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Stirring Up One Another vs. Counseling in Biblical Context

The concepts of "stirring up one another" and "counseling" in a biblical context carry distinct connotations, with "stirring up" often implying negative instigation, while "counseling" generally refers to positive guidance and mutual encouragement.

The phrase "stirring up" can denote causing trouble or contention. For instance, the King James Version of Philippians 1:16 mentions those who "preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds" [3]. This suggests an action that creates strife rather than edification. Similarly, the term "strife" itself is identified as a "work of the flesh" and an "evidence of a carnal spirit" in Galatians 5:20 and 1 Corinthians 3:3, respectively [6]. Proverbs 22:10 advises casting out the scorner to end strife and contention [6]. Hitchcock's Bible Names directly associates "stirring up" with "forbidding" [1], further emphasizing its negative implications.

In contrast, "counseling" typically refers to providing guidance, wisdom, and encouragement. The name "Malluch" means "reigning; counseling" [7], suggesting a positive association with leadership and advice. Isaiah 8:10 speaks of counsel being frustrated if it is not from God: "Counsel a counsel, and it is frustrated; speak a word, and it shall not rise; for God is with us" [2]. This implies that good counsel aligns with divine will.

The New Testament frequently encourages believers to offer positive counsel and mutual support. Hebrews 3:13 exhorts believers to "exhort one another daily" to prevent unbelief and apostasy [10]. John Gill interprets this as comforting one another through discussing divine matters, praying together, instructing in Gospel doctrines, and reminding each other of God's promises [10]. This mutual encouragement is a form of positive counseling.

The idea of "sweet counsel" is found in Psalm 55:13, which John Gill interprets as the mutual delight and pleasure friends share in communicating and receiving knowledge, even extending to the notional understanding of the Gospel's mysteries [8]. This highlights the positive, enriching aspect of shared counsel.

The distinction between negative "stirring up" and positive "counseling" is also evident in warnings against contention. Adam Clarke, commenting on 2 Timothy 2:14, notes that "striving about words" has been a major source of contention in the Christian world, often arising from different interpretations of the same term [9]. He advises preachers to be careful in explaining terms to avoid such strife [9]. This aligns with the broader biblical principle of avoiding actions that cause others to stumble, as seen in Romans 14:13, which states, "Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way" [4]. Adam Clarke interprets this as a call for believers to promote each other's spiritual interests rather than hindering them [14].

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:1, criticizes believers for going to law with one another before heathen judges over minor matters. He suggests that such controversies should be resolved through "church-counsel and advice" [11], indicating that internal, guided discussion is the appropriate method for resolving disputes, rather than contentious legal battles. John Gill further elaborates on this, noting that going to law with one another indicates a "defect" or "want of brotherly love" and wisdom within the church [13].

Rabbinic tradition also touches on the positive aspect of mutual encouragement. Rashi, commenting on Ecclesiastes 4:11, suggests that when two people perform a mitzvah (commandment) together, it adds "warmth" to their performance, implying that mutual presence and encouragement can uplift and prevent one from slackening [12]. This concept of "mingling together" [5] for positive spiritual growth contrasts sharply with the negative implications of "stirring up" contention.

Sources

  1. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: No — stirring up; forbidding”
  2. Isaiah “Isaiah 8:10 (LITV) — Counsel a counsel, and it is frustrated; speak a word, and it shall not rise; for God is with us.”
  3. King James Version “[KJV] Philippians 1:16 — The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:”
  4. Romans “Romans 14:13 (Tyndale) — Let vs not therfore iudge one another eny more. But iudge this rather that no man put a stomblynge blocke or an occasion to faule in his brothers waye.”
  5. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Alush — mingling together”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  7. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Malluch — reigning; counseling”
  8. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 55:13: We took sweet counsel together,.... Not in religious matters; for in these the testimonies of the Lord were David's counsellors, Psa 119:24; but in civil things: hearty counsel is one branch of friendship, and which greatly sweetens it, Pro 27:9; as this may be applied to Christ and Judas, it may denote the mutual delight and pleasure they had, the one in communicating, the other in receiving a notional knowledge of the Gospel, and the mysteries of it, which are the counsel of God, Act 20:27; for if hearers may hear the word gladly, as Herod did, and receive it with ”
  9. 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 2:14: That they strive not about words - Words, not things, have been a most fruitful source of contention in the Christian world; and among religious people, the principal cause of animosity has arisen from the different manner of apprehending the same term, while, in essence, both meant the same thing. All preachers and divines should be very careful, both in speaking and writing, to explain the terms they use, and never employ them in any sense but that in which they have explained them. The subverting of the hearers - This is the general tendency of all polemical d”
  10. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:13: But exhort one another daily,.... In order to prevent unbelief and apostasy. The phrase is sometimes rendered, "comfort one another", or, "yourselves together", as in Th1 5:11 which the saints may do, by discoursing together about divine things; by praying together; by instructing one another in the doctrines of the Gospel; by putting one another in mind of the covenant of grace, and its promises; and by observing the near approach of everlasting happiness with Christ. And though the business of exhortation greatly belongs to ministers of the word, yet it ought not t”
  11. 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 6:1: Here the apostle reproves them for going to law with one another before heathen judges for little matters; and therein blames all vexatious law-suits. In the previous chapter he had directed them to punish heinous sins among themselves by church-censures. Here he directs them to determine controversies with one another by church-counsel and advice, concerning which observe, I. The fault he blames them for: it was going to law. Not but that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully. But, 1. Brother went to law with brother (Co1 6:6), one member of the church ”
  12. Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Ecclesiastes 4:11: They can be warm. [To be understood] according to its apparent meaning, regarding male and female, who are aroused by one another and procreate. 16 Alternatively, these verses refers to the performance of a mitzvah, i.e., if each one performs a mitzvah on his own then if he slackens off, there is no one to encourage him and “uplift him.” However, when two people perform a mitzvah together, it adds “warmth” to their performance of the mitzvah. (Divrei Avrohom)”
  13. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 6:7: Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you,.... Or a "defect": a want of brotherly love, or there would be no occasion to go to law at all; a want of wisdom and conduct, or proper persons would be pitched upon, and chosen out from among themselves to be arbitrators and judge between them; and a want of care among their leaders, who else would have pointed out to them such a method of accommodation, and not have suffered them to go the lengths they did: because ye go to law one with another; which would never be, was there not a declension among you, a de”
  14. Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 14:13: Let us not, therefore, judge one another any more - Let us abandon such rash conduct; it is dangerous, it is uncharitable: judgment belongs to the Lord, and he will condemn those only who should not be acquitted. That no man put a stumbling block - Let both the converted Jew and Gentile consider that they should labor to promote each other's spiritual interests, and not be a means of hindering each other in their Christian course; or of causing them to abandon the Gospel, on which, and not on questions of rites and ceremonies, the salvation of their soul depends.”
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