Character, in the biblical context, refers to the moral and ethical qualities that define an individual. It is the essence of who a person is, shaped by their values, beliefs, and actions. The Bible places significant emphasis on the development of godly character, which is seen as a reflection of one's relationship with God and adherence to His commandments.

Biblical Foundation

The concept of character is deeply rooted in Scripture, where it is often associated with virtues such as integrity, honesty, humility, and faithfulness. Proverbs 22:1 highlights the importance of a good name, stating, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold." This verse underscores the value of a reputation built on strong character.

Character and the Heart

The Bible teaches that character is a matter of the heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord says to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart." This passage emphasizes that God evaluates individuals based on their inner character rather than external appearances.

The Role of Trials

Trials and tribulations are seen as opportunities for character development. Romans 5:3-4 states, "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Here, the Apostle Paul explains that enduring hardships can lead to the strengthening of character, ultimately resulting in hope.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 outlines the fruit of the Spirit, which are qualities that reflect godly character: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." These attributes are evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in a believer's life, shaping their character to align with God's will.

Jesus as the Model of Character

Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of perfect character. His life and teachings provide a blueprint for believers to follow. In Philippians 2:5-7, Paul encourages believers to emulate Christ's humility and selflessness: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Character and Leadership

The Bible also addresses the importance of character in leadership. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul outlines the qualifications for overseers, emphasizing traits such as being above reproach, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach. These qualities are essential for those in positions of authority within the church, as they reflect the character necessary to lead others effectively.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not provide a single definition of character, it consistently highlights the importance of developing a character that mirrors God's holiness and righteousness. Through the guidance of Scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the example of Jesus Christ, believers are called to cultivate a character that honors God and serves as a witness to the world.2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
Topicalbible.org

Ephesians 4:22
That you put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
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Matthew 7:17
Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
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2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Topicalbible.org

2 Peter 2:14
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
Topicalbible.org

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.
Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 1:14
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Topicalbible.org

2 Timothy 3:3
Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Topicalbible.org

1. (n.) A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol.

2. (n.) Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character.

3. (n.) The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition.

4. (n.) Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character.

5. (n.) Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion.

6. (n.) Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the miserable character of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a daughter.

7. (n.) The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation; as, a man's character for truth and veracity; to give one a bad character.

8. (n.) A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant.

9. (n.) A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person who illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was a character; Caesar is a great historical character.

10. (n.) One of the persons of a drama or novel.

11. (v. t.) To engrave; to inscribe.

12. (v. t.) To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize.

3686. onoma -- a name, authority, cause
... authority, cause. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: onoma Phonetic Spelling:
(on'-om-ah) Short Definition: name, character, reputation Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3686.htm - 7k

5158. tropos -- a way, manner, fashion
... manner, fashion. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: tropos Phonetic
Spelling: (trop'-os) Short Definition: way, manner, character Definition: (a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5158.htm - 7k

1382. dokime -- (the process or result of) trial, proving ...
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: dokime Phonetic Spelling: (dok-ee-may')
Short Definition: a trial, proof; tried, approved character Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1382.htm - 7k

2412. hieroprepes -- reverent
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hieroprepes Phonetic Spelling: (hee-er-op-
rep-ace') Short Definition: suitable to a sacred character, reverent Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2412.htm - 7k

5046. teleios -- having reached its end, ie complete, by ext. ...
... perfect, full-grown Definition: perfect, (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full
grown, of full age, (c) specially of the completeness of Christian character. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5046.htm - 8k

2550. kakoetheia -- malevolence
... Cognate: 2550 (from 2556 , "an evil, vicious disposition" and 2239 , "custom") --
a disposition (character) that fosters and fondles evil . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2550.htm - 7k

2425. hikanos -- sufficient, fit
... From hiko (hikano or hikneomai, akin to heko) (to arrive); competent (as if coming
in season), ie Ample (in amount) or fit (in character) -- able, + content ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2425.htm - 8k

5429. phronimos -- practically wise, sensible
... From phren; thoughtful, ie Sagacious or discreet (implying a cautious character;
while sophos denotes practical skill or acumen; and sunetos indicates rather ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5429.htm - 8k

1342. dikaios -- correct, righteous, by impl. innocent
... just, righteous. From dike; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent,
holy (absolutely or relatively) -- just, meet, right(-eous). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1342.htm - 8k

4164. poikilos -- many colored
... diverse, manifold. Of uncertain derivation; motley, ie Various in character -- divers,
manifold. (poikilais) -- 7 Occurrences. (poikiles) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4164.htm - 6k

8034. shem -- a name
... and conspicuous position; compare shamayim); an appellation, as a mark or memorial
of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character -- + base, (in ...
/hebrew/8034.htm - 6k

7260. rabrab -- very great things
... very great things (Aramaic) from rab; huge (in size); domineering (in character) --
(very) great (things). see HEBREW rab. 7259, 7260. rabrab. 7261 . ...
/hebrew/7260.htm - 5k

7613. seeth -- exaltation, dignity, swelling, uprising
... From nasa'; an elevation or leprous scab; figuratively, elation or cheerfulness;
exaltation in rank or character -- be accepted, dignity, excellency, highness ...
/hebrew/7613.htm - 6k

Character of the Gospel.
... Introduction. Character of the Gospel. The last record made of the Life
and Words of our Lord is contained in the Fourth Gospel. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/character of the gospel.htm

Whether a Character is a Spiritual Power?
... OF THE OTHER EFFECT OF THE SACRAMENTS, WHICH IS A CHARACTER (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether a character is a spiritual power? Objection 1 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a character is a.htm

Whether the Sacramental Character is the Character of Christ?
... OF THE OTHER EFFECT OF THE SACRAMENTS, WHICH IS A CHARACTER (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether the sacramental character is the character of Christ? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the sacramental character is.htm

Whether the Character be Subjected in the Powers of the Soul?
... OF THE OTHER EFFECT OF THE SACRAMENTS, WHICH IS A CHARACTER (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether the character be subjected in the powers of the soul? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the character be subjected.htm

The Hebrew Character of the Book.
... THE HEBREW CHARACTER OF THE BOOK. ... It is not only Hebrew in character as to its
linguistic peculiarities, but especially in its use of the Old Testament. ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the hebrew character of the.htm

Whether in the Sacrament of Order a Character is Imprinted in ...
... OF THE EFFECT OF THIS SACRAMENT (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether in the sacrament of Order
a character is imprinted in connection with all the Orders? ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the sacrament of.htm

Whether a Sacrament Imprints a Character on the Soul?
... OF THE OTHER EFFECT OF THE SACRAMENTS, WHICH IS A CHARACTER (SIX ARTICLES)
Whether a sacrament imprints a character on the soul? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether a sacrament imprints a.htm

Whether this Sacrament Imprints a Character?
... OF THE EFFECT OF THIS SACRAMENT (THREE ARTICLES) Whether this sacrament
imprints a character? ... For a character is a distinctive sign. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament imprints a.htm

Forms Versus Character
... CORINTHIANS (To II Corinthians, Chap. V) FORMS VERSUS CHARACTER. 'Circumcision
is nothing ... essential, viz. spiritual conduct and character. I ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/forms versus character.htm

Character and Condition of the Churches to whom the Epistle was ...
... INTRODUCTION. 4. Character and condition of the Churches to whom the Epistle was
addressed, and nature of the errors against which it was directed. ...
/.../the epistle of james practically explained/ 4 character and condition.htm

Character (27 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters
used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character...
/c/character.htm - 16k

Quality (14 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The condition of being of such and such a sort as distinguished from others;
nature or character relatively considered, as of goods; character; sort ...
/q/quality.htm - 11k

Reputation (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The estimation in which one is held; character in public opinion; the
character attributed to a person, thing, or action; repute. ...
/r/reputation.htm - 11k

Sign (181 Occurrences)
... a picture. 6. (n.) A word or a character regarded as the outward manifestation
of thought; as, words are the sign of ideas. 7. (n ...
/s/sign.htm - 46k

Tone (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Sound, or the character of a sound, or a sound considered as of this or
that character; as, a low, high, loud, grave, acute, sweet, or harsh tone. ...
/t/tone.htm - 11k

Saints (117 Occurrences)
... ownership. They are not primarily words of character, like chacidh, but
express a relation to God as being set apart for His own. ...
/s/saints.htm - 39k

Personality
... "From being applied to the mask, it came next to be applied to the actor, then to
the character acted, then to any assumed character, then to anyone having any ...
/p/personality.htm - 16k

Ezranehemiah
... EZRA-NEHEMIAH. Contents 1. Name. 2. Object 3. Plan 4. Unity 5. Sources 6. Literary
Character 7. Languages 8. Historicity 9. Text LITERATURE ...
/e/ezranehemiah.htm - 22k

Ezra-nehemiah
... EZRA-NEHEMIAH. Contents 1. Name. 2. Object 3. Plan 4. Unity 5. Sources 6. Literary
Character 7. Languages 8. Historicity 9. Text LITERATURE ...
/e/ezra-nehemiah.htm - 22k

Tiberius (1 Occurrence)
... 5. Character: Though Tiberius was unpopular, he left the empire in a state of
prosperity and peace. Of his character the most opposite views are held. ...
/t/tiberius.htm - 15k

What does the Bible say about Christian character? | GotQuestions.org

What is the character of God? | GotQuestions.org

How does bad company corrupt good character (1 Corinthians 15:33)? | GotQuestions.org

Character: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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