The Elijah Syndrome: How One Minister Deals with a Bipolar Condition

by Raymond Franklin Edwards, BA, MDiv

Overview

Elijah was perhaps the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. The Hebrew people revered him as such. And yet the book of James tells us he was still a man with weaknesses, not so different from many of us today.
Chapter 6 deals at length with the experience of Elijah the prophet and his experience on Mount Carmel as he faces the prophets of Baal. His experience and subsequent reaction provide an interesting analogy of a bipolar episode. The author does not imply that Elijah was bipolar but suggests there are valuable lessons that can be drawn from the event. Elijah does exhibit many of the classic symptoms of a bipolar condition.
First Kings 18–19 is the Biblical material drawn from, with additional comments from James 5:17–18. As you read chapter 6, you will understand the reason for entitling this book The Elijah Syndrome.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940162867340
Publisher:	Covenant Books
Publication date:	06/05/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	542 KB

About the Author

Raymond and Anna Marie grew up on small farms in northwest Arkansas. Their families were faithful followers of Christ and were active in small Baptist churches.
Raymond and Anna Marie were converted to Christ during their teen years. Raymond surrendered to the Gospel ministry when he was eighteen and married Anna Marie Estes when he was nineteen. Together they spent the next fifteen years pastoring and receiving their formal education.
Raymond has a bachelor of arts from Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri, and an master’s of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. Anna Marie was able to complete a little over two years of college work.
After approximately fort-five years of pastoring in various states, traveling to many countries to do mission work and spending twelve years as a college adjunct professor, Raymond was diagnosed with a bipolar condition. Since retiring from the pastorate and preaching ministry, Raymond spends much of his time writing Bible studies, articles of general interest, and poetry. He has a ministry called “Poetic Paraphrase.”
Raymond and Marie are active members of First Baptist Church, Harrison, Arkansas. He is still able to participate in foreign mission activities. They enjoy two children and two college-age granddaughters.