What Is Characterization in Scripture and How Does It Apply to Bible Study?

Authors cannot share everything about an individual, but they can be intentional and selective about what they do share in order to create an accurate portrait of a character’s persona in the text.

The way that authors portray individuals is part of what is called “characterization.” Authors can use direct methods of portraying a character by stating it plainly, such as when John calls Judas a “thief” (John 12:5–6). Another way that authors help readers develop a better sense of what a character is like is through what is called “indirect characterization,” which is when they use roundabout ways of developing a person’s character by letting readers externally “see” their early actions or “hear” the first words that come out of their mouth. This subtly reveals internal motivations or character traits.

Of course, the first words uttered from a character in Scripture are not their actual first words but the first words we as readers encounter in the text. It often turns out that the information gleaned from this up-front content sets the tone for how this character is going to act in the rest of the narrative.

Summary

In this “First Impressions” technique, readers identify what the biblical author shares about a character’s first words, first actions, and any physical descriptors. This can give the reader an accurate thumbnail portrait of that character’s traits (both positively and negatively).

Prevalence

By its very nature, this technique is only present in narrative texts. Many major Bible characters demonstrate this technique and some minor characters do as well. It does seem to be more prevalent in the Old Testament but can also be implemented in the four gospels and the book of Acts because they are narrative in style.

Instruction

Look closely at when major characters (and even some minor characters) are introduced for the first time in the Bible and identify their first words (look for quotation marks), first actions, and (if present) any physical descriptors shared about that person. Then reflect on how those preliminary findings help the reader capture an accurate portrait of that person’s character (both positively and negatively), which will be evident the rest of the time they appear in Scripture. These early details often form an accurate first impression that is helpful for the reader.

Value

This technique helps readers gain insight into the lives of biblical figures. Biblical authors had to be selective in sharing details. The details shared about a character were intentionally chosen to portray character traits that will be reflected in their later appearances in Scripture. This technique often reveals not only a character’s positive traits but also what will be their Achilles’ heel—that is, their besetting flaws.

Challenges

This technique requires that readers be somewhat familiar with the story arc of a character’s actions and words. Readers can easily isolate a character’s first actions, first words, and any physical descriptors, but may not be able to see how they form an accurate first impression until they can identify future actions that point back to what is communicated up front. Physical descriptors are not always present, so the reader may have to rely on the other two components. There is some degree of subjectivity in determining how first impressions accurately reflect their overall character both positively and negatively. Some characters’ first actions and words may be spread out over several chapters, which will require more diligence to identify.

Go and Implement

This technique can be properly utilized with characters such as Rachel, Sarah, Jacob, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, Saul, Daniel, and John the Baptist. It can also be used in the first two chapters of Genesis by looking at “God’s” actions and speech in Genesis 1 and then contrasting and comparing those actions and speech to the “Lord God’s” actions and speech in Genesis 2. This reveals great insights into God’s character traits by looking at His first actions and words.