George C. Scipione
by Hannah Caranta
I. Known for
George C. Scipione was involved in biblical counseling for about fifty years, founded and directed the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (IBCD), pastored for forty-four years in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and directed the Biblical Counseling Institute of the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. [1] He has written books both on theological matters and on biblical counseling (see list of books below).
II. Biography
A. Early Life
Scipione was born on May 21, 1946. [2] He attended Temple University and graduated in 1967. July 8th, 1972, Scipione married his wife Eileen, who has also done work in biblical counseling. They have five children and two grandchildren. [3]
B. Education
AB from Temple University, BD from Westminster Theological Seminary, MA from Temple University, ThM from Westminster Theological Seminary, PhD from Whitefield Theological Seminary, DMin studies from Westminster Theological Seminary. [4]
C. Death
Scipione died January 22, 2020 at the age of 73 in Pittsburgh, PA. [2] His death has been honored by online tributes from various institutions, students, and friends.
III. Theological views
George C. Scipione’s theological views are primarily Presbyterian, but is Protestant Christian at large. According to a tribute from ACBC by Jim Newheiser, Scipione’s theology is committed to God’s Word as supreme and authoritative in counseling. In addition to the supremacy of Scripture, Scipione had a commitment to the church being Christ’s work now and that translated into his teaching. [5]
IV. Works/Publications
A. Books
Timothy, Titus & You: A Study Guide for Church Leaders, 1975.
Timothy, Titus & You: A Workbook for Church Leaders, 1975.
The Battle for the Biblical Family, 2000.
The Sword and the Shovel, 2002.
The Pauline Concept of SUNEDEISIS
B. Articles
JBC Volume 7:4 PDF, Psychological Seduction by W. E. Kilpatrick Book Review.
JBC Volume 10:1 PDF, Self-Esteem is Sweeping over America.
JBC Volume 9:4 PDF, Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo: Is Biblical Counseling It or No? George C. Scipione
JBC Volume 8:3 PDF, Who Owns the Children of Divorce?
JBC Volume 7:2 PDF, The Limits of Confidentiality in Counseling.
C. Interviews
Counseling Difficult Cases, 2010.
Care and Discipleship Podcast: 034 Interview with George Scipione.
D. Audio
The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Counseling.
Identity Crisis (TI19): You are a Prophet, Priest, and King.
Identity Crisis (TI19): You are Your Gender.
Identity Crisis (TI19): You are Your Calling.
Addictions (SI17): The Necessity of Individualized Counseling.
Addictions (SI17): The Attributes of a Christ-like Counselor.
Disordered Desires (SI16): Gender Blending and Confusion.
Disordered Desires (SI16): Keys to Evangelism in a Sexualized Culture.
Disordered Desires (SI16): Male Leadership in a Genderless World.
Equipped to Counsel (SI15): Difficult Cases and Wisdom in Counseling (Part 1).
Equipped to Counsel (SI15): Difficult Cases and Wisdom in Counseling (Part 2).
Making Peace with the Past (SI14): Help for Jesus, You, and Your Counselees.
Making Peace with the Past (SI14): Hope for Peter, You, and Your Counselees.
Churches Equipped to Care (SI13): Counseling People with Psychological Disorders.
Churches Equipped to Care (SI13): The Inner Man and Outerman Balance in Counseling.
Churches Equipped to Care (SI13): What is Man?
Changed by Grace (SI12): The Importance of the Local Church.
Changed by Grace (SI12): A Biblical View of Personality.
Changed by Grace (SI12): The History of the Biblical Counseling Movement.
Keeping a Passion for Christ (SI10): Abiding in Christ.
Keeping a Passion for Christ (SI10): Help for Hoarders.
Keeping a Passion for Christ (SI10): A Breath of Fresh Air for Chokers.
Keeping a Passion for Christ (SI10): Repentance – Don’t Counsel Without It.
Making Peace in a World of Conflict (SI09): Nouthetic Gentleness.
Making Peace in a World of Conflict (SI09): Problems that Prevent You from Being a Peacemaker.
Making Peace in a World of Conflict (SI09): Sexual Purity in Men 1.
Making Peace in a World of Conflict (SI09): Sexual Purity in Men 2.
Helping the Hurting (SI08): Counseling People Struggling with Life-Dominating Sin.
Helping the Hurting (SI08): Counseling Men Struggling with Sexual Sin.
Helping the Hurting (SI08): Counseling the Hurting from 1 Peter.
Helping the Hurting (SI08): Ask the Counselor.
Blame It on the Brain (SI07): The Heart of the Issue is the Issue of the Heart.
Blame It on the Brain (SI07): Preparation for Counseling from the Pastoral Epistles.
V. Influence on Biblical Counseling
George C. Scipione has contributed greatly to biblical counseling. He worked in the biblical counseling field for most of his life. He taught at various institutes, directed his own institutes, wrote theological works, and provided resources for biblical counselors around the world. He was a member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and was a Supervising Fellow, board member, and member of the Academy. His work in founding the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship (IBCD) trained both ministers and laymen to counsel. A quote found in the faculty list for Scipione at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS) shows his beliefs about counseling: “I believe counseling is a subset of discipleship. Therefore, counseling is a spiritual duty and for select persons, the exercise of a spiritual gift. The elders are God’s main counselors, while gifted laymen will help them, and all exercise this duty. All non-organic problems must be solved biblically under the oversight of the elders. Organic problems need the best available medical care in conjunction with the pastoral care of the elders.” [4]
VI. Bibliography
[1] “George Scipione”, George Scipione, https://georgescipione.com/.
[2] “George Charles Scipione Obituary”, Legacy, https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/george-scipione-obituary?pid=195162700.
[3] “Today in OPC History”, The Orthodox Presbyterian Church, https://opc.org/today.html?history_id=445.
[4] Academic Catalog 2019-2020, Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Volume 48, 111, http://www.rpts.edu/Catalog.pdf.
[5] “George Scipione- A Tribute”, ACBC, https://biblicalcounseling.com/george-scipione-a-tribute/
The Encyclopedia of Biblical Counseling 