Questions
Does the Bible Have a Theology of Masculinity?
Summary: No—not in any straightforward sense. Scripture has a great deal to say about men in their specific roles (husbands, fathers, elders, kings), but it does not organize its teaching around the category of masculinity; its evaluative standard for male characters is not “is he masculine?” but “is he faithful?”
The Bible has a good deal to say about men, about husbands, fathers, kings, priests, prophets, disciples, and elders, but it does not organize that teaching around the category of masculinity. The evaluative standard it applies to male characters is not “is he masculine?” but “is he faithful?” For instance, Abraham wins battles against impressive forces and is virile into his 90s, yet he is not lauded for his manliness, but as one who “obeyed my [God’s] voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Gen 26:5; cf. Heb 11:8, 17).
The Bible has a theology of being human. Within that theology are specific instructions for people in particular relationships and vocations. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Fathers are not to provoke their children. Elders are to be above reproach. None of these instructions presupposes a masculinity ideology. They presuppose relationships and responsibilities that exist within the community of God’s people, and they call those who hold them to a specific kind of faithfulness. Though these instructions may differ between male and female, the characteristics are often applied to both sexes (cf. 1 Tim 3:1-7; 1 Tim 2:9; 3:11; 5:7; Tit 2:5; cf. Titus 3:2; Heb 13:5; 1 Pet 4:9).
This is not a gap in Scripture that needs to be filled with extra-biblical material about masculinity. Scripture’s relative disinterest in masculinity as a category reflects the fact that the categories that matter for Christian living are not gendered ideologies but loyalty to God expressed through obedience and love for others within a given set of relationships and roles (1 Jn 5:1-5). Men who focus on being conformed to the image of Christ will find that their maleness is given shape by something more durable than a cultural script.
When Christians go to Scripture looking for a theology of masculinity, they tend to find one, because that is what they are looking for. When they go looking for a theology of faithful male discipleship, they find something richer and more demanding.
Key Takeaways: Scripture’s Actual Framework
- Scripture’s Standard: Male biblical characters are evaluated by faithfulness, not masculinity—Abraham is commended for obedience (Gen 26:5; Heb 11:8, 17), not virility.
- Relational and Vocational, Not Ideological: Instructions to husbands, fathers, and elders presuppose relationships and responsibilities, not a masculinity ideology.
- Shared Traits: Qualities often labeled “masculine leadership” (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1) appear elsewhere as expectations for all Christians (1 Tim 2:9; 3:11; 5:7; Titus 2:5; 3:2; Heb 13:5; 1 Pet 4:9).
- The “So What”: A theology of faithful male discipleship is richer and more demanding than a theology of masculinity—and it is what the text actually offers.
About the Author — James Spencer, PhD, is a theologian, author, and host of the Thinking Christian podcast, where he writes and speaks on Christian formation, political theology, and technology. He holds a PhD in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and completed the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He serves as President of the D.L. Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts, as adjunct faculty in Wheaton College’s MA in Leadership program, and as an Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Christianity.com, and Sojourners; he has been quoted in The Telegraph; and he is a regular guest on Stand in the Gap Today with the American Pastors Network. His forthcoming book is Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press, Fall 2026). Learn more at jamesgspencer.com.