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves — the correction is aimed at self-invention. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture, follows.

“Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” — Isaiah 49:16 (KJV)

I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands — spoken to a people convinced they had been forgotten. Graven means cut in, not written.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” — Colossians 3:3 (KJV)

Your life is hid with Christ in God — hiddenness offered as security rather than obscurity. The reveal is promised in the next verse.

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” — 1 Corinthians 12:27 (KJV)

Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular — identity is corporate and individual at once. In particular means each part specifically.

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” — John 15:16 (KJV)

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit. The direction of the choosing is corrected.

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” — Ephesians 2:19 (KJV)

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints. Written to people who had been religious outsiders by law.

“Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” — Isaiah 62:4 (KJV)

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken, neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate — new names given to replace ones that had stuck. Renaming is the mechanism of the promise.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” — Romans 8:1 (KJV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. It follows immediately after Paul's account of the divided self.

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” — Psalm 8:4-5 (KJV)

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? — the question is asked while looking at the night sky. The answer given is higher than the question expects.

“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” — Deuteronomy 7:6 (KJV)

The LORD hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself — followed immediately by the note that they were the fewest of all people. Smallness is named as part of the point.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about identity?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on identity: 1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 3:26-28, 1 John 3:1, Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 1:4-5, Psalm 100:3, Isaiah 49:16, Colossians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27, John 15:16, Ephesians 2:19, Isaiah 62:4, Romans…

What is a good Bible verse about identity?

1 Peter 2:9 is the passage most often quoted on identity, with Ephesians 2:10 and Galatians 3:26-28 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these identity verses?

You can read all of these verses about identity — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.