I am doing a project of reading the whole Bible in a year so I can't comment on all of these folks. I have a lot left to read.
But I think that Adam was probably ISFJ. He ate the forbidden fruit without commentary, probably because he didn't want to be separated from Eve. He truly loved her and his entire attention was focused on her. He was using a lot of Fe. Maybe he was an ESFJ. Not sure.
Jacob and his twin brother Esau were duelling personality types. They didn't get along, even before they were born. Esau was an outdoors guy who didn't focus on the future. He liked to hunt and to experience the world as it was. I think that Esau was ESTP. Jacob was more scheming. He was focused on the future. He tricked Esau into selling his birthright to him for a bowl of red stew. Then he tricked Isaac into giving him the blessing that belonged to Esau. Jacob was happy to stay at home with his mother. His mother was able to manipulate him. I think that Jacob was an INTP.
Joseph. Yes. INFJ.
I'll think of more later.

 

Very good logic there, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts about the other types.
Once some more people have posted suggestions I'll take the consensus and compile a corrected list.

 

I know he is a very minor character, but I love his personality and he is the only one I have any idea on really. Micaiah, the prophet in Kings, I believe to be an ISFP the way he used sarcasm when the king asked him not to prophesy against him. (may I also say how much I had looked for a thread like this and that I enjoy reading it)

Also, I would have thought that both Adam and Eve would have been P's because Eve adapted to what the serpent wanted and Adam adapted to what Eve wanted without presenting much conflict.

 

The passage about Micaiah confused me the first few times I read it, I thought he really was telling Ahab what he wanted to hear. But then I heard a preacher use it as an example of how you can say something but mean the opposite, hence Ahab got annoyed. I'd agree Micaiah could be a P. I welcome minor characters, with little information on them they are hard to type, but that makes it all the more fun.

Hmm, my typing of Adam and Eve seems to have been the least popular of all. Let me explain my reasoning; it's not perfect but there is method in my madness. First; Adam and Eve had the DNA of every person, so shouldn't every personality trait be represented between the two of them? This is different to a modern family, because we can inherit things from great grandparents etc, our parents do not need to have 100% of our traits between them. My argument here is weak; because DNA does not need to be expressed to be present. But I think it would be neat if it were true.
Second; Adam was the only person who ever had rule of the whole world, God put him in charge; shouldn't he be an ENTJ to be put in charge of the whole world? So I gave Eve the opposite personality; ISFP, which works out well, because in her temptation she seems to have been fixated on the beauty of the fruit - the artist.
That's about the limit of my reasoning; I knew it was a bit sketchy doing it that way, but there you have it. As for the issue of being manipulated easily: "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." 1 Tim 2:14
I think this shows that Eve was not as guilty as Adam because she was more vulnerable to manipulation. I think Adam was a very tough, strong-willed kind of guy, but like most such men his soft spot was his "girl". That would be why the Serpent went for Eve first not Adam, and got at Adam through Eve. Same thing happened with Samson. This is why I don't think Adam himself needs to be a pliable personality. The strength of Adam's personality makes the tragedy of his fall even greater.

What about Jonah? He's by far one of my favorite.

I can relate to him Is it the same with you? Is that why he's your favourite?
Hmm...
Emotionally up and down; perhaps E.
Quick to know the cause of the storm; possibly N. (That was a hard one)
Unhappy that his prophecy did not come about rather than happy that God had mercy; maybe T. Very emotional about the whole thing, kind of sulky, vindictive towards people he didn't like. I'll go for F.
Thought that by going in the opposite direction he could change God's mind. I would have gone to a city near Nineveh and used that to justify my disobedience. So I'm going to say P.
ENFP
Maybe?
What do you think?

 

What about Jonah? He's by far one of my favorite.

 

He's a very interesting character, that's for sure!

Definitely a type 4 (no doubt!), not sure of his tritype fixes, tho 8 seems probable. Not a Soc dom, I'm thinking SP/Sx. Maybe an ENFP as well.

 

Don't agree with them, but here ya go:

 

I think those are just examples of what each personality type is like, using characters in the bible. Though I could see solomon as an INTP.

 

Mary always seemed like an INFP to me. The whole "and she pondered these things in her heart" line. Although maybe that's just because my mom's an INFP and that's how she is. But the whole culture-defying yeah I'll have a baby because an angel told me to thing doesn't feel SJ to me.

 

I didn't think she had much choice though.

 

most of these sound spot on, especially Adam, Eve, Miriam, Moses, and Ruth (although I think she may be ISFP too... she's very willing to let other people lead and plan, adapts well, works well independently and alone, etc. she's also the one I really relate to the most.) and Boaz. But my own ideas: Esther- ENTJ (hard to say.. possible ENFJ. I get an outspoken, though very tactful, vibe from her. Her charm and people skills were a big thing about her, though it's her N/S that I can't type). Martha- poster girl for ESxJ! Probably T, she was not a subjective thinker really. Mary (the virgin)- INFx. Deborah- possible ESTJ. I haven't read all the tons and tons of Biblical men yet but I'm fascinated by the women and have read a lot about them so I think I understand them better. and sorry, but for some reason Enter isn't working!

 

You think Solomon was INTP? Was it his interest in knowledge/wisdom that makes you think that?

 

I'm not sure that I can explain it better than other resources. So I'll just send a few links:

INTP personality | 16 Personality Types

Portrait of an INTP

A few excerpts:

--Accumulated knowledge is the most valued asset of any INTP. Imagine an immensely complicated clockwork which is constantly absorbing, processing and generating all kinds of theories – this is how the INTP mind works. People with the INTP personality type possess the most logically precise mind of all personality types


--They seek clarity in everything, and are therefore driven to build knowledge. They are the "absent-minded professors", who highly value intelligence and the ability to apply logic to theories to find solutions. They typically are so strongly driven to turn problems into logical explanations, that they live much of their lives within their own heads, and may not place as much importance or value on the external world.

--INTPs value knowledge above all else. The INTP is usually very independent, unconventional, and original. They are not likely to place much value on traditional goals such as popularity and security. They usually have complex characters, and may tend to be restless and temperamental. They are strongly ingenious, and have unconventional thought patterns which allows them to analyze ideas in new ways. The INTP is at his best when he can work on his theories independently. When given an environment which supports his creative genius and possible eccentricity, the INTP can accomplish truly remarkable things. These are the pioneers of new thoughts in our society.

--“Philosophers”, “architects”, “dreamy professors”… These epithets are most often used to describe the INTP personality type. INTPs love theories and believe that everything can be analyzed and improved. They are not that concerned about the real world and practical things – from the INTPs’ perspective, it is often less exciting than ideas and intellectual pursuits. People with this personality type have no difficulties noticing patterns where others cannot – this makes them brilliant theorists and analysts.

 

In the case of Solomon I'm not positive whether or not he would be an INTP, but I would probably say he was (if I had to guess). He was certainly motivated by the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge. In the Bible, Solomon tells God he desires understanding more than material things (God says Solomon will receive both). As someone mentioned, he also kept peace during his time as king and was known to be a fairly amiable personality. He also built the Temple, which I guess makes sense considering INTPs are known as "The Architect" personality. Additionally, he was good at seeing the big picture--a very common trait for INTPs-- and was great at identifying the "vanity" of life, as outlined in Ecclesiastes. He also had a strong appreciation for beauty (which is common for arts-appreciating INTPs). This is evident in his building projects as well as his love of women.

Solomon was king of Israel during its greatest time of power, riches and influence. In his later years he seemed to become negatively influenced by greed, which isn't necessarily a typical INTP trait. But everyone-- regardless of personality type--can certainly fall prey to that vice. So that fact alone would not be strong evidence against the INTP typing.

All in all, I'd say INTP is definite possibility (or perhaps probability). But I'd like to hear more opinions.

 

Why are INTP's the architect? I would think it would have been some S type.

 

I don't know the types of all of them, but there are a few Bible characters that are glaringly obvious to me. The first one is Paul. He is so plainly ESTJ that I grin while reading him sometimes, with his strong emphasis on rules, discipline, and self-loathing. People get confused with his typing because his letters seem to indicate someone with a very broad perspective, and therefore, can't see him as anything else but an intuitive. The second one is Peter. His aggression, emotion, and overall tenacity scream ENFP. Other than that: Elijah is ENTJ (crafty-manipulative and goal-oriented), Moses is INFP (shy but idealistic), Abraham is ISFP(peaceful and submissive), Solomon is ENTP (playfully wise and flexible), David is ESTP (aggressive and enthusiastic), Samuel is ISTJ (perfectionistic and rigid), John the revelator is INTP (calm and philosophical; reminds me of Descartes), and Daniel is INFJ (wise and gentle). This how I type them anyway.

 

I always thought of paul as some FJ, but you are probably right. I can't say that I relate to Abraham, but it would make some sense if Eve was an ISFP. Abraham seems kind of like an N though. I can't remember everything that he did, I will have to go back and read it.

 

@Calvin thanks for your contribution. I think you are on to something with Paul, now I think of it, the way he tries to be so specific and thorough is much more S than N. All other Bible writers I can think of are more nuanced and less concerned with precision.
@Fuzbal and @4sureINTP you two seem to agree that Solomon was INTP, thanks for the points you have raised and the link. I sill think Solomon was INTJ though and I will make my case.

Most Bible characters can only be typed in the most superficial way, but we have a lot of writings from Solomon, and can use them to understand him. These are Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

Very deep thinker, thinks about everything, makes everything a mental puzzle, often abstract etc. These and similar observations lead to the conclusion he is INTX. Don't let a few biographical details confuse you, Solomon was in a very different situation and culture than people today.

As for J vs. P; here is Solomon asking for wisdom:

Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? 2 Chron 1:10

He wants wisdom to make right decisions, to judge right, not knowledge for its own sake. J not P.

Solomon INTJ

PS Solomon inherited a peaceful kingdom from David but actually did a bit of strategic killing himself. He also set up trade networks and built up his army. I think he was a mastermind more than a scholar, a king more than a cleric.
Also, Ecclesiastes shows a definite negative/realist streak which I relate to, I'm not sure what to peg that on though, may be nothing to do with J, but I don't associate it with P either.

 

Alright, good job!

Here's mine:

Jesus - INFJ

And then this picture I found here. Not made by me but I agree with it.

 

@Calvin I can see what you mean about your types. Paul I can definitely see as ESTJ. I may disagree on John the apostle being INTP though. Although he does have that kind of calm/detached tendency, he also comes across as a very emotional and loving. I always got the impression that he was far more emotionally open that most INTPs.
@Daniel_James_Maher I can see why you'd think Solomon was INTJ. He definitely wanted his knowledge for a purpose. But I think INTPs in a similar spiritual situation could potentially say the same thing. But your point is a good one and well noted. He could have definitely been INTJ, and now I would lean that way too. But I'd have to consider it further.

 

@Calvin I can see what you mean about your types. Paul I can definitely see as ESTJ. I may disagree on John the apostle being INTP though. Although he does have that kind of calm/detached tendency, he also comes across as a very emotional and loving. I always got the impression that he was far more emotionally open that most INTPs.
@Daniel_James_Maher I can see why you'd think Solomon was INTJ. He definitely wanted his knowledge for a purpose. But I think INTPs in a similar spiritual situation could potentially say the same thing. But your point is a good one and well noted. He could have definitely been INTJ, and now I would lean that way too. But I'd have to consider it further.

My reason for giving John his type is mainly derived from my idea of what a Christian INTP would look like. Essentially, the heart of the Christian message is love, and the way that John was able to use his blunt, bold honesty to get this point across is what first pointed me to his being this type.

 

I think Abraham seems ISTJ - he always just does what his duty is, although he does have the TJ-style assertiveness and sense of ethics to confront God about whether he'd destroy Sodom if there were some righteous people in it. I think Isaac is an ISFJ or INFP - quiet, calm, and sensitive. And Jacob seems very INFJ to me - he's good at understanding people (as shown by his manipulation of Esau and Laban), affectionate (towards Rachel and his children), and a deep, long-range thinker, unlike his brother Esau (who seems to be the opposite type, ESTP).

 

I think that Joseph was ENFJ. He was very focused on other people. But, when young, Joseph was his father's favorite. Joseph didn't use particularly good judgment in showing off his coat of many colors, so his brothers took an evil revenge. Joseph wanted to make people happy, even after he became a slave but that led to problems for him when the wife of his owner got angry when Joseph wouldn't have an affair with him.
Joseph was lonely and depressed when he was locked up. He did not thrive when alone.
He was very much of a big picture thinker and he had the gift for interpreting dreams. He eventually was in charge of preventing a famine in Egypt, which he had predicted when he interpreted the pharaoh's dream. When Joseph's brothers ended up in Egypt, he found it in his heart to forgive them, although he first put them through a test.

 

I think that Ruth was an ISFJ. After her husband died, she faithfully followed her mother in law. She felt that was the right thing to do and, as the widow of Naomi's son, Ruth wanted to continue to follow the traditions of his people.

 

A few simple attempts I'll make:

John- Introvert
Paul- Extrovert Thinker Judging
Peter- Extrovert Feeler
Elisha- Introvert Feeler
Samuel- Introvert Judging
Saul- Introvert Feeler
David- Extrovert Feeler

*I really want to make a list of the Feelers becuz' that seems easier to classify to start with.
There are plenty of characters that react to something out of emotion almost right away and they make a clear distinction they react on emotion consistently. Others not so much and seem more thought out and logical, hence could be Thinkers.

**I'm sticking to the easier typings becuz it seems that you can debate the S/N dynamics for days on this site, invariably lined and colored stereotypes on various people of the Bible.

***Also, can we really type perfect men such as Jesus, Adam or the woman Eve?
Adam and Eve have very very little personality info to go on. And I suspect a perfect person can use any function they deem necessary to accomplish what they wish.

 

I agree with many of your points here. I don't think being perfect stops you being able to be a typical personality but I certainly see how that could be. I agree that Jesus/God would not be a particular personality type.
I think it is useful to consider the personalities of many people in the Bible in order to understand better what is going on in the narrative, but to think we can actually know exactly what the personality type of a Bible figure is would of course be over-ambitious. The idea is to do what you did, just guess on a few points from our reading of their behaviour and writings, that is why there is room for disagreement.

 

I'm claiming David as ESTP.:happy: The only bible character I can relate to. Yes, he could be a bastard at times, but he made sense.

I got impatient reading the other characters in the bible years ago and kept having to go back and read what happened because I kept getting distracted. They didn't interest me.

 

I'll give David to you if nobody objects. It makes sense to me that the writer of the Psalms would be a feeler but it really doesn't mean much. After all, he wrote Psalm 109.

 

I didn't really have much of comment I'm just glad this thread exists.

Having said that Paul definitely comes across as an ESTJ to me or at the very least ExTJ.
Ruth: ISFJ?
Moses: INFP? He seemed to show inferior Te when the Jews were in the desert and complaining about where they were.
Thomas: ISFJ? Maybe ISTJ?
Luke: INFJ
Simon Peter: ENFP
Solomon: INTP I think, though he would like actionable knowledge his solutions seemed to be of the universal truth varietyrather than for expediency like a TJ
Joseph: ENFJ
Joshua: INFJ?
Job: INFP?


I agree with the Eve as ISFP.

I don't know about David I definitely get a Fe/Ti feel from him and a Ni/Se feel. I believe he was an extrovert but was he a ENFJ with Se playing the relief role or ESTP with Fe being used pragmatically? Couldn't say but inferior Ni and Ti are both plausible here. I remember definitely relating to David as a child even though he made a number of mistakes. Oh and Jonah.

 

Just tossing this out there...... Lucifer: INTP

 

Entj

 

God - ENTJ
Satan - ENTP

 

Satan - ENTP

How disappointing. And ENTP lacking imagination automatically going for the N card.

 

@Daniel_James_Maher

Wow! I am impressed by how much you know about the Bible. I'm also a little glad you consider Mary Magdelene to be an INFP. I don't think she gets a fair shake.

I am a bit surprised at Adam being typed as an ENTJ since he so easily listened to Eve about eating the forbidden fruit. He knew he wasn't supposed to by God, a much higher force. There would be no huge logical reason to eat something he knew he shouldn't. There is some controversy to the story, but the classic one we all know is that they both ate from the tree knowing it was wrong. There is definitely more blame put on Eve (who I think was an ESFJ or ENFJ). Adam seems to be more of an ISFP.

I wholeheartedly agree that Paul was an ENTJ the more I learn about him.

I always see people labelling the Virgin Mary as an INFP, but I can see her as an ISFJ easy. I agree that Joseph seems like an ISFP as well.

This thread makes me want to freshen up on my Bible knowledge.

 

What about King Nebuchadnezzar? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? I would be interested in knowing their types. I love Daniel as an INTJ, that's brilliant.

I am a bit surprised at Adam being typed as an ENTJ since he so easily listened to Eve about eating the forbidden fruit. He knew he wasn't supposed to by God, a much higher force. There would be no huge logical reason to eat something he knew he shouldn't. There is some controversy to the story, but the classic one we all know is that they both ate from the tree knowing it was wrong. There is definitely more blame put on Eve (who I think was an ESFJ or ENFJ). Adam seems to be more of an ISFP.

I agree that Adam is more likely an IXFP.

 

What kind of a person was Moses? What about King David or Mary Magdalene? The Bible is full of colourful people that have great potential for us to guess what their personality was.
Please do not use this as a thread to criticise the Bible or anything/anyone else for that matter; just give an opinion on the personality of any people from the Bible that you know. For the purposes of this thread we are treating the Bible as a story with characters that we are typing. You can use external historical references, but I think sticking to the canon would be better.
I thought this might be interesting, and helpful for anyone who like me is interested in the story of the Bible.

Here is my list, I have gone for quantity rather than quantity with my classifications, it's up to you to suggest additions and corrections:

God/Jesus = XXXX (fully balanced)

Adam = ENTJ
Eve = ISFP
Simon Peter = ENFP
Mary Magdalene = INFP
Jude = ESTJ

What do you think?

can you explain me why you chose these types for the people above?

ps: how on earth was jesus fully balanced?

 

ps: how on earth was jesus fully balanced?

A miracle :laughing:

 

Thanks @Fuzbal, that'd be a great contribution.

PS Re: "It's a miracle", that's pretty much a summary of what I was saying, but I'm serious.

 

@Daniel_James_Maher Well I was serious too, but I also thought it was funny. roud: I sure hope they post it soon, I would really like to listen to it again.