Christian manhood is inseparable fromdiscipleship. Any attempt to define what it means to be a "Christianman" apart from following Christ results in a distorted vision, shapedmore by culture than by biblical truth. To be a Christian man is to be unitedwith Christ through faith, actively learning to live under His authority andreflecting His character in all aspects of life. This process requirescontinual growth, transformation, and submission to God's will, shaping notonly personal behavior but also the way men interact within their communities,families, and workplaces.
Often, cultural ideals of masculinity emphasizebravado, dominance, or self-sufficiency—qualities that do not emerge frombiblical discipleship. Instead, Scripture presents an alternative vision, onemarked by gentleness (Eph 4:2; 1 Thess 2:7; 1 Tim 6:11), meekness (Matt 5:5; 2Cor 10:1; Col 3:12), and compassion (Col 3:12). A Christian man does not striveto conform to cultural stereotypes of masculinity but rather to the image ofChrist. He pursues humility and servanthood, recognizing that true strength isdemonstrated through sacrificial love rather than dominance.
At the same time, the biblical distinction betweenmale and female must not be ignored. While men and women share the samefundamental identity as image-bearers of God, they remain distinct. Genesis1:27 affirms this distinction: "Male and female He created them."Recognizing and maintaining this distinction is essential, but we must alsoguard against overstatement, ensuring that our definitions of masculinity andfemininity align with biblical rather than cultural standards. Men and womenhave distinct yet complementary roles in God’s design, which is ultimatelyrooted in mutual submission to Christ.
Key Considerations forChristian Manhood
· Jesus Is the IdealHuman, Not Just the Ideal Man
Christian men, like all disciples, are called to learn from Jesus, but notbecause He was male. Rather, they follow Him because He is the perfect exampleof humanity. The lessons men derive from Christ are not exclusive to theirgender; they are rooted in the broader calling of Christian discipleship. Whenboth men and women imitate Christ, they grow into the fullness of theirGod-given identity without losing their distinctiveness as male or female. AChristian man models his character after Christ by leading with love, servingwith humility, and pursuing righteousness in every aspect of life.
· Manhood Is EmbodiedDifferently in Different Contexts
While generalizations can be useful, they have limitations. For example, whilemen are generally stronger than women, there are many women who can outliftmost men in weight training. Physical strength, therefore, is not the definingtrait of masculinity. Similarly, Christian men should be careful not to imposerigid, one-size-fits-all definitions of manhood. Instead, they should recognizethat each man expresses his discipleship uniquely, shaped by his gifts,circumstances, and relationships. The measure of a man is not in his ability todominate but in his commitment to love God and others faithfully.
· Culture Conditions, butChrist Governs
Cultural expectations influence how masculinity is expressed, but they shouldnever dictate what it means to be a Christian man. For instance, Deuteronomy22:5 warns against blurring gender distinctions through clothing, but this mustbe understood within its cultural context. The command does not prohibit kilts formen or pantsuits for women but rather demands that the distinction between maleand female be maintained. Similarly, Christian men must navigate culturalexpectations of manhood while remaining rooted in Christ’s authority. Theiractions should reflect biblical values rather than societal pressures,prioritizing holiness over cultural conformity.
With these preliminary thoughts in mind, we can now considerwhat it means to be a Christian man.
Christian Manhood from Scripture
Does the Bible provide a single, definitive paradigm for Christianmanhood? Not necessarily. While Scripture portrays many male figures, it doesnot always specify which traits are universally applicable and which areuniquely male. For example, Paul urges both men and women in Philippi toimitate Christ (Phil 2:1-11), underscoring the universal nature of discipleship.Jesus is not just a model for men because he is male, but for everyone becausehe is the model human.
Thefact that Jesus is male isn’t trivial. It would likely have influenced the wayhe navigate his world. Being male would have had a variety of advantages andlimitations. Jesus was not showing us how to be a Christian man specifically,but how to be human—how to live a life surrendered to God’s will. To illustrate the point, we don’t counsel womento imitate Christ selectively (e.g., leaving out the parts of Christ’slife that are only applicable to men) because we don’t believe that when womenimitate Christ, they are in any danger of becoming less female.
That said, certain biblical qualifications forleadership are male-specific, such as the characteristics required of overseersin 1 Timothy 3:1-7. However, most of these virtues—being above reproach,sober-minded, self-controlled, hospitable—are expected of all Christians, notjust men. While men will embody these traits within their particular roles, thefundamental call to godliness transcends gender. Note the following:
· “above reproach” (1 Tim 3:2)- See 1 Tim 5:7(widows)
· “sober-minded” (1 Tim 3:2)- See 1 Tim 3:11(wives)
· “self-controlled” (1 Tim 3:2)- See Tit 2:5(young women)
· “respectable” (1 Tim 3:2)- 1 Tim 2:9 (women; oftentranslated “modesty”)
· “hospitable” (1 Tim 3:2)- See 1 Peter 4:9 (wholecommunity of faith)
· “able to teach” (1 Tim 3:2)- This term is notapplied to women though women are described or portrayed as teaching in othercontexts (Tit 2:3)
· “drunkard” (1 Tim 3:3)- Though this exact phraseis not applied to women, Titus 2:3 commands older women not to be “slaves tomuch wine.” We also see general prohibitions of drunkenness applied to thewhole community (Eph 5:18).
· “violent” (1 Tim 3:3)- This term is not appliedto women.
· “gentle” (1 Tim 3:3)- See Phil 4:5 and Tit 3:2 (wholecommunity of faith); see also Jam 3:17 (characteristic of “wisdom from above”)
· “not a brawler” (1 Tim 3:3)- See Titus 3:2(whole community of faith)
· “not a lover of money (1 Tim 3:3)- See Heb 13:5(whole community of faith)
1 Timothy 3:3-7 does offer some male-specific characteristics.Managing one’s household, for example, is seen as a male-specific role thoughit is possible that Paul’s instructions regarding the management of one’s householdis conditioned by the surrounding culture. Paul may have been trying to avoid asituation in which Christian men were viewed as being weak or out of controlwithin a society in which men tended to be more domineering over their familiesas a means of preserving their reputations. The point is that men, whether bynature or by social conventions, will embody these characteristics in uniqueways within their various relationships.
Men in Relation
Ephesians 5:15-6:9 offers instructions on wiseChristian living, including guidance for men in various relational roles. Paulcalls husbands to love their wives sacrificially (Eph 5:25), fathers to raisetheir children with godly instruction (Eph 6:4), and masters to treat servantswith dignity (Eph 6:9). Rather than dismantling social structures, Paul callsChristian men to transform them by submitting to Christ’s authority.
A Christian man does not define himself by societal success but byhis faithfulness in his relationships. Whether as a husband, father, or leader,his primary responsibility is to reflect Christ’s character. As Augustineobserved, many men seek to be loved and feared for their own sake rather thanGod’s. A Christian man, however, seeks only to glorify God in whatever role heoccupies. He prioritizes integrity over influence, ensuring that his leadershipis rooted in humility rather than ambition.
Christians to act differently within existing social structures.The instructions concerning wives/husbands (5:22-32), children/parents (6:1-4)and servants/masters (6:5-9) transform instead of eliminating socialdistinctions. There are still children and parents, servants and masters, and wivesand husbands.
What does this mean for Christian men? First, ithighlights that while culture influences how men express themselves in theworld, it does not have ultimate authority over that expression. Men holdvarious roles within society, but the roles themselves aren’t necessarily theissue. Rather, the challenge often lies in how society interprets these rolesand how it rewards those who occupy them. Augustine observed that certain positionsin human society can tempt us to seek admiration and fear, not as a reflectionof God’s glory, but as a substitute for it. For Christian men, stepping intoroles—whether as husbands, fathers, professionals, artists, or leaders—meanstheir identity is shaped by God, not dictated by worldly expectations.
Second, Scripture teaches that men and women were created aspartners in God's work (Genesis 2:18-25). The Hebrew term ezer,often translated as “helper,” can be misleading if understood as implying subordination.However, the Bible frequently describes God Himself as an ezer (Exodus18:4; Deuteronomy 33:7; Psalm 70:5), reinforcing that the term denotes strengthand essential support rather than inferiority. A more accurate understanding isthat woman was created as a co-laborer and co-warrior alongside man.
When Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11:8, “For man was not made fromwoman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman forman,” he is referencing the creation account. The phrase “for man” does notimply servitude but rather acknowledges that man alone was incomplete infulfilling God’s purposes. Woman was designed to complement and complete man,filling the gaps in their shared divine mission.
Ultimately, a Christian man’s primary identity is defined by hisrelationship with Christ. In addressing masters and servants, Paul remindsmasters—who were often men—that their treatment of those under their authoritymust reflect their shared accountability before God. Because the Lord judgesimpartially, they are called to act with dignity and fairness (Ephesians 6:9;Colossians 4:1). A man’s standing before God should guide and shape everyrelationship he enters, ensuring that his leadership and influence reflect thejustice and love of Christ.
Conclusion
So, what defines a Christian man?A few key points stand out:
· Christian manhood is a specialized form of discipleship. Men are called to follow Christ as men, embodying theirfaith in a way that reflects their God-given identity. Certain biblicalinstructions, such as the command for male overseers to be non-violent (1 Tim3:3; Tit 1:7), may reflect tendencies that require special attention in malediscipleship.
· Christian men navigate societal structures under Christ’sauthority. They do notconform to cultural definitions of masculinity but instead seek to glorify God.Their ultimate allegiance is not to social expectations but to the Lord.
· Christian men prioritize being Christian over being"manly." The call to"act like men" (1 Cor 16:13) is ultimately a call to discipleship.Masculinity, apart from Christ, is an empty pursuit. The goal is not tocultivate an arbitrary ideal of manhood but to grow in Christlikeness.
· Christian men serve, lead, and love through the power ofChrist. Theirmasculinity is not defined by dominance but by servanthood. They are called toreflect the self-sacrificial love of Christ in all areas of life, rejectingworldly measures of success in favor of spiritual faithfulness.
In the end, a Christian man is not defined by how well hefits into cultural molds but by his willingness to submit to Christ. Throughdiscipleship, he sheds the distortions of manhood shaped by the world—whethertoxic bravado, passive irresponsibility, or an uncritical embrace of culturalnorms. Instead, he becomes a man after God’s own heart, leading, serving, andloving as Christ did, standing firm in faith, and humbly guiding others towardGod’s eternal kingdom.
