Manhood, Masculinity, and Christian CharacterSýnishorn

Be Men

Perhaps this is a strange passage for beginning a discussion on the Bible and masculinity. You were probably looking for something more controversial. Why not start with the creation of Adam, or some strong masculine figure from the Old Testament, or Pual’s advice to husbands? Instead, I asked you to read Paul’s closing comments to the Corinthians, most of which are travel arrangements, greetings, and introductions.

But you probably also caught the line about acting like men. It’s certainly not the most comprehensive Biblical text on manhood, but Corinth is an interesting place to start talking about manhood.

The Corinthian church was a mess. If you’ve read some of Paul’s letters to that church, you’ll remember the challenges he faced. The church was awash in false teaching, compromised by the sexuality of the surrounding culture, and constantly fighting over celebrity influences. Their witness was in jeopardy and their fellowship, symbolized in communion, had completely fallen apart.

The Corinthian church was also increasingly less interested in Paul. In his second letter to the church, Paul had to deal with some who were disparaging his unimpressive physical presence. They claimed, “‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.’” Paul doesn’t seem to have made much of a masculine impression. It sounds like a modern Twitter fight.

But it wasn’t all culture wars and conflict. Paul knew and loved the men of the Corinthian church. He names several throughout his letter and in this closing. He was even anxious to spend time with them again.

So Paul wraps up his letter to that church with the warm words, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

What does Paul mean, “act like men?” What does Paul’s view of manhood have to do with strength and love? It’s hard to imagine that his advice was some form of physical masculine presence. Paul wasn’t thinking about manhood like those who criticized him. So what did Paul imagine men at their best to be? What were they supposed to act like?

That question is at the heart of the challenges facing so many of the men I know today. What does it mean to be a Christian man? Are we even allowed to offer Paul’s advice to act like men?

We too find ourselves in a chaotic and complicated culture. We find our Christian values tested and our place in society diminished. We know both the masculine cliches and the cries of toxicity. We can respond with anger, frustration, disillusionment, or even apathy. But I think Paul would offer us the same simple and understated advice as he did the men of Corinth. Keep watch. Stand firm in your faith. Be strong. Act out of love. Act like men.

I think what Paul was talking about was character. I think he had in mind a group of men who were both humbled and strengthened by the gospel they possessed. They were a group of men more interested in God’s evaluations than other men’s. To be a man, was to stand firm, held firm by a growing character and a gospel clarity.

As we continue this reading plan, I want to take a closer look at Christian character and our need for it as men.

What has shaped your definition of Christian manhood?