John Calvin as Counselor: Pastoral Wisdom from His Letters

We welcome Dr. Michael Mock to discuss his D.Min. dissertation on John Calvin’s pastoral counseling through his correspondence. Drawing from Calvin’s letters, Mock shows how the Reformer cared for people amid grief, anxiety, marital conflict, abuse, persecution, and suffering with theological depth and compassion.

The conversation challenges the caricature of Calvin as cold or detached, highlighting his attention to the whole person—mind, heart, and will—and his confidence in God’s providence, prayer, Scripture, and the ministry of the local church. Calvin’s letters reveal a model of soul care that remains deeply relevant for pastors, elders, and church members today.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and guest welcome
• 2:01 Michael Mock’s D.Min. project and biblical counseling
• 4:37 Bringing Calvin and counseling together
• 9:49 Calvin’s letters in the Banner of Truth edition
• 14:11 Calvin as a suffering saint who needed counsel
• 17:42 Calvin’s ministry and the care of souls
• 23:18 Calvin’s doctrine of the heart and whole-person counsel
• 27:21 Answering caricatures of Calvin as cold-hearted
• 29:39 Prayer, suffering, and compassionate counsel
• 32:59 Counseling the martyrs in Lyon
• 35:39 Abuse, suffering, and Geneva’s consistory
• 42:01 Discipline, sympathy, and the company of pastors
• 44:24 The church as mother and the context for counsel
• 50:28 Whole-heart ministry and elder care today
• 57:28 If Calvin had time: counsel as pastoral ministry

Resources Mentioned

• Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary
• Letters of John Calvin
• Grace Presbyterian Church, Fresno

Participants: Camden Bucey, Michael Mock