Introduction To Biblical Counseling (Hardcover)

~ John F. MacArthur Jr. (Author), Wayne A. Mack (Author), Master's College Faculty (Author) "Ever since apostolic times, counseling has occurred in the Church as a natural function of corporate spiritual life..." (more)
Key Phrases: lical counseling, biblical change, biblical counselors, Holy Spirit, Grand Rapids, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Solid theological foundations of biblical counseling are clearly presented in contrast to humanistic and secular theories of psychological counseling. A practical, proactive and relevant book for students, church leaders and lay people. This collection of writers represents some of America's leading biblical teachers and counselors.

About the Author

JOHN F. MACARTHUR pastors Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and serves as president of the Master's College and Seminary. A well-known Bible expositor and conference speaker, he has written more than six dozen books, including the MacArthur New Testament Commentary series and the MacArthur Study Bible. He is the Bible teacher on Grace to You, an international radio broadcast.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849910935
• ISBN-13: 978-0849910937
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #348,022 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Text for Nouthetic Counseling, March 27, 2005

By	Robert W. Kellemen "Doc. K." (Crown Point, IN United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

"Introduction to Biblical Counseling" has been a standard text in nouthetic (from the New Testament Greek word "noutheteo" meaning to exhort out of concern leading to change) counseling for over a decade now. Pastor John MacArthur and Professor Wayne Mack successfully edited a fine introduction to the history, theory, and practice of nouthetic counseling.

The authors focus their thinking around three core concepts: the historical role of lay and pastoral counseling in the local church, the sufficiency of Scripture in the change process, and the methods for implementing such care. The first two sections develop this historical and biblical approach to counseling. These sections are followed by sections on the process and practice of biblical counseling (all of the process sections were written by Professor Mack).

Readers of this text will receive a clear introduction to the concepts central to nouthetic counseling. What they will not receive, and no book can provide all one needs for counseling (other than the Scriptures), is information on what might be called "parakaletic" (from the Greek word "parakeleo" meaning coming along side with encouragement for one suffering) counseling. In other words, "Introduction to Biblical Counseling," while a fine overview of the historical and biblical role of helping believers to overcome sin and to grow in sanctification, is not an introduction to the historical and biblical role of helping believers to deal with the evils that they suffer in a fallen world.

Historically and biblically, both lay people and pastors have always dealt with both suffering (the evils we have suffered) and sin (the sins we have committed). "Soul care" is the historic term used for the process of sustaining and healing those enduring unjust suffering. "Spiritual direction" is the historic term for the process of reconciling and guiding those struggling with personal sin issues.

In the decade since this book was penned, nouthetic counselors have focused more on this area of suffering. To date, they have yet to collate their thoughts into a one volume set like "Introduction to Biblical Counseling." Such a publication will be a welcomed edition to the growing training literature of nouthetic counseling.

Reviewer: Dr. Bob Kellemen, author of "Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction" and "Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

12 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Leave Freud at Home, October 1, 2001

By	Rob Anderssen (Owego, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Simple and engaging, yet very informative. I recommend this book to any Christian counselor who feels the Bible alone is not fully equipped for counseling. MacArthur makes a very strong argument for its adequacy and confronts all doubters head on. A great introductory resource for new pastors and counselors.

5.0 out of 5 stars If Jesus and Freud were locked in a couseling battle cage, April 11, 2009

By	David S. Burch - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a metaphorical review on the book:

If Jesus and Freud were locked in a couseling battle cage, then Jesus would win. First of all, Jesus fights like 3 even though he is only one. Freud is dead and Jesus is alive today. Looks like Jesus would win that fight easy.

This book is biased, but so is the Bible. Secular psychology has biased world view which does not find its source in the Bible; therefore, psychology is limited by the capabilities of humankind. Human capabilities cannot match the divine capabilities of the Bible; therefore, the Bible is just plain better. Who cares if it is biased? It is right and true. The truth is biased, but I am not going to discount the truth as biased.

All counseling must find its source of success in the Scriptures. If counseling does not flow from the Bible, then all goals set are goals without a true north, so to speak. If you don't know where to take someone, then how can you counsel them right? Secular psychology guesses as close as it can to the right way to counsel, and the right place to take someone in counseling. Is guessing good enough?

This book urges counselors to consider the source and foundation of their counseling method. I believe it is a great resource. It is a multi-author book, so their are several perspectives voiced in the book. Most of the perspectives agree with each other.