Topical Bible: Counsellors

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In the biblical context, counsellors are individuals who provide guidance, advice, and wisdom to others, often in matters of spiritual, moral, or practical significance. The role of a counsellor is highly esteemed in Scripture, as wise counsel is considered a gift from God and a means to discern His will.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament frequently highlights the importance of seeking wise counsel. Proverbs, a book dedicated to wisdom, underscores the value of good advice. Proverbs 11:14 states, "For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors there is deliverance." This verse emphasizes the necessity of multiple counsellors to ensure sound decision-making and stability.

In the history of Israel, counsellors played crucial roles in the administration of the kingdom. King David had Ahithophel, whose counsel was highly regarded, as noted in 2 Samuel 16:23 : "Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was like one who inquires of the word of God; so was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom."

The book of Isaiah also speaks to the role of counsellors, particularly in the context of divine guidance. Isaiah 9:6 prophesies the coming of the Messiah, referring to Him as "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This title highlights the ultimate wisdom and guidance that the Messiah would provide.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, the concept of counselling is often linked to the work of the Holy Spirit and the community of believers. Jesus Christ is depicted as the ultimate counsellor, offering guidance through His teachings and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26 , Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as a helper and teacher: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."

The early church also recognized the importance of wise counsel within the community. The apostles and elders provided guidance to the early Christians, as seen in Acts 15, where the Jerusalem Council deliberated on issues concerning Gentile believers. The decision reached was a result of collective wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Characteristics of Godly Counsellors

Scripture outlines several characteristics of godly counsellors. They are to be wise, discerning, and filled with the Spirit of God. Proverbs 15:22 states, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." This suggests that successful counsel is rooted in wisdom and understanding.

Moreover, counsellors are to be trustworthy and have integrity. Proverbs 20:18 advises, "Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance." This implies that counsellors should be reliable and their advice should be based on sound principles.

Role in the Christian Community

In the Christian community, counsellors serve to edify and build up the body of Christ. They provide spiritual guidance, help resolve conflicts, and offer support in times of need. Ephesians 4:11-12 speaks to the various roles within the church, including teachers and pastors, who often serve as counsellors: "And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ."

Counsellors in the church are called to reflect the character of Christ, offering wisdom and guidance that align with biblical truths. Their role is vital in helping believers grow in their faith and navigate the complexities of life with a godly perspective.

Library

Joseph of Arimathea
... Sanhedrim. He is also spoken of as "a good man and a just," which could
not have been said of many of his fellow-counsellors. On ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/joseph of arimathea.htm

The King, Hearing These Words, Answered, that He was Both Willing ...
... that he was both willing and bound to receive the faith which Paulinus taught; but
that he would confer about it with his chief friends and counsellors, to the ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xiii the king hearing.htm

The Test by Fire
... Nebuchadrezzar, the king, was so astonished that he rose up hastily and said to
his counsellors, "Did we not throw three men, bound, into the fire?" They ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the test by fire.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to inquire
concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

To Giovanna Queen of Naples
... Their life shows you that they do not tell the truth; so do the counsellors they
have about them, without and within, who may be men of knowledge, but they are ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to giovanna queen of naples.htm

How to Split a Kingdom
... It was the lower kind which the old counsellors of his father gave him,"that wisdom
which is mere cunning directed to selfish ends, and careless of honour or ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/how to split a kingdom.htm

In Troubles --
... The king's counsellors suggested that he should carry back letters to the barons
demanding aid and succour, letters which it was known would be well weighted ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter vi in troubles.htm

Rome and Ephesus
... So he called his beloved son, whom he had as heir, and his friends whom he had as
counsellors, and told them what he had ordered his servant, and what he had ...
/.../lake/landmarks in the history of early christianity/v rome and ephesus.htm

Essay
... supposed to be between equals. But God may be rather supposed to declare
his mind to his angels, as counsellors. Nor will it be ...
/.../an essay on the mosaic account of the creation and fall of man/essay.htm

A Letter from Origen to Africanus.
... fire," are immediately followed by the verse, "Nabouchodonosor the king was astonished,
and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors." For so ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origens letters/a letter from origen to.htm

Thesaurus

Counsellors (21 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Counsellors (21 Occurrences). 2 Chronicles 22:4
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as ...
/c/counsellors.htm - 13k

Prefects (18 Occurrences)
... 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies,
and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs ...
/p/prefects.htm - 12k

Ministers (49 Occurrences)
... Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he
spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the ...
/m/ministers.htm - 21k

Nebuchadnez'zar (55 Occurrences)
... Nebuchadnezzar the king hath sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the
governors, the honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs ...
/n/nebuchadnez'zar.htm - 24k

Justices (2 Occurrences)
... 3:2 And Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the prefects,
and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the justices ...
/j/justices.htm - 7k

Magistrates (18 Occurrences)
... Nebuchadnezzar the king hath sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the
governors, the honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs ...
/m/magistrates.htm - 12k

Provincial (7 Occurrences)
... Nebuchadnezzar the king hath sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the
governors, the honourable judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs ...
/p/provincial.htm - 9k

Counsellor (16 Occurrences)

/c/counsellor.htm - 12k

Counselor (19 Occurrences)

/c/counselor.htm - 12k

Safety (72 Occurrences)
... (WBS NIV). Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude
of counsellors there is safety. (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV). ...
/s/safety.htm - 28k

Resources

Is a gospel crusade a biblical method of evangelism? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about eating disorders (e.g., anorexia, bulimia)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to “in all your ways acknowledge Him” in Proverbs 3:6? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Counsellors (21 Occurrences)

2 Chronicles 22:4
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
(ASV DBY JPS YLT)

Ezra 4:5
And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Ezra 7:14
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Ezra 7:15
And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Ezra 7:28
And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Ezra 8:25
And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Job 3:14
With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves;
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Job 12:17
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Psalms 119:24
Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Proverbs 11:14
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY)

Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Proverbs 24:6
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Isaiah 1:26
And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Isaiah 19:11
Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 3:2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 3:3
Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 3:24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 3:27
And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 4:36
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Daniel 6:7
All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(KJV ASV DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Counsellors

Related Terms

Ahithophel (17 Occurrences)

Insight (39 Occurrences)

Succoth-benoth (1 Occurrence)

Succothbenoth (1 Occurrence)

Counselors (21 Occurrences)

Counsellors (21 Occurrences)

Wonderful (71 Occurrences)

Nevertheless (153 Occurrences)

Uncle (14 Occurrences)