Theological Implications of Being Willing to Receive Guidance
Theological traditions emphasize the importance of being willing to receive guidance, often linking it to the acquisition of wisdom and spiritual growth. The book of Proverbs frequently exhorts individuals to "listen to advice and accept instruction so that you will gain wisdom for your future" [1]. Similarly, Proverbs 8:33 states, "Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it" [3]. This willingness to receive counsel is presented as a foundational step toward prudence and knowledge [4, 5].
The concept extends beyond general advice to divine instruction. John Gill, in his commentary on Proverbs, interprets "instruction of wisdom" as referring to the teachings of Christ and the Gospel, which are more valuable than material wealth [9, 11]. He also connects hearing counsel and receiving instruction to becoming "wise in thy latter end," suggesting a focus on eternal concerns [13]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Proverbs highlights that seeking wisdom through diligence in hearing and prayer leads to God's guidance and helps avoid negative influences [14].
Theological implications of this willingness are significant. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, argues that receiving the wisdom of God requires a childlike humility, a renunciation of worldly philosophy as a sole guide in religious matters [6]. This aligns with the idea that the Holy Spirit illuminates the mind to apprehend truths already revealed in Scripture, rather than providing new revelations [10]. However, Hodge also notes that the Spirit guides believers in matters not explicitly detailed in Scripture, such as where and what to preach, indicating a broader scope for divine guidance [16].
Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, discusses the preparation for grace, noting that while human free will plays a part, the gift of grace ultimately exceeds human power. He also distinguishes between matters requiring extensive deliberation and those that are certain, suggesting that some divine calls, like entering religious life, may not require prolonged counsel due to their inherent certainty [7, 8].
The New Testament also underscores the importance of receiving guidance, particularly in correcting those who oppose teaching. II Timothy 2:25 advises "Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge" [2]. This highlights a pastoral dimension to guidance, aiming for spiritual transformation. Tertullian further distinguishes between human advice and the admonition of the Holy Spirit, asserting that the latter carries divine authority [12]. The freedom of will to accept or reject divine precepts is also acknowledged, emphasizing personal responsibility in receiving guidance [15].
Sources
- Proverbs “Proverbs 19:20 (LEB) — Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you will gain wisdom for your ⌞future⌟.”
- II Timothy “II Timothy 2:25 (BBE) — Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge,”
- Proverbs “Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it. -- Proverbs 8:33”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 1:5 (BSB) — let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prudence — Exhibited in the manifestation of God's grace -- Eph 1:8. Exemplified by Christ -- Isa 52:13; Mt 21:24-27; 22:15-21. Intimately connected with wisdom -- Pr 8:12. The wise celebrated for -- Pr 16:21. They who have Get knowledge. -- Pr 18:15. Deal with knowledge. -- Pr 13:16. Look well to their goings. -- Pr 14:15. Understand the ways of God. -- Ho 14:9. Understand their own ways. -- Pr 14:8. Crowned with knowledge. -- Pr 14:18. Not ostentatious of knowledge. -- Pr 12:23. Foresee and avoid evil. -- Pr 22:3. Are preserved by it. -- Pr 2:11. Suppress angry fee”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 19: reason or wisdom, in order to receive the wisdom of God. Our Lord told his disciples that unless they were converted and became as little children, they could not enter into the kingdom of God. And the Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, and in those addressed to the Ephesians and Colossians, that is, when writing to those imbued with the Greek and with the oriental philosophy, made it the indispensable condition of their becoming Christians, that they should renounce philosophy as a guide in matters of religion, and receive ”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part of the Second Part (Prima Secundae), Of the Cause of Grace, Art. 3: Article: Whether grace is necessarily given to whoever prepares himself for it, or to whoever does what he can? I answer that, As stated above (Article [2]), man's preparation for grace is from God, as Mover, and from the free-will, as moved. Hence the preparation may be looked at in two ways: first, as it is from free-will, and thus there is no necessity that it should obtain grace, since the gift of grace exceeds every preparation of human power. But it may be considered, secondly, as it”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Entrance Into Religious Life, Art. 10: Article: Whether it is praiseworthy to enter religion without taking counsel of many, and previously deliberating for a long time? I answer that, Long deliberation and the advice of many are required in great matters of doubt, as the Philosopher says (Ethic. iii, 3); while advice is unnecessary in matters that are certain and fixed. Now with regard to entering religion three points may be considered. First, the entrance itself into religion, considered by itself; and thus”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 1:3: To receive the instruction of wisdom,.... Or "prudence" (h); of wise and prudent men; and especially of Christ himself, who bears those names, whose instructions this book is full of; and the design of which is to engage the attention of men to them, and prevail upon them to receive them, and act conformably to them. Which instructions respect the following things; and which are added by way of illustration and amplification, viz. justice, and judgment, and equity; that which is just in itself, and according to the nature of God and his will; and is judged so by ri”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 9: by God in His Word ( 1 Cor. ii. 10-16 ). It is not, therefore, a revelation of new truths, but an illumination of the mind, so that it apprehends the truth, excellence, and glory of things already revealed. And second, 16 This experience is depicted in the Word of God. The Bible gives us not only the facts concerning God, and Christ, ourselves, and our relations to our Maker and Redeemer, but also records the legitimate effects of those truths on the minds of believers. So that we cannot appeal to our own feelings or inward experience, as ”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:10: Receive my instruction, and not silver,.... Not but that silver may be desired, sought after and received, consistent with the instructions of wisdom; though an anxious, immoderate, sinful pursuit after it, hinders the reception of them; and when they are in competition, the one is to be preferred to the other: the doctrines of the Gospel are of more worth, and more to be desired, than thousands of gold and silver; and therefore the meaning is, that the instruction of wisdom should be received rather than silver; it should have the preference; so Gersom interprets i”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. IV.--FURTHER REMARKS UPON THE (part 2): I think, moreover, I too have the Spirit of God." We see two advices: that whereby, above, he grants the indulgence of marrying; and that whereby, just afterwards, he teaches continence with regard to marrying. "To which, then," you say, "shall we assent?" Look at them carefully, and choose. In granting indulgence, he alleges the advice of a prudent man; in enjoining continence, he affirms the advice of the HOLY SPIRIT. Follow the admonition which has divinity for its patron. It is true ”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 19:20: Hear counsel, and receive instruction,.... Of parents, masters, and ministers; especially the counsel and instruction of Wisdom, of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, the wonderful Counsellor; and of his Gospel and of the Scriptures, which are able to make a man wise unto salvation; that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end; in the latter end of life, at death; that then it may appear a man has been so wise as to be concerned for a future state, for the good of his soul in another world; by listening to the counsel and instruction of Christ, in his word; by lookin”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 2 (introduction): Men are invited to seek wisdom because it teaches those principles by which they may obtain God's guidance and avoid the society and influence of the wicked, whose pernicious courses are described. (Pro. 2:1-22) Diligence in hearing and praying for instruction must be used to secure the great principle of godliness, the fear of God. hide . . . with thee--lay up in store (compare Pro 7:1).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 8: Twelve Patriarchs, Excerpts, Epistles, Apocrypha, Decretals — CHAP. VI. -- FREE-WILL.: "Whether any one, truly hearing the word of of the true Prophet; is willing or unwilling to receive it, and to embrace His burden, that is, the precepts of life, he has either in his power, for we are free in will. (2) For if it were so, that those who hear had it not in their power to do otherwise than they had heard, there were some power of nature in virtue of which it were not free to him to pass over to another opinion. Or if, again, no one of the hearers could at all receive it, this also we”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 29: immediate objective revelation to the soul by the Spirit. Besides the great doctrines of salvation, there are many things the Christian needs to know which are not contained in the Scriptures. In these matters he is not left to his own guidance. The Spirit “guides into all truth.” “Therefore,” says Barclay, “the Spirit of God leadeth, instructeth, and teacheth every true Christian whatsoever is needful for him to know.” For example, whether He is to preach; and, if called to preach, when, where, and what he shall preach; where he is to go”