Topical Bible: Advisers

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In the biblical context, advisers play a significant role in the governance and decision-making processes of leaders and individuals. The Bible presents advisers as sources of wisdom, guidance, and counsel, emphasizing the importance of seeking and heeding wise advice.

Old Testament References

1. Role in Leadership: Advisers are often depicted as essential to the success and stability of rulers. In the account of King Solomon, the importance of wise counsel is highlighted. Solomon himself is renowned for his wisdom, which he sought from God (1 Kings 3:9-12). His ability to govern effectively was enhanced by the counsel he received from his advisers.

2. Rehoboam's Folly: A notable example of the consequences of ignoring wise counsel is found in the account of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. When Rehoboam became king, he rejected the advice of the elders who had served his father and instead followed the counsel of his peers, leading to the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 12:6-15).

3. Proverbs on Counsel: The Book of Proverbs frequently underscores the value of seeking and following wise advice. Proverbs 11:14 states, "For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors there is safety." Similarly, Proverbs 15:22 notes, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."

4. Daniel and His Companions: In the Book of Daniel, Daniel and his companions serve as advisers to King Nebuchadnezzar. Their wisdom and ability to interpret dreams and signs set them apart, demonstrating the value of godly counsel (Daniel 1:19-20).

New Testament References

1. The Apostles' Counsel: In the New Testament, the apostles often acted as advisers to the early church. In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council serves as an example of collective decision-making and the importance of seeking guidance from those with spiritual authority and wisdom.

2. Paul's Letters: The Apostle Paul frequently offered counsel to the churches through his epistles. His letters are filled with advice on spiritual matters, church governance, and personal conduct, emphasizing the role of godly counsel in the life of believers (e.g., 1 Corinthians 4:14-17).

Characteristics of Wise Advisers

1. Godly Wisdom: True advisers in the biblical sense are characterized by their godly wisdom. James 3:17 describes such wisdom as "pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere."

2. Integrity and Fear of the Lord: Advisers are expected to possess integrity and a reverent fear of the Lord. This is evident in the selection of leaders and advisers in Exodus 18:21, where Moses is instructed to choose "capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain."

3. Discernment and Understanding: Effective advisers are marked by their discernment and understanding. Proverbs 20:5 states, "The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out."

Warnings Against False Counsel

The Bible also warns against false or ungodly counsel. Psalm 1:1 cautions against walking in the counsel of the wicked, highlighting the potential dangers of following advice that is contrary to God's will. Similarly, the account of Ahithophel, whose counsel was once esteemed but later led to betrayal and downfall, serves as a warning of the consequences of ungodly advice (2 Samuel 15:12, 17:23).

In summary, the biblical portrayal of advisers underscores the necessity of seeking wise, godly counsel in all areas of life. The Scriptures advocate for advisers who are characterized by wisdom, integrity, and a fear of the Lord, while warning against the perils of heeding ungodly advice.

Greek

4824. sumboulion -- counsel, by impl. a council
... Neuter Transliteration: sumboulion Phonetic Spelling: (soom-boo'-lee-on) Short
Definition: a council, advice Definition: (a) a body of advisers (assessors) in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4824.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3289. yaats -- to advise, counsel
... root Definition to advise, counsel NASB Word Usage advise (1), advisers (1), conspire
(1), conspired (1), consult (2), consulted (8), counsel (4), counsel do ...
/hebrew/3289.htm - 6k

582. enosh -- man, mankind
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition man, mankind NASB Word Usage advisers*
(2), friends* (1), life (1), man (26), man's (4), mankind (1), men (6 ...
/hebrew/582.htm - 6k

7200. raah -- to see
... root Definition to see NASB Word Usage access (1), advisers* (2), appear (21), appeared
(43), appears (4), approve (2), became aware (1), became visible (1 ...
/hebrew/7200.htm - 7k

Library

Religious Characteristics.
... Already, before his campaign into Italy, he seems to have been in intimate contact
with the Christians. Hosius was probably already one of his advisers. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/section 6 religious characteristics.htm

Letter Xlix. --Letter to Dracontius . Written AD 354 or 355.
... 4. For if all were of the same mind as your present advisers, how would you
have become a Christian, since there would be no bishops? ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xlix letter to dracontius.htm

The Rending of the Kingdom
... Desirous of taking counsel with his advisers before outlining his policy, Rehoboam
answered, "Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 6 the rending of.htm

Knox and Queen Mary (Continued), 1561-1564
... 208c}. Randolph, at this juncture, reminded Mary that advisers of the Catholic
party had prevented James 5.from meeting Henry VIII. ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xv knox and queen.htm

The Bishop at Work
... benison. Otherwise I will not spare you, be sure, nor your baneful advisers."
He told the husband to give her the kiss of peace. ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter v the bishop at.htm

Assumptions Concerning the Book of Isaiah.
... Our critical advisers profess to have discovered that there were at least two, and
probably many more prophets, whose writings compose the book. ...
/.../vi assumptions concerning the book.htm

The End of Cambyses.
... Kings ask the opinion of their legal advisers in such cases, not because they really
wish to know whether the act in question is right or wrong, but because ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter ii the end of.htm

Appendix iv the Scotch Service-Book
... The course he adopted, under the misguidance of his advisers, seems, as we look
at it, to have been so shaped that no other result was possible. ...
/.../studies in the book of common prayer/appendix iv the scotch service-book.htm

The Church of the Middle Ages
... [Sidenote: Further claims to temporal authority.] Later, instead of advisers they
claimed to be absolute judges in ecclesiastical matters, and when the ...
/.../blunt/a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter x the church of.htm

Mr. Beecher in England
... The President and his advisers, however, realising that the arrest of the two envoys
tallied very closely with the English actions that had brought on the War ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/mr beecher in england.htm

Thesaurus

Advisers (22 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Advisers (22 Occurrences). 1 Thessalonians
5:12 Now we beg you, brethren, to show respect for those who ...
/a/advisers.htm - 13k

Lawyer (5 Occurrences)
... decide questions of the law. The first two they did as scholars and teachers,
the last as advisers in some court. By virtue of the ...
/l/lawyer.htm - 14k

Leaders (167 Occurrences)
... Thessalonians 5:12 Now we beg you, brethren, to show respect for those who labour
among you and are your leaders in Christian work, and are your advisers; (WEY ...
/l/leaders.htm - 35k

Immaculate
... There is every reason to believe that one of the major motives to the entire
transaction was the wish, on the part of Pius and his advisers, to make an ...
/i/immaculate.htm - 16k

Councillor (2 Occurrences)
... koun'-sil, koun'-siler (sumboulion): An assembly of advisers (Acts 25:12); a body
of those taking counsel (see Schurer's Jewish People in the Time of Christ, I ...
/c/councillor.htm - 7k

Courts (59 Occurrences)
... The first two they did as scholars and teachers; the last either as judges or as
advisers in some court, as, for instance, the Senate of Jerusalem or some ...
/c/courts.htm - 33k

Council (51 Occurrences)
... koun'-sil, koun'-siler (sumboulion): An assembly of advisers (Acts 25:12); a body
of those taking counsel (see Schurer's Jewish People in the Time of Christ, I ...
/c/council.htm - 24k

Conception (6 Occurrences)
... There is every reason to believe that one of the major motives to the entire
transaction was the wish, on the part of Pius and his advisers, to make an ...
/c/conception.htm - 19k

Advises (1 Occurrence)

/a/advises.htm - 6k

Adviser (3 Occurrences)

/a/adviser.htm - 7k

Resources

What is the key to hearing God's voice? | GotQuestions.org

Why is a multitude of counselors valuable (Proverbs 15:22)? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong for a Christian family to use hospice? | GotQuestions.org

Advisers: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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

Concordance

Advisers (22 Occurrences)

1 Thessalonians 5:12
Now we beg you, brethren, to show respect for those who labour among you and are your leaders in Christian work, and are your advisers;
(WEY)

2 Samuel 8:18
and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief ministers.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 25:19
and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and five men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the city.
(See NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:4
He did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as did the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 25:17
Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: 'Come, let us look one another in the face.'
(See NIV)

Ezra 7:14
Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,
(See NIV)

Ezra 7:15
and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
(See NIV)

Ezra 7:28
and has extended loving kindness to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahweh my God on me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.
(See NIV)

Ezra 8:25
and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:
(See NIV)

Esther 6:13
Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before him."
(See NIV)

Job 12:20
He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 11:14
When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 15:22
Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain.
(See RSV NIV)

Proverbs 24:6
For with wise advice thou shalt make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 19:11
The chiefs of Zoan are completely foolish; the wisest guides of Pharaoh have become like beasts: how do you say to Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the offspring of early kings?
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 52:25
and out of the city he took an officer who was set over the men of war; and seven men of those who saw the king's face, who were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the army, who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city.
(See NAS NIV)

Daniel 3:2
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
(See NIV)

Daniel 3:3
Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
(See NIV)

Daniel 3:24
Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, Didn't we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, True, O king.
(See NIV)

Daniel 3:27
The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.
(See NIV)

Daniel 4:36
At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.
(See NIV)

Daniel 6:7
All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Advisers

Related Terms

Advisers (22 Occurrences)

Reader (5 Occurrences)

Continency (1 Occurrence)

Advertise (1 Occurrence)

Adviser (3 Occurrences)

Advisors (1 Occurrence)

Titus (15 Occurrences)

Job (60 Occurrences)

Inspiration (4 Occurrences)

Backslide