Core Bible Characters

This page is to interest and encourage you to read the Bible. Even if it is just a couple chapters a day, it will influence your life. Consider starting with first four books of the New Testament (the Gospels) then Proverbs, then the rest of the New Testament, then the Old Testament. 

Like us, Bible characters had the same human nature, similar opportunities and challenges, and specific strengths and weaknesses. 

 Adam and Eve: Adam was created by God from the dust of the earth and breathed life into him. God put Adam in the Garden of Eden where He created Eve. Eve gave in to the serpent’s temptation of her pride, as Adam passively watched, and they ate the forbidden fruit, and unleashed sin into the world. Their troubled child, Cain, committed a terrible sin.

Noah: Built the Ark that saved his family (8 people total) and animals from the great flood, that God sent because of so much human corruption. God created the rainbow as a sign of His promise that He would never flood the earth again.

Abram/Abraham: Faithful and successful man, with family challenges. He had a tough conversation with his nephew, Lot, to seek peace between their people. Later, Abraham battled to save Lot. His wife Sarah struggled to conceive, and told Abraham to have a child with her maid, Hagar. Hagar and Sarah ended up having a conflict, and Hagar fled, but later came back. Sarah finally gave birth to Isaac. God blessed both children. God tested Abraham. 

Jacob/Israel: A quiet man who stayed with the tents. His jealousy of his brother Esau (a skilled hunter) made Esau want to kill him, but their mom intervened and convinced Jacob to deceive his father, Isaac. Jacob was later deceived by his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob served Laban and grew their wealth. Jacob wrestled with God, and reconciled with Esau. 

Joseph: Was the favored younger son of Jacob. Joseph gave his father a bad report of his brothers, and told his family of a dream where they bowed to him. Most of his brothers hated him, and sold him as a slave in Egypt. Joseph was wrongfully imprisoned for sexual assault. His humility, honesty, and diligence got him released, and he became a high government official. Joseph’s brothers eventually bowed to Joseph, they reconciled, and moved to be with him. 

Moses: Orphaned as a child and adopted by the Queen of Egypt, and learned the ways of the Egyptian royal family, during the time the Jewish people were enslaved by Egypt. Moses killed an Egyptian and fled. He reluctantly answered the call from God to go back and convince the Pharaoh of Egypt to free the Jewish people. He led his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness, and parted the Red Sea, and received the Ten Commandments. Grew his faith as he served.

Deborah: A wife, prophetess, and a faith filled judge, who led Israel, before they had kings. She not only led and judged Israel for about 40 years, she went to war with Israel’s army, to free their people. She gave God the glory. 

David: Youngest son of Jesse, a shepherd, who practiced with his sling. He was anointed to be the next King of Israel, despite his father’s unbelief. David killed the giant Goliath and became a hero. He became a successful army leader, and many people loved him, including King Saul’s son, Jonathan. But King Saul became jealous and tried to kill him. David fled and eventually became a successful King, but made some bad choices, and a son tried to take his throne.

Solomon: God asked him what he wanted, and he just asked for wisdom to lead people well. God gave him wisdom that resulted in much love, respect, and prosperity. Finished God’s temple and the Song of Solomon, but still made mistakes.

Elijah: Confronted many false prophets, by himself, to show the power of the true God. Tried to influence King Ahab to turn to God, but his wife Jezebel worshipped idols, and wanted to kill Elijah. Taken up into heaven by a whirlwind.

Nehemiah: Gave up a good life directly serving King Artaxerxes to go back to Jerusalem to help rebuild it. A faithful and wise leader who convinced other leaders to stop taking advantage of their people. Avoided traps from tribal enemies. 

Esther: Lost her parents. Her humility helped her to become a queen. Learned that a King’s official planned to kill the Jewish people, and risked her life to stop him. He ended up hanging from the gallows he made for Mordecai, the Jew. 

Job: A faithful, righteous, and successful man. Had tragedies that took his children, health, and wealth. His wife told him to curse God and die. His friends said he must have sinned to deserve it. Job maintained his faith in God and his integrity, but he did regret being born. God finally said Job didn’t deserve the tragedies, restored him, and rebuked his friends. 

Isaiah: Claimed prophecies about Jesus. Like other prophets, he held the leaders and the people accountable, and was sometimes hated for it. He constantly called on people to worship God, not idols. He had some unusual behaviors. 

Daniel: A wise and faithful man who fearlessly honored God while serving a few different kings, over time. Some of the King’s officials became jealous of Daniel and had him thrown into a lion’s den, but God delivered him unharmed. 

Mary and Joseph: Faithful parents of Jesus. Both were told about Jesus by an angel, but they humbly brought Jesus into the world. As a kid, Jesus strayed from them, and they found him three days later. Joseph taught Jesus carpentry skills. 

Jesus: Faithful, wise, humble, and courageous Son of God. He loved, cried, got angry, and spent time alone to pray. As He loved, taught, and healed people, He grew a large following. As He claimed to be the Son of God and forgave people of their sins, it angered some religious leaders, who demanded the local authorities crucify Him. God raised Jesus from the dead after three days. He went to heaven soon after, and God sent us the Holy Spirit. Jesus redeemed humanity and paid for our sins, as the final sacrifice, fulfilling the Old Covenant. Jesus offers us the New Covenant, eternity with God. 

Simon/Peter: A fisherman and first disciple with his brother Andrew. When the religious leaders brought soldiers to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and fought for Jesus, but Jesus stopped him. After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed them. People recognized Peter, but he denied Jesus, three times. Jesus forgave him. Helped write the Gospel of Mark.

Saul/Paul: Persecuted Christians as a Pharisee, until Jesus called him. Most disciples struggled with his conversion. Courageous and humble, beaten and stoned. Traveled to share the good news. Survived a shipwreck and locals claimed he was blessed, then cursed, then blessed. Wrote the most New Testament books, and helped with the Gospel of Luke.

John: Only disciple not martyred. Wrote about Jesus, His deity and love, in the Gospel and books of John and Revelation.

Matthew: Called by Jesus, despite being a tax collector (a disliked job). Wrote about Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.

Mary Magdalene: Jesus saved her, and she followed Him, saw His crucifixion, and was the first to see Him resurrected. 

Nicodemus: Talked with Jesus and said that he and other Pharisees believed Jesus was from God. Spoke up for Jesus.