The Measure of a Man: Twenty Attributes of A Godly Man

by Gene A. Getz

In this revised edition of the best-selling book The Measure of a Man , Gene Getz delivers the newly enhanced message of what it takes to be a man of God. Men will gain encouragement for what they can be in Christ as fathers, husbands, and mentors to other men. Since 1974, The Measure of a Man has taught hundreds of thousands of men around the world how to live according to God’s direction faithfully, lovingly and spiritually. True masculinity is not measured by the strength of a man, but by these 20 biblical guidelines. With life applications and words of inspiration, here is Gene’s greatest work, fully rewritten and updated to reach the new generation of modern men.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Faith, Leadership, Nonfiction, Self Help

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Gene A. Getz, (B.A., Rocky Mountain College; M.A., Wheaton College; Ph.D., New York University), a host and teacher of Renewal Radio, served as a professor at Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary. He has authored more than 60 books, including The Measure of a Healthy Church, Elders and Leaders, and the Men of Character series. He has been a church planting pastor in the Dallas metroplex since 1972 and now serves as President of the Center for Church Renewal and Pastor Emeritus of Fellowship Bible Church North in Plano, Texas.

- http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_au...

Reviews

[Johnathan Sorce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Measure of a Man was an excellent book which really encouraged and challenged me to grow as a Christian man. The book focuses on practical understanding, self-evaluation, and application of the attributes which Paul highlights to Titus and Timothy as ones which should characterize leaders and men in the church. The book is designed to be read and worked through as part of a group study, and this is definitely how I would recommend reading it - especially with a group that you are close with and trust, since engaging with the material fully will require an incredible amount of openness, truthful evaluation, and humility. Over the coming semester I'm going to read through it again with a close friend. I'd definitely recommend it to any Christian man. It's definitely a book I'll return to periodically.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a reread of a book I read many years ago (originally published in 1974). It was a good review of godly traits of men as well as women. I liked the easy organization and balance of Biblical truth and practical examples. Some wisdom: "Bubbly people don't wear well in the long haul." "'Able to teach' is surrounded by words that describe not skills but qulities of life." "Being a generous tipper is also a wonderful opportunity to be a witness for Jesus Christ."
I'm always amazed at the different thoughts that stand out when a book is read or reread.

[Emilie Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed. Should read if you are looking to become a Godly man. Not being a man I personally am not - but I still really enjoyed this book. Good chapter lengths (perf for the train into work) and great content. Excellent stuff.

[Jacquline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Getz is supposedly a father or pastor at his church who wrote this book. This book is targeted at men, and as a woman, my interest was piqued. Getz is sexist and does not like people who are not Christians. If he reads this, he would probably say that I didn't understand his book because I'm a woman, but that is not true. I read it cover to cover, and that is exactly what I got out of it. He thinks Christians are above everyone else because they believe in Christ. Apparently, according to Getz, non-Christians are unkind and uncivilized, but that could be said about most Christians. As a Christian, I think this is a false view for non-believers because many non-Christians are better than those who practice their religion. Also, Getz think men are fallible but women more so. I think he is completely inaccurate when he says that women are the reason why men look for other sources to relieve their sexual tension. It is not women's fault that men have unsatisfied desires! Men need to learn how to control those urges, just as women have to control theirs. In addition, men are not the only ones who suffer from the many points that Getz talks about in his book. Women suffer from many of the same points, and I don't think he acknowledges that men and women are more alike than he thinks. He does not like women, and he thinks he's God. Getz does not have an appreciation for people's individuality. He does not respect anyone but himself, and he acts like he is doing a good deed for others by writing this book. Although he does make some good points, most of the book is gibberish because of the way he manipulates the Bible. It's easy to manipulate the holy word, and by doing so, he knows that people will appreciate what he wrote. Also, I would like to point out that Getz does not name which translation of the Bible he uses unless it suits hi needs. Stating the translation every time he quotes from the Bible will make it easier for the readers to look up the source, but Getz does not provide the proper citations, which shows that he is not credible. If anyone reads this book, read it with caution and with an open mind; do not get sucked into Getz's false teachings.

[Adrian Cereceda Tapia · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro permite contar con una medida para evaluar la madurez cristiana de cada varón.
El desarrollo de las características que se deben trabajar, con ejemplos prácticos, ayuda mucho a entender las ideas.

[Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does such a great job outlining the characteristics of a Godly man. Getz uses Scripture as the basis and effectively communicates through teaching, stories, and personal experience. It also pushes you not to just read, but act on the call for your life.

I would highly recommend to any Christian man to read and study this book.

[Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. Based on Paul’s letters to Timothy and backed up by other scripture, it tells of the qualities to look for in a church elder. The author examines each of these in detail and uses them as examples for us to follow. My wife listened to part of the book with me and enjoyed it. I believe that though written for men, this book is just as useful to women as well.

[Michael Goforth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Went through this book for the second time with some guys at our church over the last 6 months. Although the content itself was good, I didn’t think the author always did a good job explaining and applying the actual attributes from Timothy and Titus. He would sometimes use them as a launching pad into a series of other thoughts that didn’t seem connected. What he said in those other thoughts was good, but I was looking forward to a deep dive into the actual attributes.

[Phillip Zirges · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book by any measure if you desire to grow as a follower of Christ. I highly recommend you read with a group of men, preferably led by someone up to the task. If not with a group, definitely read on your own.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for personal or group men's Bible Studies

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have seen this title a few times in different setting and I thought I give this a read. Since I did not know what to expect I must say half way through the book I discovered I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it.
The book has an introduction followed by twenty chapters. Each chapter covered different attributes that is characteristic of a man of God. It follows roughly the characters given in 1 Timothy 3 in the Bible although the titles did not necessarily match the term in 1 Timothy 3. In 1 Timothy 3 the Apostle gave characteristics of that expected of church elders but of course those virtues are what every Christian man should aspire to. Since I preached from 1 Timothy 3 last year I was pleasantly surprised at the author’s insight into the lexical meaning of the Greek words though at times I felt the author could have stuck more to the meaning of the word since at times it seems the author wanted to talk about what he wanted to talk about rather than have a passage control and dictate his chapters. For example the author Gene Getz talked about self-confidence in one portion of the book as a problem of why people are bad towards others. I don’t know if that’s always the case nor that it is biblical.
Having said that I enjoyed many truths and applications from this book. For instance I enjoyed the discussion about being able to teach as more than just an academic skill but rather the ability to teach is the ability to communicate well to others and not in bondage to one’s self and pride. But the most memorable part of the book came from chapter twelve on avoiding destructive behavior. Here the author has a fascinating story about Yehiel Dinur. What a powerful imagery of Total Depravity though the author didn’t go so far to formulize it like that theologically. But the fact that this subsection is titled Eichmann in all of us definitely affirms it.
Overall a helpful book for a general Christian reading audience. Still I yearn for it to be more driven by the text of Scripture.

[Robert Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this book that I had read over 30 years ago as a result of attending The LA Bible Training Men’s Conference titled The Measure of a Godly Man, in January. The conference as is the book based on the qualities the apostle Paul gives for the qualifications of an elder in 1 Timothy 3, and Titus 1. This is a good review for any Christian on leading a godly life. It is good to be reminded of the 20 qualities of excellence and much interrelated as spiritual disciples for life in Christ Jesus:

1. Above reproach
2. Husband of one wife
3. Temperate
4. Prudent
5. Respectable
6. Hospitable
7. Able to teach
8. Not given to wine
9. Not self-willed
10. Not quick-tempered
11. Not pugnacious
12. Uncontentious
13. Gentle
14. Free from the love of money
15. One who manages his own household well
16. A good reputation with those outside the church
17. Love what is good
18. Just
19. Devout
20. Not a new convert

Getz is very thorough in covering these in detail devoting a chapter to each. He not only defines each with an absolute biblical perspective, but gives practical application to the believer desiring to live a godly life.

The author’s emphasis on the importance of managing his own household well made me feel its importance for growing to be a mature Christian leader as well:

“The quality of being ‘one who manages his own household well’ is probably the most significant mark of Christian maturity listed by Paul. It, above all others, reflects whether or not a man is above reproach, moral, temperate, prudent, respectable, etc. And it, more than any other single characteristic, demonstrates whether a man is mature enough to lead other Christians.”

And then there is this: “A man who learns to ‘love what is good’ must first of all be a man who loves God, for God is good. He must be a man who turns everything over to God and desires to walk consistently and day to day in His will.”

This is a very good read especially for a man who surly wants to be “conformed to the image of Christ.”

[Matt C · Rating 3 out of 5]

What does it mean to be a mature man? How do you recognize him? What does he look like? The author Getz ponders these questions in his attempt to provide a “biblical” perspective of manhood for his readers.

He delves into the different qualities outlined by (traditionally thought to be) Paul in his letters to Timothy and Titus on what to look for when evaluating those aspiring to become leaders within the church. Mature men, those who reflect the “stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ,” should display the following qualities in their personal lives as proof of their Christlike character:

1: Above reproach (a man of good reputation)
2: The husband of one wife (morally pure)
3: Temperate (balanced in words and actions)
4: Prudent (wise and humble)
5: Respectable (good role model)
6: Hospitable (unselfish and generous)
7: Able to teach (communicates sensitively in a non threatening and non defensive manner)
8: Not addicted to wine (not addicted to substances)
9: Not self-willed (not self-centered and controlling)
10: Not quick tempered (void of anger that becomes sinful)
11: Not pugnacious (not abusive)
12: Gentle (sensitive, loving, and kind)
13: Peaceable (non argumentative and non divisive)
14: Free from the love of money (non materialistic)
15: Managed his own household well (a good husband and father)
16: Loving what is good (pursues godly activities)
17: Just (wise, discerning, non prejudiced, and fair)
18: Devout (holy, devoted to God)
19: Self-controlled (disciplined)

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good summary of the qualities of godly men, as outlined by Paul in his letters to Titus and Timothy. I wouldn’t say there’s much here that’s earth-shattering or ground-breaking, but it’s a nice and simple summary of how to be a good man. Simple but not easy. And it has short chapters, which makes it good for weekly group study.


Big Ideas:

+ The church is to be a hospital, to meet physical and emotional needs, as well as social and spiritual needs

+ Develop the ability to communicate without being threatening or defensive
- By not being in bondage to ourselves and with our identities fixed firmly in Christ, we are able to act wisely without being controlled by our minds or emotions
- Force yourself to function in situations you perceive as threatening and you will get better with practice



Potent Quotables:

There are many people who know the Bible from cover to cover but they become defensive and highly threatened when someone challenges their interpretation of Scripture. If we’re not careful, we can use the Bible as a personal sword rather than as the sword of the Spirit.

The only way to true happiness and lasting joy and pleasure that satisfies is to live within the will of God. Then, and only then, all that God has created for us to enjoy will become really enduring.

[Brian Hallam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A measure of man takes the teachings from Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus and evaluates them one chapter at a time, following up each chapter with a series of reflection questions to pray on and ideally, discuss as a group (definitely going to do this in the future!). The chapter headlines are a great summary of the book and include: Above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not pugnacious, gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money, manages his household well, loving what is good, just, devout, and self-controlled. I'll finish with one of the many lines that are highlighted/underlined throughout this text:

A respectable man is a man whose lifestyle adorns the teachings of the Bible. Whether it's his dress, his speech, the appearance of his home, his office, or the way he does business - all are to be in harmony with the biblical principles and doctrines. Because God is a God of order, a man of God should live and orderly life.

[James Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good summary of the qualities any mature man should be continually developing and refining in their life, especially if they are a Christian.

It's designed to be read in a group setting in order to get the full benefit from each chapter. I simply read the book at this time but hope to find some other men who would be interested in growing in their Christian maturity in the future.

The author also provided some links to a video clip for each of the chapters, however I think the links are old as the website is no longer active but his main site is. Hopefully, I can find the videos on it.

Too many great quotes to share them all, so you'll have to read it for yourself.

This is a great addition to my growing library on Biblical manhood and maturity.
-------------------------------------------
FYI: To make sure I get a balanced understanding of God's design for men and women, I've ordered the companion book, The Measure of a Woman, that he co-authored with his wife.

[N. Seth Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be a generally helpful review and discussion of some of the qualities that all Christians should pursue, but not men in particular. It focuses on I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Both of these passages deal with qualifications for elders. But he applies these qualities in ways that should apply to all Christians regardless of gender. Moreover, for most of the terms, his advice was based more on personal anecdote and personal opinion than Scriptural reasoning. What stood out to me was his treatment of “love of self” and “love of money.” In both chapters, he basically just said what he thinks is reasonable and what he thinks is unreasonable, rather arbitrarily defining terms (or not) along the way. I would consider this study of some value to all Christians. But for men in particular, I would recommend something more like It’s Good To Be A Man by Michael Foster.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding guide to understanding what makes a real man, a Godly man, a man of worthy character. As noted in the preface, a group of businessmen discussing admirable traits of good employees quickly agreed with this list, even without knowing their Godly association. This pairs well with the more recent Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men and McManus’ The Way of the Warrior and is distantly reminiscent of Benjamin Franklin’s list of 13 virtues. It is organized with an explanation of each attribute and then specific questions for group discussion in a Bible study. Getz provides a unique technological feature: QR code for each chapter to connect with a video discussion of the topic. These provide video teaching that supplements the reading.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read through this book with someone from church. It is designed to be read as a group as you go through the twenty attributes described for elders and deacons. He is less focused on what this means for those groups and applies it to men generally.

A downside is that he does not always accurately or deeply discuss the word the chapter is about. Some chapters felt like launching pads for his own ideas. It is definitely dated at points (sexist) but not nearly as dated as I thought that it would be. It is not a bad book, but I wouldn't really recommend it.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is best used by committed men who aspire to be godly, in small but honest discussion groups on a weekly basis, one chapter at a time. (As an encouragement, page 185 mentions how even the author met with his elders to do a study about possessions that took six months, meeting once a week for 3-4 hours every Thursday evening.). Allowing yourself the vulnerability to analyze yourself truthfully so you can change for the better (progressive holiness) can be a transformative way to become more like Christ, but it takes hard work and discipline.

[Ben Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a great job outlining biblical principles for men to live by. In a world like the one we live in it is often difficult for men to have a sense of direction in coming to manhood (especially with so many absent fathers). Getz does a great job outlining what REALLY makes a man a man.
Bottom line? Read this book for inspiration and direction on your walk to becoming a better Christian and a better man.

[Michael Shawn Carbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book! It’s a great way to start conversations about biblical godliness. The only thing I didnt like is the abundance of lists and “test yourself” type things. Holiness is t something you can check off or rate on a scale of 1-10. The author certainly alludes to this as well but I think those types of things can become a barrier for some readers. Overall, the book has some engaging stories followed by valuable insights into Christian character!

[Elvis Chirinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mi juicio un excelente libro que confronta al Cristiano con las verdades bíblicas. Te hace reflexionar francamente con tus luchas o debilidades como humanos Imperfectos, y a la vez te aporta herramientas sustentadas en la biblia para que puedas superar esas luchas y/o debilidades.
El autor identifica 20 atributos que como mínimo debe poseer un hombre De Dios, fundamentados en las cartas escritas por Pablo a Timoteo y a Tito.

[M. N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book discussing characteristics of a man. However, there are some differences I have with the author that I did not fully agree with. I feel the author comes from a conservative christian background, which I am not debating here. I disagree with some of his statements regarding social issues. Overall, quick read and makes good points.

[Omisile Kehinde Olugbenga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book for group study by men. I actually studied the book alongside other men from Canada, Australia, Germany, Ghana, and four states in Nigeria. We also watched Gene's introductory videos alongside. We met every week for 10 weeks virtually to discuss each two chapters weekly. Anyone that is serious about his character should give himself to this study.

[Jeffrey A. Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to the basics

Right out of the scriptures Gene shows us what God has in mind for our character development and what the finished product will look like when we get to heaven. Great read and be sure to scan the QR codes for Gene’s videos!

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing and challenging book! Every point and scriptural encouragement was challenging to become the man of God that we are called to be. I believe every Christian man needs to read this no matter their age.

[Zach Curran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of the personal stories seemed generic and uninspired, lacking any real punch. The cited scripture sections were my favorite to read and the lesson ideas were good, but the writing failed to really convict me in any way. If nothing else, it’s a solid overview.

[Lee Nanfelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, still – good, classic

This book has been redone after decades of use everywhere, now with accompanying videos. A strong message about Christian godliness based on the qualities which the apostle Paul called for in leaders.

[J Svedin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second time reading it through, very well thought out, good personal stories, and very good application steps