Best Christian Books on Character: 13 Classics to Read Free
Start with J. R. Miller's The Building of Character. Its first sentence is its whole argument: "The building of character is the most important business of life." Miller wrote short, gentle chapters you can read in ten minutes, on hidden faults, second chances, taking criticism, friendship and judging others. If you want something with more backbone, read James Stalker's The Seven Cardinal Virtues.
The classic writers didn't think of character as a matter of good manners or a strong will. They saw it as the life of Christ formed in a person. It starts with a new heart, given by God. It grows by daily choices, stone on stone, after the pattern of Jesus and the commandments. It shows most at home, at work and in how you handle money and people, not in church. And at its center is love, the "greatest thing in the world."
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Here are thirteen of the best books on Christian character in TheWay Library, all free to read.
Start here
1. The Building of Character, by J. R. Miller
Twenty-three short devotional essays, most opening with a poem. The title chapter says true character is built after divine patterns, on the one foundation of Christ, out of daily choices. Then come our undiscovered faults, life's second chance, getting help from criticism, and being a fellow-worker with God.
True character must be built after divine patterns.
The Building of Character, chapter 1
See Who Was J. R. Miller? Read The Building of Character.
2. The Seven Cardinal Virtues, by James Stalker
A short book on the four old virtues, wisdom, courage, temperance and justice, and the three Christian graces, faith, hope and love. Stalker shows how each works in ordinary life and how the gospel completes what the philosophers only described.
The normal effect of love to God is love to man.
The Seven Cardinal Virtues, Love
Its companion, The Seven Deadly Sins, is in our guide to the best books on humility. Read The Seven Cardinal Virtues.
3. The Greatest Thing in the World, by Henry Drummond
Drummond's famous address on 1 Corinthians 13, with an introduction by D. L. Moody. He breaks love into its "spectrum": patience, kindness, generosity, humility, courtesy, unselfishness, good temper, guilelessness and sincerity. Most people can read it in under an hour and then spend years on it.
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments that stand out, the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love.
The Greatest Thing in the World
See Who Was Henry Drummond? Read The Greatest Thing in the World.
4. Imago Christi, by James Stalker
Jesus as the pattern for every part of life: in the home, the state and the church, as a friend, a worker, a sufferer and a man of prayer. Stalker admires The Imitation of Christ but wants to take the imitation out of the cloister and into ordinary work. The chapter "Christ as a Worker" is a good test of how you do your job.
The man who scamps his work degrades himself.
Imago Christi, Christ as a Worker
See Who Was James Stalker? Read Imago Christi.
Character in Bible lives
5. Bible Characters: Adam to Achan, by Alexander Whyte
Whyte was the great Edinburgh preacher of the human heart, and his character studies are mirrors. He gathers what Scripture says of one person, Eve, Cain, Abraham, Jacob, Balaam, Achan, and turns it on you. There are several volumes; start with this one.
A friend gives full scope to his friend's love and goodness, Have you given Jesus Christ full scope to His life and death for you?
Bible Characters: Adam to Achan, Abraham
See Who Was Alexander Whyte? and our guide to his books. Read Adam to Achan.
6. The Representative Men of the Bible, by George Matheson
The blind Scottish minister takes each Old Testament figure as a type of human nature: Abraham the cosmopolitan, Jacob the aspiring, Joseph the optimist, Moses the practical, Job the patient. Gentler than Whyte and full of insight. Read The Representative Men of the Bible.
7. Bunyan Characters, Second Series, by Alexander Whyte
Whyte's lectures on the people of The Pilgrim's Progress: Ignorance, Little-Faith, Hopeful, Mr. Fearing, Great-Heart, Valiant-for-Truth and the rest. Bunyan drew character better than anyone, and Whyte makes you find yourself in the portraits.
For the truth does not stand in points, but in principles.
Bunyan Characters, Second Series, Valiant-for-Truth
See our Pilgrim's Progress characters guide. Read Bunyan Characters.
Character at work and in the world
8. Life in Earnest, by James Hamilton
A short book on Romans 12:11, "not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." Hamilton presses hard work in your calling, an eye on Jesus as the reason for the work, and a fervent spirit, all three bound together.
You cannot pray too much, though you should pray without ceasing, if your prayer take a practical direction, and lead you to do good without ceasing.
Life in Earnest, The Threefold Cord
See Who Was James Hamilton? Read Life in Earnest.
9. The Application of Christianity to the Commercial and Ordinary Affairs of Life, by Thomas Chalmers
Sermons Chalmers preached to the merchants of Glasgow. He asks what Christianity adds to ordinary honesty, why small dishonesty is real guilt, and how the golden rule works in trade. Still sharp for anyone in business.
It is evangelizing human life, by impregnating its minutest transactions with the spirit of the gospel.
The Application of Christianity to the Commercial and Ordinary Affairs of Life, The Guilt of Dishonesty Not to Be Estimated by the Gain of It
See Who Was Thomas Chalmers? Read Chalmers.
10. The Young Man's Friend and Guide, by John Angell James
Counsel for young men setting out in life, taken situation by situation: undecided about religion, perplexed by controversy, succeeding or failing in business, leaving home. James urges decision for Christ and a character built for eternity. Good to hand to a son or a young man you mentor.
In all things, both in nature and in grace, God's doings and man's doings go together.
The Young Man's Friend and Guide, The Young Man Entering Life Undecided in Religion
See Who Was John Angell James? Read The Young Man's Friend.
Go deeper
11. Christian Charity Explained, by John Angell James
A full exposition of 1 Corinthians 13, taking love's marks one by one: patience, kindness, freedom from envy and pride, and the rest. James is careful to show that love isn't indifference to truth or a wink at sin. Read it after Drummond.
Man was made for love; to love God supremely, and to love whatever is like God, or related to him.
Christian Charity Explained, Improvement, by Way of Exhortation
Read Christian Charity Explained.
12. Roots and Fruits of the Christian Life, by William Arnot
Twenty-eight sermons that trace character to its roots in faith, hope, love and Christ, and then to its fruits: kindness to others, the right use of the world, a faith that works and the peace of God. Arnot loves pictures from nature and trade, which makes him easy to follow.
The power lies in the cross of Christ; and if you would see it, you must look unto Jesus.
Roots and Fruits of the Christian Life, The Peace of God Ruling in the Heart
See Who Was William Arnot? Read Roots and Fruits.
13. A Christian Directory, Part 1, by Richard Baxter
The Puritan handbook of Christian living. Part 1, "Christian Ethics," gives numbered directions for governing the heart, thoughts, passions, senses, tongue, time and body. It is huge, so use the contents and read one direction at a time. The section on time-wasters is still uncomfortably current.
Whatever you are, you rob God of your service, and yourselves of your precious time, and all that you might get therein.
A Christian Directory, Part 1, The Thieves or Time-wasters to be watchfully avoided
See Who Was Richard Baxter? Read A Christian Directory, Part 1.
How to read these books
Read Miller a chapter at a time, and pick one thing to change. Drummond is best read once straight through, then again slowly. Whyte and Matheson work well with a Bible open beside them. Keep Baxter for when you want direction on one specific area of life.
Character, holiness and humility belong together. See our guides to the best books on humility, the best books on holiness and the best books on sanctification. More of these authors are on their pages: J. R. Miller, James Stalker and Alexander Whyte.