Abstract
This paper develops a study of selected words from the bible. Under the counseling category, the paper examines the meaning, usage and derivatives of the words counsel, wisdom and help. Under the addiction category, the study examines the meaning, derivatives and usage of the words wine, desire and restraint.
The study seeks to examine the usage of the words in the old and new testaments, which are arranged in different paragraphs for every word.
Biblical words related to counseling
This section examines the biblical usage of the words counsel, help and wisdom. The Blue Letter Bible, a resource site that provides links to other bible versions, is used as the primary study material. Through this site, the study examines the usage of these words in the New American Standard Bible, King James Version and the New King James Version Bibles.
Counsel
In the bible, the word counsel is the Aramaic translation of ‘dethabar’ in the Old Testament and the Greek word ‘bouleutes’ in the New Testament. In addition, it is the translation of the Hebrew word ‘etsah’ or ‘atsa’.
Usage in the Old Testament
The word counsel has a number of meanings applied to it in various cases. In other cases, the word is used to mean purpose, devise, and plan or to counsel. The first appearance is in Exodus 18:19, where Jethro was advising Moses to be the people’s representative before God, taking their disputes to Him.
Usage in the New Testament
There are only two instances of the word counsel in the New Testament. In Zechariah 6:13, the word is used to mean perfect harmony or peace. In Ephesians 1:11, the word counsel is used to mean ‘guidance of the Lord’s plan” (New King James Version Bible, [NKJV], 2011)
Wisdom
The word wisdom is used to mean knowledge, understanding or excellent ability to apply knowledge or understanding.
Usage in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the word is mostly used in Job, proverbs and psalms. For instance, it is used to mean human knowledge or understanding of an idea. In Exodus 35:31, it is used to mean excellent human understanding or experience with a subject.
This is also similar in a number of other instances where it is used (American Standard Edition [ ASV], 1901). In job 32:13, the speaker says “we have found wisdom” while in Job 33:33, the speaker says “keep silent so that I can teach you wisdom” (King James Version [ KJV], 2000). These cases show that the word also means knowledge obtainable through learning and teaching (Tan, 2011).
Usage in the New Testament
The word also appears several times in the New Testament. Like the Old Testament, the word is used to have similar meanings in the New Testament.
It is used to mean knowledge, excellent experience with a subject or the right ideas that reside in humans. For instance, in Mathew 13:54, it is used describe the extraordinary knowledge expressed by Jesus as “where did this man get this wisdom and powers from?” (New American Standard Bible [NASB], 1995)
Help
This word appears 147 times in the NASB and is used several times in both testaments. In most cases, it is used to mean any form of aid that a person or group of persons can obtain from another person, group or God. In most cases, it is used to show God’s aid, favor, leadership or even mentorship to his people.
Usage in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the word “help” appears several types and is used to mean the role of God in sustaining his people, protecting them from bad events and enemies and guiding them through difficult times. It first appears in Genesis 4:1 where Eve says, “I have received a child with God’s help”
Usage in the New Testament
In the Old Testament, the word is widely used in reference to any type of aid that a person can get from another or from God. It includes material and immaterial aid. For instance, in Luke 4:38, the word is used to mean immaterial aid given to Simon’s mother-in-law, who was suffering.
Biblical words related to addiction
This section attempts to examine the biblical usage of the words ‘wine’, ‘desire’ and ‘restraint’. The Blue Letter Bible, a resource site that provides links to other bible versions, is used as the primary study material.
Wine
Wine was a type of alcoholic drink tradition in the Jewish society. In most cases, it is used together with other types of food. However, it was a highly controlled drink because of its alcohol content.
In the Old Testament, wine was a common type of drink among the Israelites as well as their neighbors. For instance, in Genesis 14:18, the bible says that Melchizedek, the king of Salem brought bread and wine (NASB, 1995). It shows that wine was a major offering to the Lord.
In addition, drinking wine was a form of entertainment and cerebrations (Froma, 2010). Some cases show that drinking excessive wine was considered unholy (Froma, 2010). For instance, in Judges 13:4, the people are advised, “do not drink wine or strong drink” (KJV, 2000)
Usage in the New Testament
In the New Testament, it appears that wine was a highly valued product. It was preserved in special wineskins. In Mathew 9:17, the bible says, “they put new wine in new wineskins and both materials are preserved” (Froma, 2010).
For example, in the book of John, Jesus made wine from water and allow people to drink. Nevertheless, it is also considered as a way of destroying the righteousness.” (NKJV, 2011). In other cases, wine is used as a part of treatment given to injuries. For instance, in Luke 7:33, the bible shows how wine and oil were used to treat wounds.
Desire
The term desire is used to express a number of meanings in the bible. For instance, it is used to show the willingness to obtain something or physical and emotional drive to take an action of fulfills some need.
Usage in the Old Testament
The word “desire” is used several times in the Old Testament to express several meanings. A number of instances show that the word means the emotional drive to satisfy some need. The first instance is seen in Genesis 3:16 where women are advised to have a desire for their husbands.
Similarly, in Genesis 39:7, Pharaoh’s wife developed a great desire for Joseph and ordered him to have sex with her. In other instances, it is used to show the non-emotional drives to achieve something. For instance, in Deuteronomy 5:21, people are required not to desire other people’s property.
Usage in the New Testament
The word desire is used to show emotional need to take an action or non-emotional willingness to achieve something. In some cases, ‘desire’ is condemned. For instance, in Colossians 3:5, the bible condemns “impurity, evil desire, passion and greed because they amounts to idolatry” (NASB, 1995)
Restraint
This word appears only 4 times in the bible. It is used in both the new and old testament to express different meanings.
In the Old Testament
It is used in chronicles 28:19, God humbled Ahaz, the King of Israel for his unfaithfulness to the Lord and lack of restraint in Judah. Here, it is used to signify the ability to maintain harmony. This is also seen in Isaih 23:10
Usage in the New Testament
It is used to show humbleness and ability to sustain harmony. For instance, in Timothy 2:15, women are advised to “continue in love and faith and restraint”
Core biblical themes
Counseling is seen as an important aspect of the Jewish community. God, elders, judges, prophets and priests, provided counseling. In addition, there were two types of help- material and immaterial help. Wine was an expensive but addictive product due to alcoholic content.
The bible shows the negative impact of excessive drinking of wine. On the other hand, desire is both an emotional and physical passion to achieve something. Emotional desire is condemned in some instances for its ability to lead into sin.
Summary
Counseling was a part of the society. Every community had specialists who provided counseling while God provided help. Addiction was common and mostly seen in wine drinking and the desire for sexual contact.
References
American Standard Edition (1901). New York: Thomas Nelson and Sons.
Froma, W. (2010). Biblical Facts about Wine: Is It a Sin to Drink Wine? New York: Author House.
King James Version. (2000). Edinburg: Thomas Nelson Inc.
New King James Version Bible. (2011). Edinburg: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Tan, S. (2011). Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective By Siang-Yang Tan. London: Baker Academic.
New American Standard Bible (1995). New York: The Lockman Foundation.