@article{ART003364131},
author={Kyu Bo Kim},
title={Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy},
journal={Journal of Counseling and Gospel },
issn={1739-0745},
year={2026},
volume={34},
number={2},
pages={39-64},
doi={10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39}
TY - JOUR
AU - Kyu Bo Kim
TI - Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy
JO - Journal of Counseling and Gospel
PY - 2026
VL - 34
IS - 2
PB - Korean Evangelical Counseling Society
SP - 39
EP - 64
SN - 1739-0745
AB - This paper argues that music can function as a legitimate medium for soul care within biblical counseling. For the past half century, the biblical counseling movement has relied almost exclusively on verbal media. A supplementary exegesis of Colossians 3:16—a foundational text for nouthetic counseling—reveals that “teaching and admonishing” and “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” are parallel participial clauses subordinate to the imperative “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” demonstrating that the latter has been left largely unexplored as a methodological resource. Building on this exegetical foundation, the study traces the relationship between music and soul care within the Theodrama. In creation, the human being is homo cantans—a singing creature whose music-making is a holistic activity of the imago Dei. The fall distorted music’s direction and order, yet redemption restores it through Moses’ song, David’s harp, the Psalms, and the “new song” in Christ. In consummation, music reaches its ultimate telos as cosmic praise before the Lamb. On this theological basis, five principles of biblical music therapy are proposed: God-orientation, Word-bearing, holistic engagement, the continuity of lament and hope, and communal care. This study expands the methodological horizon of biblical counseling by demonstrating that music in soul care is not a Christianized adaptation of secular music therapy but a practice grounded in creation order and commanded by Scripture.
KW - homo cantans;biblical counseling;biblical music therapy; creative arts therapy;soul care
DO - 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
ER -
Kyu Bo Kim. (2026). Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy. Journal of Counseling and Gospel , 34(2), 39-64.
Kyu Bo Kim. 2026, "Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy", Journal of Counseling and Gospel , vol.34, no.2 pp.39-64. Available from: doi:10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
Kyu Bo Kim "Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy" Journal of Counseling and Gospel 34.2 pp.39-64 (2026) : 39.
Kyu Bo Kim. Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy. 2026; 34(2), 39-64. Available from: doi:10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
Kyu Bo Kim. "Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy" Journal of Counseling and Gospel 34, no.2 (2026) : 39-64.doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
Kyu Bo Kim. Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy. Journal of Counseling and Gospel , 34(2), 39-64. doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
Kyu Bo Kim. Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy. Journal of Counseling and Gospel . 2026; 34(2) 39-64. doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
Kyu Bo Kim. Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy. 2026; 34(2), 39-64. Available from: doi:10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
Kyu Bo Kim. "Homo Cantans: Biblical Foundations for the Use of Music as a Medium and Principles of Biblical Music Therapy" Journal of Counseling and Gospel 34, no.2 (2026) : 39-64.doi: 10.17841/jocag.2026.34.2.39
