Introduction To Biblical Psychology by Professor (Rev) Oluwafemi Esan
Oluwafemi Esan is a Professor of Biblical Psychology at The Faculty of Biblical Psychology, El-Roi London University, UK. In this article, he talks about the Background of Biblical Psychology, Biblical Cognitive Psychology, and the Spiritual Health of Our Cognitive Psychology. If this sounds interesting to you then sit back and relax for this read.
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Background To Biblical Psychology
The Christian approach to human behavior is rooted in a theistic worldview that directly opposes a naturalistic worldview. The theistic assumptions of Christianity perceive Jesus Christ as the embodiment of truth ethics and the primary agent of change in the lives of all those who choose to follow Him.
The Biblical definition of Psychology is the study of the human condition and psyche in the context of the Christian worldview. Psychology is the study of Mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both conscious and unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feelings, and motives.
The word psychology was formed by combining the Greek psyche (meaning “breath, the principle of life, life, soul”) with –logia (which comes from the Greek logos, meaning “speech, word, reason”). Psychology is derived from the Greek words “psyche” and “logos”.
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Psyche means soul (life), and logos means knowledge (explanation) or the study of the soul. Psychology is a science that seeks to understand and predict human and animal behaviors. (McGrath, A.E., 2016).
However, in John 14:6, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words, there are no options for eternal life—there is only one way, and Jesus is that way.
The principle of life is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. Biblical psychology is the expression of life principles based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. These principles explore human behavior and solutions to the psychological damage to humanity from the fall of Man.
“I am” is also used without a predicate nominative, uncommon in Koine Greek. Thus, it is generally interpreted as a self-declaration by Jesus, identifying himself as God. (Williams, R., 2002).
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:35). The Greek psyche (meaning “breath, principle of life, life, soul”), Jesus Christ is the breath, Principle of life and soul.
Jesus overturned traditional Jewish beliefs by referring to Himself as the bread of life. Jewish leaders also referred to bread, or manna, as spiritual food. In this text, John records Jesus explaining He is the Bread of Life, the very Word of God made flesh.
Therefore, Biblical psychology is a theological study that seeks to understand and predict human and animal behaviors according to the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (O’Collins, G., 2009).
Biblical Psychology is a unique form of psychology that seeks to develop a distinctly Biblical model for understanding the human condition. BP represents several ways Christians have considered the connection between Christianity and psychology.
Biblical psychology is the conceptual and clinical exploration of our [Christian] tradition for its psychological resources. It is adequately called psychology because it is a set of concepts by which the nature and well-being of the psyche are understood, by which healthy and unhealthy traits, behaviors, desires, and emotions are identified and, to some extent, explained.
It is a set of practices for transitioning from unhealthy to healthy characteristics, behaviors, desires, and emotions. (Delitzsch, F., 2003).
Biblical Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology is the branch of psychology dedicated to studying how people think. The cognitive perspective in psychology focuses on how the interactions of thinking, emotion, creativity, and problem-solving abilities affect how and why you think the way you do.
Biblical Cognitive Psychology is expressed: ‘For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.’ (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). How can you speak good when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (Matthew 12:34-40). Therefore, human behavior is a product of thinking of the heart. Conventional cognitive psychology views thoughts as a product of the brain, neuropsychology.
This assumption is based on the materialistic view of humanity, which is based on the mind-body dualism. (Kirwan, W.T., 1984).
Mind and body dualism represents the metaphysical stance that Mind and body are two distinct substances, each with a different essential nature. Originating in the ancient period, a well-known version of dualism is credited to Rene Descartes of the 17th century.
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According to the dualist, the Mind (or the soul) comprises a non-physical substance, while the body consists of the physical substance known as matter. According to most substance dualists, Mind and body can causally affect each other.
This form of substance dualism is known as interactionism. On the contrary, Biblical psychology established the tripartite nature of humanity. (Ellens, J.H., 1981).
In Christian theology, the tripartite view (trichotomy) holds that humankind is a composite of three distinct components: body, spirit, and soul. The Tripartite Nature of Man: Spirit, Soul, and Body, Applied to Illustrate and Explain the Doctrines of Original Sin, the New Birth, the Disembodied State, and the Spiritual Body.
Man has three natures: the spirit, soul, and body. It is this tripartite nature of man that puts the animating seed in him. Man’s spirit connects him to the animating soul of the universe called God and to the rational nature of him called the soul. The soul nature of man contains the Mind, Will, and Emotions.
The Mind is in the soul, which, according to biblical psychology, is spiritual. Hence, the limitation of conventional cognitive psychology lies in its inability to accommodate the influence of the spiritual world on the Mind.
Furthermore, our emotional well-being within biblical psychology’s perspectives is affected by the spiritual health of our human spirit. (McCaig, A., 1931).
Spiritual Health Of Our Cognitive Psychology
Biblical Cognitive Psychology establishes the spiritual nature of thoughts and thinking. This perspective is based on a spiritual framework. This framework places spirituality as the core of the person.
It regards an individual’s spirit as one’s being, unharmed by injury or illness, rather than as a component. This biopsychosocial-spiritual model is not a “dualism” in which a “soul” accidentally inhabits a body.
Instead, in this model, the biological, the psychological, the social, and the spiritual are only distinct dimensions of the person, and no one aspect can be disaggregated from the whole.
The biopsychosocial spiritual model recognizes that biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors are interconnected and mutually influential. Changes in one domain can affect other domains, leading to an impact on overall health and well-being. (Hawks, S., 1994).
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Now, may the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The supernatural peace can lead to sound spiritual health in the three domains of human existence.
Humanity is in a crisis of identity that views humans as a materialistic object. Psychological interventions based on neuropsychology are inadequate to solve our psychological problems in the 21st century.
The primary deficiency of conventional psychology is the exclusion of the spiritual framework. (Barber, C., 2019).
Conclusion on Introduction To Biblical Psychology by Professor
In conclusion, biblical psychology based on the theology of Jesus Christ provides a clear path to implement the biopsychosocial spiritual model of spiritual health in all domains of human existence.
Embracing the biblical psychology model of humanity in a non-religious approach is the solution to humanity’s identity crisis. Man is a spirit; he has a soul and lives in a human body on earth.
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Therefore, man exists beyond time and space, and he can draw spiritual resources to deal with the limitations of his natural environments.’ I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the most High.’ (Psalm 82:6).
Reference Lists.
McGrath, A.E., 2016. Christian theology: An introduction. John Wiley & Sons.
Williams, R., 2002. On Christian Theology. Pro Ecclesia, 11(3), pp.367-369.
O’Collins, G., 2009. Christology: A biblical, historical, and systematic study of Jesus. OUP Oxford.
Delitzsch, F., 2003. A system of biblical psychology. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Kirwan, W.T., 1984. Biblical concepts for Christian counseling: A case for integrating psychology and theology. Baker Books.
Ellens, J.H., 1981. Biblical authority and Christian psychology II. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 9(4), pp.318-325.
McCaig, A., 1931. Thoughts on the Tripartite Theory of Human Nature. The Evangelical.
Hawks, S., 1994. Spiritual health: Definition and theory. Wellness perspectives, 10(4).
Barber, C., 2019. Working within a spiritual framework. British Journal of Nursing, 28(4), pp.229-229.
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