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The Masculine Mandate: God's Calling to Men
In this book, Richard D. Phillips cuts through the cultural confusion, highlights Gods mandate for men, and encourages readers to join him on a journey of repentance and renewal. Phillips begins in the Garden of Eden, drawing foundational teaching for men from the earliest chapters of Gods Word. This is teaching that reaches into all of life. Christian men today need to examine their hearts and embrace their God-given mandate. Only then will they be able to recognize their high calling, and by Gods grace, serve faithfully in whatever context God has placed them.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2010
366 people are currently reading
1737 people want to read
About the author
Richard D. Phillips
75 books41 followersRichard D. Phillips (MDiv, Westminster Theological Seminary) is the senior minister of Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville, South Carolina. He is a council member of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, chairman of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology, and coeditor of the Reformed Expository Commentary series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
July 20, 2011
This was quite a good book. Exegetically grounded, this is a fine study for men who want to learn what they are for.
June 30, 2011
This is a popular level book meeting a popular need. It’s full of application, personal stories, and at times just good old homespun advice. This wouldn’t be the only book to read on the subject, but it should be one of them. The book feels like it’s adapted from a series of sermons, which makes it easy reading.
Phillips writes from the perspective of husband, father, pastor, and former assistant professor of leadership at United States Military Academy, West Point. He writes with refreshing directness, and he provides us with a welcome addition to books addressing biblical manhood. It’s well-known that Philips wrote this book, in part, to push back against Eldredge’s wildly popular book, Wild at Heart. If Phillips’ brief evaluation of Wild at Heart (cf. pp. 5-7) is correct, I’m thankful for this response and correction.
The book carries with it the imprimatur of Jerry Bridges. (One whishes Phillips' book would be characterized with the same degree of carefulness and handling of Scripture as Bridges’ works manifest. Phillips doesn't do a poor job. The book is loaded with Scripture, and there’s a helpful Scripture index provided. But in my opinion he misses the mark in some places (e.g., p. 63 and pp. 88-90) and forces some applications as a result.
The book has two main sections: Understanding Our Mandate (Chapters 1-5) and Living Our Mandate (Chapters 6-13).
The first half lays out the theological underpinning for biblical manhood. Essentially, “based on the teaching of Genesis 2, men are to enter into the world God has made as the men he has made us to be—lords and servants under God’s authority—that we might fulfill our mandate: to work and keep” (9).
The second half of the book deals with what biblical manhood looks like in the realms of marriage, discipleship and discipline of children, male friendship, the church, and the world at large-servants.
The end of the book provides several pages of Questions for Reflection, which I found to be just as helpful, if not more, than the book itself.
Along with minor disagreements with some of his interpretations, I think the book could also provide a lengthier treatment regarding biblical manhood as a single person. Philips does deal with the issue on pp. 59ff, but it is only to urge them to get married. More thought and care should be given to this area. More, early on it’s confusing to know whether Philips is discussing humankind or the male gender in particular. Shoring up some of the nomenclature would aid clarity.
I personally befitted the most from chapters 9-11 involving the discipleship of children. The anecdote he shares on p. 118 about protecting his son at school is helpful and provides counterbalance to those who may think he overstates his advice about discipline earlier in the chapter.
I’ll end with a quote that benefited me the most.
“I used to think that if a man came into my house to attack my wife, I would certainly stand up to him. But then I came to realize that the man who enters my house and assaults my wife every day is me, through my anger, my harsh words, my complaints, and my indifference. As a Christian, I came to realize that the man I needed to kill in order to protect my wife is myself as a sinner” (87).
Phillips writes from the perspective of husband, father, pastor, and former assistant professor of leadership at United States Military Academy, West Point. He writes with refreshing directness, and he provides us with a welcome addition to books addressing biblical manhood. It’s well-known that Philips wrote this book, in part, to push back against Eldredge’s wildly popular book, Wild at Heart. If Phillips’ brief evaluation of Wild at Heart (cf. pp. 5-7) is correct, I’m thankful for this response and correction.
The book carries with it the imprimatur of Jerry Bridges. (One whishes Phillips' book would be characterized with the same degree of carefulness and handling of Scripture as Bridges’ works manifest. Phillips doesn't do a poor job. The book is loaded with Scripture, and there’s a helpful Scripture index provided. But in my opinion he misses the mark in some places (e.g., p. 63 and pp. 88-90) and forces some applications as a result.
The book has two main sections: Understanding Our Mandate (Chapters 1-5) and Living Our Mandate (Chapters 6-13).
The first half lays out the theological underpinning for biblical manhood. Essentially, “based on the teaching of Genesis 2, men are to enter into the world God has made as the men he has made us to be—lords and servants under God’s authority—that we might fulfill our mandate: to work and keep” (9).
The second half of the book deals with what biblical manhood looks like in the realms of marriage, discipleship and discipline of children, male friendship, the church, and the world at large-servants.
The end of the book provides several pages of Questions for Reflection, which I found to be just as helpful, if not more, than the book itself.
Along with minor disagreements with some of his interpretations, I think the book could also provide a lengthier treatment regarding biblical manhood as a single person. Philips does deal with the issue on pp. 59ff, but it is only to urge them to get married. More thought and care should be given to this area. More, early on it’s confusing to know whether Philips is discussing humankind or the male gender in particular. Shoring up some of the nomenclature would aid clarity.
I personally befitted the most from chapters 9-11 involving the discipleship of children. The anecdote he shares on p. 118 about protecting his son at school is helpful and provides counterbalance to those who may think he overstates his advice about discipline earlier in the chapter.
I’ll end with a quote that benefited me the most.
“I used to think that if a man came into my house to attack my wife, I would certainly stand up to him. But then I came to realize that the man who enters my house and assaults my wife every day is me, through my anger, my harsh words, my complaints, and my indifference. As a Christian, I came to realize that the man I needed to kill in order to protect my wife is myself as a sinner” (87).
April 29, 2022
This is one of the best books on manhood that you'll read. The basic theology of the book is based on Genesis 2 with God's charge to man to build and keep. This is the best part of the book and the reason I will be recommending this book to men--particularly young men.
Phillips writes, "A man's working life is to be spent accomplishing things, usually as part of a company or other grouping of people. We are to invest our time, our energies, our ideas, and our passions in bringing good things into being. A faithful man, then, is one who has devoted himself to cultivating, building, and growing. Take a Christian man's professional life, for example. I'm going to address this in more detail in the next chapter, but for now let's observe that our calling to work means investing ourselves in accomplishing things of value. Men should be using their gifts, talents, and experiences to succeed in worthwhile causes that (if they are married) provide for their families. This can be anything that accomplishes good. A man can make eyeglasses, do scientific research, or manage a store; the examples are almost endless. But in each case, our mandate to work means we should be devoting ourselves to building good things and accomplishing worthwhile results. There is nothing wrong with a man working simply to earn a wage, but Christians rightly want their labors to yield more than money for themselves and their families. Christian men should also desire to cultivate something worthwhile for the glory of God and the well-being of their fellow men."
This is the kind of message that is so lost in our own day--what are men for? We pursue pleasures and self-satisfaction in things outside of the "masculine mandate" and it is no wonder men are so starved for meaning and purpose.
What is the masculine mandate? Phillips explains that it is, "to be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God's fruit by serving and leading."
But this masculine mandate extends far beyond the realm of work--it extends into marriage and fatherhood. This too, is really good stuff.
Phillips writes, "To be clear, male leadership in marriage does not mean the husband does everything or even that he decides everything. Rather, it means he typically initiates and always leads those shared discussions with his wife by which the various aspects of marriage and family life are decided and planned. The wife's opinion is vitally important, and a godly couple should be a close-knit team. But there should be no area of family life in which the husband does not serve as leader, facilitator, and overseer. This is especially true when it comes to the family's commitment to godly principles and behaviors. A Christian wife should be able to look to her husband with respect, seeing a servant of Christ committed to the Lord's will being done in the home. A husband who seeks to practice headship in a context of partnership-fully respecting and encouraging his wife's contributions-is off to a good start on loving his wife."
Regarding fatherhood, he writes, "Our children must gain from us what they most desire: our affection, our approval, our attention, our involvement, and our time. Generally this will require us to resist the draw of other passions. Just as we have limited time and limited energy, we have limited love and a limited sphere of things to which we can give our hearts. Just as many mothers must lay aside other passions and preferences to serve their husbands and children, most fathers will have to curb or set aside career ambitions, recreational pastimes that do not involve their children, and indeed much of their lives apart from their families. This is what it takes to have the time and passion available to give our hearts to our children (and to our wives)."
This is a fairly short book, but the principles in the book are profound, biblically grounded, and of great value in understanding how God made men to be. Highly, highly recommended.
Phillips writes, "A man's working life is to be spent accomplishing things, usually as part of a company or other grouping of people. We are to invest our time, our energies, our ideas, and our passions in bringing good things into being. A faithful man, then, is one who has devoted himself to cultivating, building, and growing. Take a Christian man's professional life, for example. I'm going to address this in more detail in the next chapter, but for now let's observe that our calling to work means investing ourselves in accomplishing things of value. Men should be using their gifts, talents, and experiences to succeed in worthwhile causes that (if they are married) provide for their families. This can be anything that accomplishes good. A man can make eyeglasses, do scientific research, or manage a store; the examples are almost endless. But in each case, our mandate to work means we should be devoting ourselves to building good things and accomplishing worthwhile results. There is nothing wrong with a man working simply to earn a wage, but Christians rightly want their labors to yield more than money for themselves and their families. Christian men should also desire to cultivate something worthwhile for the glory of God and the well-being of their fellow men."
This is the kind of message that is so lost in our own day--what are men for? We pursue pleasures and self-satisfaction in things outside of the "masculine mandate" and it is no wonder men are so starved for meaning and purpose.
What is the masculine mandate? Phillips explains that it is, "to be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God's fruit by serving and leading."
But this masculine mandate extends far beyond the realm of work--it extends into marriage and fatherhood. This too, is really good stuff.
Phillips writes, "To be clear, male leadership in marriage does not mean the husband does everything or even that he decides everything. Rather, it means he typically initiates and always leads those shared discussions with his wife by which the various aspects of marriage and family life are decided and planned. The wife's opinion is vitally important, and a godly couple should be a close-knit team. But there should be no area of family life in which the husband does not serve as leader, facilitator, and overseer. This is especially true when it comes to the family's commitment to godly principles and behaviors. A Christian wife should be able to look to her husband with respect, seeing a servant of Christ committed to the Lord's will being done in the home. A husband who seeks to practice headship in a context of partnership-fully respecting and encouraging his wife's contributions-is off to a good start on loving his wife."
Regarding fatherhood, he writes, "Our children must gain from us what they most desire: our affection, our approval, our attention, our involvement, and our time. Generally this will require us to resist the draw of other passions. Just as we have limited time and limited energy, we have limited love and a limited sphere of things to which we can give our hearts. Just as many mothers must lay aside other passions and preferences to serve their husbands and children, most fathers will have to curb or set aside career ambitions, recreational pastimes that do not involve their children, and indeed much of their lives apart from their families. This is what it takes to have the time and passion available to give our hearts to our children (and to our wives)."
This is a fairly short book, but the principles in the book are profound, biblically grounded, and of great value in understanding how God made men to be. Highly, highly recommended.
July 16, 2013
A few years ago, I spent a couple of weeks staying with a friend in South Carolina. His church didn't have an evening service, so he would frequently attend the church pastored by Richard Phillips, and he took me along that first week I was there. He preached on the role and duties of husbands from Ephesians 5 -- I don't remember much about the sermon, most of his points have been incorporated into the rest of the sermons/books/expositions I've heard/read on the passage. I do remember how humbled, convicted, and challenged I felt afterward. My friend told me on the way home that we were going back the next week for sure, because after all that directed at him, his wife needed to get preached at the same way (as I recall, instead of hitting wives with both barrels like he did husbands, Phillips only gave them one barrel and used the other one at husbands again).
The Masculine Mandate wasn't as convicting or powerful as that sermon was (books seldom are, if you ask me) -- but it was definitely in the same vein. The Mandate that Phillips focuses on is God's purpose of the first man (and through him, all others descending from him) in Genesis 2:15, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." His primary concern is to show how contemporary man can and should "work" and "keep" in every sphere of life, yet this book is very Gospel-centered, and he makes it clear that the only way to achieve this mandate is via Ordinary Means-enabled sanctification.
The initial chapters developed these doctrinal points to provide a foundation for the practical chapters. While I thought he was spot-on with his teaching, and frequently insightful, I did wonder why he picked the particular passages he built these chapters around, and why others were excluded, don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that he dodged passages/topics -- not at all. All in all, Phillips did develop his teaching on "work" and "keep" enough that when he moves to the more practical chapters, the reader is prepared to see the application of doctrine, not just a list of "do's."
Like any good preacher, Philips uses Biblical examples and exemplars throughout to illustrate his points. For example, Boaz is shown as the husband model we should aspire to. And a particularly strong and convicting chapter is about using John the Baptizer as a model for a servant attitude. This put some flesh to hid teaching beyond sound thinking and his own experience.
He spends more time on the role of man in marriage than in anything else -- fittingly enough -- and much of it echoes what I probably heard in that sermon years ago. He covers topics familiar to many, without being stale -- he even finds fresh insight (or at least it doesn't seem stale) in the well-worn territory of comparing storge/eros/philo/agape. Speaking of man as protector (as part of keeping) in the marriage, the idea that struck me most profoundly is that, "The main threat against which a man must protect his wife is his own sin." That'll keep you up at night.
From marriage, he moves on to speaking of working and keeping as father, friend, and church member (a good chapter that could have been made better if he included more on what we unordained should do, as there are many more of us than the ordained).
A helpful book, a thoughtful -- and thought-provoking book. Not the last word on the subject (not intended to be, either). But well worth the time and attention of a man seeking to live according to biblical mandates.
The Masculine Mandate wasn't as convicting or powerful as that sermon was (books seldom are, if you ask me) -- but it was definitely in the same vein. The Mandate that Phillips focuses on is God's purpose of the first man (and through him, all others descending from him) in Genesis 2:15, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." His primary concern is to show how contemporary man can and should "work" and "keep" in every sphere of life, yet this book is very Gospel-centered, and he makes it clear that the only way to achieve this mandate is via Ordinary Means-enabled sanctification.
The initial chapters developed these doctrinal points to provide a foundation for the practical chapters. While I thought he was spot-on with his teaching, and frequently insightful, I did wonder why he picked the particular passages he built these chapters around, and why others were excluded, don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that he dodged passages/topics -- not at all. All in all, Phillips did develop his teaching on "work" and "keep" enough that when he moves to the more practical chapters, the reader is prepared to see the application of doctrine, not just a list of "do's."
Like any good preacher, Philips uses Biblical examples and exemplars throughout to illustrate his points. For example, Boaz is shown as the husband model we should aspire to. And a particularly strong and convicting chapter is about using John the Baptizer as a model for a servant attitude. This put some flesh to hid teaching beyond sound thinking and his own experience.
He spends more time on the role of man in marriage than in anything else -- fittingly enough -- and much of it echoes what I probably heard in that sermon years ago. He covers topics familiar to many, without being stale -- he even finds fresh insight (or at least it doesn't seem stale) in the well-worn territory of comparing storge/eros/philo/agape. Speaking of man as protector (as part of keeping) in the marriage, the idea that struck me most profoundly is that, "The main threat against which a man must protect his wife is his own sin." That'll keep you up at night.
From marriage, he moves on to speaking of working and keeping as father, friend, and church member (a good chapter that could have been made better if he included more on what we unordained should do, as there are many more of us than the ordained).
A helpful book, a thoughtful -- and thought-provoking book. Not the last word on the subject (not intended to be, either). But well worth the time and attention of a man seeking to live according to biblical mandates.
February 24, 2017
This has become my go-to book when asked what a man should be like and also the book I will be recommending to every guy to read upon engagement. It's truly sad it took me over a month to read this.
July 1, 2019
A good and helpful book on biblical manhood explored through the concepts of the Genesis mandate to "cultivate and keep". The author explores how these two primary mandates are played out specifically in various areas of life for men. Men are to cultivate - that is, tend to, make productive, help to flourish and encourage fruitfulness of all who they come into contact with, who are under their care, or everything that is within their domain of influence in ways that are loving, gracious and biblically informed. Also, coupled with 'cultivating' is the imperative to keep - that is, to protect, guard, keep safe, provide a secure environment and ward off threats to those who are under their care, within their circles of influence or the domains in which a man finds himself.
This was an interesting and helpful angle to explore biblical manhood. I really liked how the author emphasized the importance of biblical literacy and a well-formed Christian worldview in order to achieve these goals. Also, it was great how he brought all these imperatives back to where they are rooted - in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many books on manhood can either leave you feeling beat up for not doing well enough, or give you simple moralism through a few picked examples (such as, dare to be a David and face your giants or be strong like Samson, etc) - which are mostly grand examples of poor hermeneutics and application of Biblical truth. However, this book was strong in pointing the reader back to the Gospel - and how it enables and empowers men to live godly lives.
Worth reading.
This was an interesting and helpful angle to explore biblical manhood. I really liked how the author emphasized the importance of biblical literacy and a well-formed Christian worldview in order to achieve these goals. Also, it was great how he brought all these imperatives back to where they are rooted - in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many books on manhood can either leave you feeling beat up for not doing well enough, or give you simple moralism through a few picked examples (such as, dare to be a David and face your giants or be strong like Samson, etc) - which are mostly grand examples of poor hermeneutics and application of Biblical truth. However, this book was strong in pointing the reader back to the Gospel - and how it enables and empowers men to live godly lives.
Worth reading.
July 12, 2025
Richard Phillips, a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America, has given a handy, straightforward, readable 220-page softback on biblical masculinity. It won't resonate with those who are happy touting their victimhood and their need to victimize women in manosphere world. But for those who really desire to grow in godly, biblical manhood, this is a fine work. The summary statement by Jerry Bridges in the Foreword, gives the overall them and direction of the book, where "the humble man, toiling faithfully at his job, nurturing and shepherding his wife, and seeking to bring up his children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, conforms to God's picture of a real man" (xii). That's the book in a nutshell. It is a book worth reading and even reading with other men.
August 10, 2022
I read Wild at Heart when I was in high school and, though a good introduction to Biblical manhood, Wild at Heart seemed to focus much more on the romanticized and hyper-masculine view in a cultural/mystical way rather than a Biblical way. This is a slightly different perspective, but much more rooted in Scripture, which I appreciate.
Favorite Quotes:
The Masculine Mandate is "to be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God's fruit by serving and leading." (12)
"Cultivate something worthwhile for the glory of God and the well-being of... fellow men." (18)
"The truest way that we bear God's image is by the practical righteousness that enables us to be more and more like God in our attitude and conduct." (45)
"Children are to obey their parents (Eph. 6:1) and parents are to rule their children." (147)
"The most significant thing happening in history is the calling, redeeming, and perfecting of the people of God." (189)
Favorite Quotes:
The Masculine Mandate is "to be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God's fruit by serving and leading." (12)
"Cultivate something worthwhile for the glory of God and the well-being of... fellow men." (18)
"The truest way that we bear God's image is by the practical righteousness that enables us to be more and more like God in our attitude and conduct." (45)
"Children are to obey their parents (Eph. 6:1) and parents are to rule their children." (147)
"The most significant thing happening in history is the calling, redeeming, and perfecting of the people of God." (189)
April 16, 2021
Good book. Glad I read it. It is worth your time to read.
May 18, 2022
Livro muito bom, interessante para todos os homens.
Sejam pastores para aconselhamento, seja para pais, seja para maridos, seja para discipulado na igreja, seja para uma classe especial na Escola Bíblica Dominical.
Também, pode ser de grande auxílio para grupo de casais.
Altamente recomendável.
Sejam pastores para aconselhamento, seja para pais, seja para maridos, seja para discipulado na igreja, seja para uma classe especial na Escola Bíblica Dominical.
Também, pode ser de grande auxílio para grupo de casais.
Altamente recomendável.
July 13, 2021
Excellent book!
September 2, 2021
Really liked this one.
According to Phillips the Masculine Mandate is the calling men have “To be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God’s fruit by serving and leading.” (12)
Phillips uses the "work and keep" commands from Genesis 2:15 as the basis for masculinity. He argues the "working" speaks to accomplishing things, building, growing, and cultivating. While "keeping" speaks to guarding, protecting, and caring as custodians. He then applies this "masculine mandate" to marriage, fatherhood, work, and church.
I was afraid by applying the working/keeping pattern to all these different domains it would cause some strained exegesis, but overall I thought it was good–never forced. Rather than reading into the text, He draws from a wide range of Scripture and shows how these principles and patterns reappear and cluster around maleness.
I think this book is best read when paired with a more exegetically sensitive book like God's Design for Man and Woman: A Biblical-Theological Survey or to a lesser degree: Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction.
Overall, quite good.
According to Phillips the Masculine Mandate is the calling men have “To be spiritual men placed in real-world, God-defined relationships, as lords and servants under God, to bear God’s fruit by serving and leading.” (12)
Phillips uses the "work and keep" commands from Genesis 2:15 as the basis for masculinity. He argues the "working" speaks to accomplishing things, building, growing, and cultivating. While "keeping" speaks to guarding, protecting, and caring as custodians. He then applies this "masculine mandate" to marriage, fatherhood, work, and church.
I was afraid by applying the working/keeping pattern to all these different domains it would cause some strained exegesis, but overall I thought it was good–never forced. Rather than reading into the text, He draws from a wide range of Scripture and shows how these principles and patterns reappear and cluster around maleness.
I think this book is best read when paired with a more exegetically sensitive book like God's Design for Man and Woman: A Biblical-Theological Survey or to a lesser degree: Men and Women in the Church: A Short, Biblical, Practical Introduction.
Overall, quite good.
March 6, 2024
Solid work here, looking forward to implementing what Richard's gathers here in my own life moving forward. He builds on the creation mandate for men found in Genesis 1 and expands out, touching on the different areas of responsibility for Christian men like spouse, family, church...etc. Helpful touches are the discussion questions at the end of each chapter, and the very practical exhortations in the second half of the book.
May 10, 2024
Very good, and highly practical. Does a great job of defining masculinity according to Scripture (at a layperson's level) while exploring how masculinity manifests itself in our various relationships (i.e. with wife, kids, work, friends, and church). This will probably be my go-to recommendation for a book on biblical manhood.
May 27, 2024
So far, this has been the best book I've read on biblical masculinity. I was hoping for more theological depth with the "working and keeping" paradigm in part one, but it's meant to be more accessible than comprehensive, so that's fine. Part two, on the the other hand, went hard into specifics of a man's ministry to his spouse, children, church, friends, and Savior - and boy oh boy. I was convicted. I was encouraged. I was met by God in the Scriptures. Recommend to any man, anywhere. 1st time read. 4/5.
December 4, 2024
Best book on biblical masculinity that I’ve read thus far. He takes a jab at Wild at Heart which I kind of commend. Manhood isn’t about hunting and getting your hands dirty. It’s about working and protecting, all out of love and devotion to God, family, friends, and the church.
January 27, 2011
I appreciate that a book like this needs to be written and I appreciate the spirit of the author. Further, much of the practical wisdom in this book is clear and helpful. However, I was a bit disappointed from a theological and exegetical standpoint. For example, he makes the common error of parsing the various words for "love" differently. To see why this is bad, see D. A. Carson "Exegetical Fallacies, pp 31 and following. Other such unfortunate errors occur as well and diminish the luster of the applications. Nevertheless, if nothing else the book is helpful in forcing men to think and consider God's role for them in the world.
December 3, 2018
To be honest, this felt like Phillips had a nail he wanted to hammer, and whether or not the Bible supported how he wanted to hammer this nail, he was going to hammer it, anyway. Sadly, I don't "fit" God's Call to Masculinity very well - at least, as Phillips defines it - especially in that fact that I don't - as apparently a "Godly" father should - believe my daughter should grow up to be a subservient baby maker.
January 20, 2020
Fantastic read. The author’s style of writing is very clear and engaging and he backs his points up with many scriptural references. Richard Phillips argues from Genesis 2 and other passages that God’s calling for men is that they assume responsibility at the home, church, and in the world. The book also contains lots of practical wisdom on parenting, marriage, church and vocational life.
February 4, 2019
A timely and worthy read for the Christian man. Highly recommend.
March 30, 2024
A really great biblical masculinity book! A fantastic read and something all men should read every year
January 1, 2025
I thought this book addressing men on what God is calling them to do was good and helpful. I disagreed with some of his exegetical points but found pretty much all of his application quite insightful and challenging. And the chapters are concise with discussion questions at the end.
I’m not sure if I would take a guy through the whole book but I read some chapters and thought, “I want all the guys in my church to read this.” And, in fact, I already plan to have a men’s group read a couple of chapters together.
In particular, the chapters on how faithful husbands and fathers must love, care, and work for their wives and children were great.
I’m not sure if I would take a guy through the whole book but I read some chapters and thought, “I want all the guys in my church to read this.” And, in fact, I already plan to have a men’s group read a couple of chapters together.
In particular, the chapters on how faithful husbands and fathers must love, care, and work for their wives and children were great.
July 10, 2020
Changed my perspective on what I’m called to be as a husband.
June 29, 2021
One of the most concise and Biblically specific overviews of the Scriptural call for men in the church that i’ve read. Will be an excellent book study for discipleship groups in the future.
November 16, 2024
Wonderful book! Convicting, encouraging, and inspiring. Very scriptural and balanced. Highly recommend to all men.
September 12, 2014
I consider this book a classic for men, because Phillips does such a good job of covering the biblical material that addresses men as men and applying it in the context of 21st century western culture. I especially appreciated the chapters on male friendships as illustrated by Jonathan and David and (ch. 13) servants of Christ as illustrated by John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of Jesus.
I have used this in a men's small group and will use it again in a men's Sunday School class.
I am re-reading this again (September 2014) in preparation for a class I am teaching and continue to find it both clear and inspiring. The masculine mandate, given to the first man, is to work and to keep what has been entrusted to him. These twin activities apply to our work, our family, our church, and our relationships in general. As the author says, it is simple but not, therefore, easy. I am bumping this up to 5 stars.
I have used this in a men's small group and will use it again in a men's Sunday School class.
I am re-reading this again (September 2014) in preparation for a class I am teaching and continue to find it both clear and inspiring. The masculine mandate, given to the first man, is to work and to keep what has been entrusted to him. These twin activities apply to our work, our family, our church, and our relationships in general. As the author says, it is simple but not, therefore, easy. I am bumping this up to 5 stars.
July 15, 2017
This book was rooted in truth from the Bible about what the life of a Christian man should look like and what we should be doing. I wish I had read this when I was younger, but was still super helpful to me now as I have a long way to go in maturity still. If every man felt the responsibility God has placed on us and did something about it the Bible describes, I wonder what the church would look like today.
April 9, 2015
Clear, helpful, direct.
This book is Biblically faithful and very practical.
It is not a "men's book" like something that would emerge from Eldredge or the PK tribe. This is a traditional, ground-level book on masculinity that men in any solid church could read together and profit from.
This book is Biblically faithful and very practical.
It is not a "men's book" like something that would emerge from Eldredge or the PK tribe. This is a traditional, ground-level book on masculinity that men in any solid church could read together and profit from.
January 19, 2014
I will go back to this book for the rest of my life and encourage especially young men to read it. Basically the author explores Genesis Chapter 2 and how the man was placed in the garden to keep it and work and applies this to the modern day man
April 26, 2024
Great book. Couple points of tension or disagreement, but overall a solid call for how men should live. Lots of practical application, and solid theology backing what he says.
Finally rating: 9/10 👍
Finally rating: 9/10 👍
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