Character never depends on finances, status, ethnicity, or any other standard used to define significance in the world. Character relates to a man’s moral compass, and we can find the best examples of godly character in the Bible.

Nestled among the many narratives that fill the pages of Scripture, God has provided some powerful examples of godly character, examples we can study and imitate today.

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

What is Biblical Character?

Before we mine for examples of godly character in the Bible, we need to understand what we’re looking for. We need to see what it means to be a man of character—and why it’s so important.

When I was a kid, a teacher once told me that character is who you are when no one is looking. I still think that’s a pretty good definition. While character is revealed through our actions, it’s born deep inside. Character begins in places no one else can really see. 

In addition, godly character doesn’t take shape overnight. It’s the result of a process, the product of repeated choices—whether making wise choices or foolish ones. Just like good people can make bad decisions on occasion, bad people can do a good deed every once in a while. Isolated situations don’t define the godly character we see in the Bible. Biblical character stands the test of time.

Examples of godly character in the Bible

Christian men should study the Bible because it represents our guidebook for life. It offers basic instructions for living by God’s standards, and it reveals the consequences of rejecting Him. In Scripture, God demonstrates both the blessings of godly character and the dangers of ungodly character.

For starters, Hebrews 11 is a great place to study examples of godly character in the Bible, but it’s not the only place to look. The list below highlights 10 men who demonstrated biblical character in the Bible. These guys weren’t perfect, but they did have a passion for serving God and doing the right thing every chance they got.

1. Enoch.

Enoch was a man of character because he literally walked with God (Genesis 5:24). In fact, he walked so closely with God that the Lord simply took him home one day. Scholars believe that he and Elijah were the only men to walk so closely with God that they didn’t experience death. That’s character worth imitating!

2. Noah.

Genuine manhood requires difficult choices—including choices that don’t make sense. For those times, Noah provides a great example of biblical character. God called him to build a boat and prepare for a flood even though it had never rained (Genesis 6:11-22). Responding in obedience to that kind of challenge requires godly character.

3. Abraham.

With a GPS system in the palms of our hands, it’s hard to contemplate making a trip without knowing the final destination. But God told Abraham (then known as Abram) to move to an unknown land (Genesis 12:1-3). He also promised to make Abraham into a great nation when logic said that wasn’t possible. But Abraham knew how to have faith in God, and Abraham waited. Examples of godly character in Scripture often remind us that we can’t get ahead of God’s direction or God’s timing. 

4. Moses.

Many examples of godly character in the Bible demonstrate incredible leadership. Of that group, Moses stands out as the first and, possibly, greatest leader of God’s people. Despite his initial objections (Exodus 3-4), Moses eventually accepted God’s call to confront Pharoah and lead the Israelites. Through his example, we learn to seek God’s wisdom in leadership and His strength to make tough decisions. Leaders who demonstrate godly character are not always popular, but they are committed to following God’s design for leadership.

5. David.

The prophet Samuel (another solid example of godly character) once described David as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:13-15). And while we see His passion for God throughout His life, we might learn about godly character best in our greatest failures. After committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, David hid his sin for a while. But once confronted with the truth, he begged God for forgiveness (Psalm 51). Godly character isn’t about perfection. Often, it’s about turning back to God in humility once you’ve fallen. 

6. Elijah.

Throughout Scripture, God led His representatives to confront people in powerful positions. Elijah had an ongoing battle with Israel’s King Ahab and Queen Jezebel that started with God withholding rain (1 Kings 17:1-3) and culminated with Him sending fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:20-39). All the while, Elijah demonstrated godly character by speaking truth, even if the people in charge didn’t want to hear it. He never compromised, and he never backed down. That’s a powerful example of biblical character.

7. Daniel.

Godly men wrestle with the balance between finding common ground and selling out. Daniel demonstrated a God-ordained knack for walking that tightrope. He was able to work humbly and graciously with kings and their officials (Daniel 1-2), but he also refused to back down when non-negotiable convictions were threatened (Daniel 6). He determined to be an example of godly character whether he was praised for interpreting dreams or sent to a lion’s den for his prayer life. 

8. Andrew.

Among Jesus’s disciples, guys like John or Peter or even Judas are probably more notable. But Andrew is a great example of godly character in the Bible because he was always bringing people to Jesus. First, it was his brother (John 1:42). Later, he found the boy who gave his bread and fish to Jesus (John 6:7-10). Then, just days before Jesus’s crucifixion, he joined Philip in introducing some Greeks to the Lord (John 12:20-22). Men of godly character are always looking for ways to connect others with Jesus, just like Andrew.

9. Barnabas.

Whether it’s a kind word, a loving action, or the gift of presence, friends who pick us up are priceless. That’s the role Barnabas played in the early church. His real name was Joseph, but everyone called him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” He sold the property to help people in need (Acts 4:36-37), stood up for Saul (later Paul) when everyone else steered clear (Acts 9:26-28), and served in both the local church and the mission field (Acts 13:1-3). He served others where they were living and helped them become more like Jesus. For that, he earns a place among the great examples of godly character in the Bible. 

10. Philip.

Most guys create their own plan and act it out. Philip, an early lay leader of the church, took the opposite approach. He learned how to hear the Holy Spirit and follow His plans. As a result, his ministries tore down walls, first in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8) and then with an Ethiopian official (Acts 8:26-40). Either would have been despised by most Jews, but he showed godly character by overcoming prejudice and obeying God.

Invest in your godly character

As you think about examples of godly character in the Bible, you can’t escape the fact that Jesus is the ultimate example. As the Son of God, Jesus walked the earth in a way no other man ever has. He is the standard, the paradigm for godly character in Scripture.

Of course, no one can live up to His standard perfectly. Even the spiritual heavyweights in church history fell short. Each of the men listed above sinned. Others, like Peter and Paul, also had baggage from times when they didn’t follow Christ well. 

Thankfully, we don’t have to be perfect. We just have to be willing to learn from Christ and develop His character in our lives. As He changes us on the inside, we will become examples of biblical character ourselves.

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