What counselors presuppose will ultimately dictate their philosophy and methodology of counseling. Historical biblical counselors presuppose only that which the Bible affirms. In Presuppositions of Biblical Counseling, Lou Priolo unpacks twelve presuppositions (originally postulated by Jay E. Adams) to help readers understand what sets biblical counseling apart from other theories (really, theologies) of counseling. It will also help those who are in counseling (or seeking counseling) determine if the counselors from whom they are seeking help are truly biblical.

Author's Note.................................................................................ix

Introduction...................................................................................xi

Presupposition 1: God Is in Control............................................1

Presupposition 2: Man Is Responsible.........................................7

Presupposition 3: Connecting the Dots between

Sin and Misery.........................................................................13

Presupposition 4: The Bible and Psychology............................27

Presupposition 5: Sickness and Sin...........................................37

Presupposition 6: Loving God and Loving Neighbor.............49

Presupposition 7: Counseling and Regeneration.....................57

Presupposition 8: The Spirit and the Word.............................63

Presupposition 9: Principles and Practices...............................77

Presupposition 10: Expecting Results and

Seeing Results...........................................................................89

Presupposition 11: Discipline and the Local Church..............95

Presupposition 12: Calling and Equipping.............................109

Appendix: The Insufficiency of General Revelation

for Sanctification.....................................................................117