Page 10 - Advanced Biblical Counseling Student Textbook

Study Section 2: Introduction to Biblical Counseling

2.1 Connect

According to Gary Collins, author of Christian Counseling (2007), Jesus Christ is the best model
we have of an effective “wonderful counselor” whose personality, knowledge, and skills
enabled him to assist anyone who needed help (p. 29). Collins states that “basic to Jesus’ style
of helping, however, was his personality. In his teaching, caring and counseling, he
demonstrated those traits, attitudes, and values that made him effective as a people-helper and
that serve as a model for us. Jesus was absolutely honest, deeply compassionate, highly sensitive and
spiritually mature in all of his dealings with people. He was committed to serving his heavenly Father
and his fellow human beings (in that order), prepared for his work through frequent periods of prayer
and meditation, was deeply familiar with Scripture, and sought to help needy persons turn to him, in
whom they could find ultimate peace, hope, and security” (p. 30). Think about Jesus as counselor as you
learn about Biblical Counseling.

2.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to review the definition of counseling others.

2. The student should be able to define psychology.

3. The student should be able to explain the relationship between Christian faith, science and
psychology.

4. The student should be able to describe Jesus’ style of helping.

2.3 What is counsel?

Counsel is simply instruction or advice for living (Proverbs 1:1-5; Exod. 18:19)

When people speak of needing “counseling,” they often have in mind those times when they
are suffering from some overwhelming issue or are struggling under the weight of some
besetting sin or crushing emotion, but Biblical counsel encompasses much more than just the
“big” issues of life. Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of
understanding will acquire wise counsel.” The context of this statement makes clear that the subject
matter of learning and the wise counsel received is in reference to the ordinary matters of life, those
things that lead to “wise behavior” (v 3) and “prudence” (v 4). The counsel that Moses’ father-in-law
gave him was aimed at improving his ability to lead the nation of Israel well. It concerned organizational
matters. In both cases, the Bible refers to the advice given as “counsel,” and we should understand it in
this manner as well.
2

2 Kelly Larsen, Biblical Counseling I, p. 1.

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