For evangelical executives and organizational leaders seeking leadership development grounded in Scripture, not secular psychology.
When Daniel Goleman published Emotional Intelligence in 1995, the business world took notice. Suddenly, boardrooms buzzed with talk of self-awareness, empathy, and social skills as the new keys to leadership success. Yet for many evangelical executives and organizational leaders, this created tension: Was adopting “emotional intelligence” compromising biblical leadership principles for secular psychology?
The answer might surprise you. What if emotional intelligence isn’t secular wisdom imposed on faith, but biblical wisdom that secular research has rediscovered?
The Ancient Foundation
Long before Goleman coined the term “Emotional Intelligence,” Scripture laid the groundwork for what we now call EQ. Consider how biblical scholar Tremper Longman III describes this connection:
“The book, Emotional Intelligence, never once mentions the Bible or the book of Proverbs. But when the author, Daniel Goleman, describes the concept of emotional intelligence, it sounds very similar to the concept of wisdom in the book of Proverbs.”
This isn’t a coincidence. The wisdom literature of Scripture has always emphasized the integration of knowledge, emotion, and practical application. As Longman explains further:
“Biblical wisdom is much closer to the idea of emotional intelligence than it is to Intelligence Quotient. Wisdom is a skill, a ‘knowing how’; it is not raw intellect, a ‘knowing that.’ Goleman’s remarkable conclusion is that E.Q., not I.Q., correlates with success in life—success being the ability to get and hold a good job, enjoy life, and sustain healthy relationships.”
For the evangelical executive, this should be empowering news. Developing emotional intelligence isn’t about abandoning biblical principles—it’s about rediscovering them.
Jesus: The Perfect EQ Exemplar
Scripture provides the ultimate model of emotional intelligence in the person of Jesus Christ. Consider one of the most emotionally profound moments in the Gospels: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
This shortest verse in Scripture reveals layers of emotional wisdom. The Greek word used here is dakyro—a unique term that appears nowhere else in the New Testament. This wasn’t the loud wailing of grief-stricken mourners, but the quiet tears of someone who understood both human pain and divine purpose.
Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, yet He still connected with the emotional reality of those around Him. This highlights several key aspects of emotional intelligence.
- Empathy: Jesus felt with others without being overwhelmed by their emotions
- Self-awareness: He understood His own emotional responses and their purpose
- Social skills: He connected with people in their moment of need
- Emotional regulation: He processed grief while maintaining clarity of mission
As one commentary notes, “Jesus clearly had a deep understanding of his people. His was not a disembodied proclamation, but one that responded to the deepest needs of his people. This was possible because of his emotional intelligence.”
The Biblical Framework for Executive Development
Rather than viewing emotional intelligence as foreign to Scripture, evangelical executives and organizational leaders can recognize it as a systematic approach to biblical anthropology. Consider how Goleman’s five domains align with scriptural principles:
- Self-Awareness parallels the biblical call to examine our hearts: “When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies” (Psalm 119:59).
- Self-Regulation reflects the fruit of the Spirit: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7).
- Motivation connects to our eternal purpose: “In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall” (Psalm 18:29).
- Empathy fulfills the Great Commandment’s call to love others: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
- Social Skills enable us to speak wisdom that heals: “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing” (Proverbs 12:18).
Why This Matters for Executive Leadership
Research consistently shows that emotional intelligence proves twice as important as technical skills or IQ for leadership effectiveness. For the evangelical executive, this research validates what Scripture has always taught: leadership is fundamentally about people, relationships, and character.
The Apostle Paul warned against leadership driven by “selfish ambition” (eritheia), which he described as “self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means.” In contrast, he called leaders to “count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). This isn’t just moral teaching; it’s emotionally intelligent leadership.
When evangelical executives and organizational leaders develop their emotional intelligence through a biblical framework, they accomplish several strategic objectives:
- Stewardship Excellence: Better EQ leads to more effective leadership of the human and financial resources entrusted to them
- Witness Authenticity: Emotional maturity creates credibility for gospel conversations in the workplace
- Cultural Transformation: Leaders who model biblical emotional intelligence create environments where people flourish
- Kingdom Impact: Effective Christian executives influence organizational culture toward gospel-centered values
The Integration Imperative
Too often, evangelical leaders compartmentalize their faith and their professional development. They attend church on Sunday and secular leadership seminars on Monday, never integrating the two.
But Scripture calls us to be “complete in Christ” (Colossians 2:10)—whole persons whose faith informs every aspect of life, including how we lead, relate, and respond emotionally. Developing emotional intelligence through a biblical lens isn’t about adopting secular psychology. It’s about recovering the wisdom tradition that has always recognized the integration of heart, mind, and action in effective leadership.
As systematic theologian Wayne Grudem notes, “Our spirits can also experience emotions,” and these emotional experiences are part of our sanctification process. Growing in emotional maturity is growing in spiritual maturity.
The Path Forward
For evangelical executives and organizational leaders, the question isn’t whether to develop emotional intelligence, but how to do so in a way that honors Scripture and enhances effectiveness.
This means:
- Grounding EQ development in biblical anthropology rather than secular humanism.
- Using scriptural wisdom literature as the foundation for emotional growth.
- Modeling Christ’s perfect integration of emotional awareness and mission clarity.
- Creating organizational cultures that reflect gospel values through emotionally intelligent leadership.
The business world has rediscovered what Scripture has always taught: the most effective leaders are those who understand themselves, relate well to others, and integrate emotion with wisdom.
For the evangelical leader, this is not a compromise with secular ideas. It is a reclaiming of biblical truth that changes both individual effectiveness and organizational culture.
The wisdom of Proverbs, the example of Christ, and the guidance of the Spirit provide everything needed for developing the kind of emotional intelligence that honors God and serves others well.
