A Word from Bob
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400+ Resources on Biblical Counseling and Psychology-Related Research
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The Sufficiency of Scripture and Extra-Biblical Resources
“Sufficiency of Scripture” is a vital and much-used term in the biblical counseling world. Of course, defining “sufficiency of Scripture” is essential. Once defined, it is important to describe the practical implications and applications of sufficiency of Scripture in the real world of providing biblical counseling to real people.
In particular, there is much debate about scriptural sufficiency and extra-biblical resources and psychological research. What is the role and relationship of Scripture and science? What is the role and relationship of Scripture and scientific research, descriptive psychological research, evidenced-based counseling intervention research, and neurological (brain/body/mind/soul) research?
Why This Collation
I’ve found that we often talk past each other in these complex discussions. One reason: we have no clear, agreed-upon definitions, descriptions, or examples of our terms.
- What do we mean by “scientific research”?
- What is “descriptive psychological research”?
- What are examples of “evidenced-based counseling intervention research”?
- What are examples of “neurological research findings”?
I’ve also found that in the biblical counseling world our default view is to take a critical approach toward anything that is extra-biblical—often before we even define it and before we even engage with it honestly, respectfully, and carefully. Thus, the first major purpose of this collation:
I am providing 100s of first-hand, primary sources—examples of scientific research, descriptive psychological research, evidenced-based counseling intervention research, and neurological research findings—so you can define them accurately and assess them fairly.
So now if someone says, “I’m skeptical of “evidenced-based counseling intervention research,” then we could discuss together scores of particular examples and we could specifically identify potential areas of concern…and potential areas of positive contribution.
This document not only includes primary source examples of extra-biblical resources related to the care and cure of the soul. It also includes 100s of secondary sources—a broad spectrum of perspectives on the possible negative or positive relationship of extra-biblical sources to biblical counseling. Thus, a second major purpose of this collation:
You, the reader, can be a “wise Berean” (see Acts 17) who reads original/primary sources, reads a cross-section of secondary sources providing their perspective, and then you can become an informed and discerning reader drawing your own biblical conclusions—so you can assess everything through the lens of Scripture.
What This Collation Is NOT
This collation is not a collection exclusively of biblical counseling resources. I have produced such collated lists yearly in The Annual Guide to Biblical Counseling Resources.
Instead, this collation includes resources from biblical counselors, from Christian integrative counselors, from Christian psychologists, and from “secular” writers and researchers. Obviously, inclusion in this list is not an endorsement of the individual authors or of individual resources. Each resource is included so that you—the reader—can do your own primary source and secondary source research into these issues.
This collation is not simply a list of resources on the sufficiency of Scripture for a theology of biblical counseling. Such resources are included, but this resource collation adds hundreds of items related to the broader topics of this collation.
The modern biblical counseling movement has held that the Scriptures are sufficient for developing a prescriptive model of people (anthropology, Creation), problems (hamartiology, Fall), and solutions (soteriology, Redemption). Therefore, This collation is not focused on resources related to the integration or non-integration of a biblical theology of biblical counseling with secular psychological theories of therapy.
Instead, this collation focuses on various elements of descriptive research. Traditionally, the modern biblical counseling movement—based upon a theology of common grace and upon the application of the Creation/Cultural Mandate—has valued the role of scientific research, descriptive psychological research, and neurological (brain/body) research as having an adjunctive and “catalytic” role under the ultimate authority of Scripture.
This collation is not a list focused on specific theories of and interventions for particular life issues. For those resources, I again point you toward The Annual Guide to Biblical Counseling Resources.
What This Collation IS
This collation seeks to provide select resources for thinking through the relationship between Scripture and research. More specifically, this collation seeks to provide resources—divided into three categories—for thinking through the relationship of biblical counseling and the possible/potential roles of:
- Category #1: Scripture and Extra-Biblical Resources (General, Broad, Introductory Category)
- Category #2: Descriptive Research and Evidenced-Based Counseling Intervention Research
- Category #3: Physiological/Neurological Resources on the Complex Interconnection of Our Brain/Mind, Body/Soul, Physical/Spiritual Nature
Here are more detailed descriptions of these three categories:
- Category #1: Scripture and Extra-Biblical Resources (General, Broad, Introductory Category): This is an introductory, general, broad category of resources. It includes resources that address the relationship of Scripture and science, sufficiency of Scripture and theory-building, the nature of psychology, and the relationship of Scripture to extra-biblical resources. It includes resources that examine the input of theological concepts such as common grace, the noetic effect of sin, general versus special revelation, the Creation/Cultural Mandate, etc. These resources explore how these topics relate to biblical counseling.
- Category #2: Descriptive Research and Evidenced-Based Counseling Intervention Research: This category focuses on descriptive research and on a sub-set of descriptive research—evidenced-based counseling intervention resources. Some of the resources are broad-based—providing introductory definitions and descriptions of descriptive research and evidenced-based research. Some of the resources are more specific—providing resources that give specific examples of articles that offer descriptive research and/or evidenced-based counseling research findings. These resources explore the potential impact of empirical research on biblical counseling practice.
- Category #3: Physiological/Neurological Resources on the Complex Interconnection of Our Brain/Mind, Body/Soul, Physical/Spiritual Nature: As the title suggests, this category focuses on resources related to the complex interconnection of our brain/mind, body/soul, and physical/spiritual nature. This category also includes resources related to neuroscience, psychotropic medication, mental illness, mental health, and the DSM. It highlights resources that explore how being embodied beings relates to the process of biblical counseling.
This collation is a “work in progress.” It started when friends inside and outside the biblical counseling movement were increasingly asking me for resources related to these topics. Initially I collated a list of just 9 resources. As of this writing, this document includes more than 400 resources—and continues to expand. If you are aware of resources that you think could be added to any of these three categories, please feel free to contact me.
Though already stated, this bears repeating: inclusion in this list does not note agreement with the resource. It simply notes that it is a resource related to the topic and potentially useful for thinking about these issue—always using a biblical grid/lens and a Christian/scriptural worldview.
You’ll quickly note that these references are not according to a formal Style Guide and that they typically provide incomplete bibliographic information. However, every reference includes the author(s) name(s), the title of the resource, and a direct link—so that complete references can be located and so that the resource can be easily and quickly accessed.
