Man of God

Occurrences in Scripture

In the Old Testament the title is applied to a number of figures.

• Moses: Deuteronomy 33:1 calls him "Moses the man of God," and the superscription of Psalm 90 reads "A Prayer of Moses the man of God."
• Samuel: Saul's servant introduces Samuel with the words "there is in this city a man of God" (1 Samuel 9:6).
• Elijah: The widow of Zarephath addresses Elijah by this title (1 Kings 17:24). The same title is also used in 2 Kings 1:9–12.
• Elisha: He is the figure to whom the title is most frequently applied. The Shunammite woman calls Elisha "an holy man of God" (2 Kings 4:9).
• David: He is given this title in 2 Chronicles 8:14 and Nehemiah 12:24.
• Shemaiah: He delivered to Rehoboam the word not to fight against the northern tribes and is introduced as "the man of God" (1 Kings 12:22).
• Unnamed figures: Examples include the man who brought a warning to Eli (1 Samuel 2:27) and the man who came up from Judah to Bethel and prophesied against the altar of Jeroboam (1 Kings 13).

In the New Testament, Paul addresses Timothy as "O man of God" (1 Timothy 6:11). Second Timothy 3:17 states that Scripture is given "that the man of God may be perfect."

Terminology and Background

The Hebrew expression is 'ish (ha)'elohim, which literally means "man of God." The corresponding Greek expression in the New Testament is anthrōpos theou.

The title was used chiefly for those who sought God's will and delivered His word. First Samuel 9:9 explains that such a person was formerly called a "seer" and later came to be called a "prophet."

In the narratives of Elijah and Elisha, the title frequently appears in connection with miracles. In Judges 13:6, Manoah's wife, not recognizing the angel of the LORD who had appeared to her, calls him "a man of God."

Significance Across Scripture

The emphasis of the title lies not in the person's own abilities but in the fact that he belongs to God and delivers His word. In 1 Kings 13, a man of God is deceived by an old prophet's lie, disobeys the command he was given, and dies. This account shows that the title does not guarantee obedience.

In the New Testament the title is carried over to Timothy, a minister of the gospel. It also comes to describe a life made complete through Scripture and devoted to pursuing godliness, faith, and love (1 Timothy 6:11).

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• Whom the title designates in the Old Testament: Some regard it strictly as a title for prophets. Others, noting that it is also applied to figures such as Moses and David, who are not ordinarily classified as prophets, see it as a broader designation for people whom God used in a special way.
• The scope of 2 Timothy 3:17: One interpretation limits "the man of God" in this verse to ministers of the word such as Timothy. Another, from the perspective of the priesthood of all believers, reads it as applying to every believer who lives according to Scripture.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, the expression is used frequently in preaching and prayer. It is especially common when addressing or blessing pastors and other ministers, and it is also used to exhort the whole congregation to live according to the Word.