Episode
John Calvin as Counselor: Pastoral Wisdom from His Letters
- Podcast
- Reformed Forum
- Published
- May 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3667
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/reformed-forum-467716/episodes/john-calvin-as-counselor-pastoral-wisdom-from-his-letters/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/reformed-forum-467716/john-calvin-as-counselor-pastoral-wisdom-from-his-letters.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
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.