One of the reasons we don’t really understand what the Bible means when it says, “Encourage one another,” is that there are not precise translations for the two words the Bible uses for encourage.
That’s why those words are translated also as comfort, exhort and help.
So let’s delve into these words a bit more and see if we can summarize what they mean, so we can get a better idea what the Bible mean.
Parakaleo is the more active, forceful of the two words. And that makes sense — To call to one’s side is more active than to speak at one’s side, which is what paramuthia means. That also helps explain why paramuthia has more of a leaning toward the comfort and console side of the equation, and parakaleo leans more toward the exhortation end of things.
That’ll be important as we start looking at passages that exhort us to be encouragers. For now, I’ll just say that 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 3:13 are both the more active, forceful of the two, parakaleo.
It’s what the two terms have in common that I want to focus on for now. Para means the same thing in each word, and it’s a concept like “alongside.” There’s a togetherness implied there.
They both mean comfort and encourage and exhort. Now, in English we don’t necessarily think of those as “togetherness” types of things. But it’s a necessary part of the concept that God’s Word is presenting to us. And I think that tying these three concepts together into one will be easier if we think about the end of result we’re aiming for when we encourage or comfort or exhort. What do we want to happen when we encourage someone? What about when we comfort someone? How about when we exhort someone?
Is it safe to say that encouragement – encouragement as the Bible means it to be – is helping someone move forward? And what would be a Godly move forward? A biblical exhortation? To help someone move in the direction God has for them?
Let’s make it easier by looking at a secular example first.
Let’s say you have a friend whose house is threatened by floodwaters. If I told you that you needed to encourage him, you might think, “Well, I’ll give him a call and tell him I’m praying for him.” Or maybe you’d go over and sing a sea shanty as he filled sandbags. Perhaps you’d send him a card, and write, “Gee, I hope this gets to your house before it washes away.”
OK, I’m being sarcastic, but my point is that our view of encouragement is weak and pathetic compared to the biblical concept.
If you were to follow the biblical concept of encouragement, you’d go over and help him fill sandbags. You’d bring him a hot meal and a cold drink. You’d gather up some other friends and move his valuables to higher ground. You’d find ways to actually help address the problem, rather than simply talking about it.
“With” is a key part of the concept, remember?
So the normal view of encouragement would say that you’re doing a good job if you tell a new Christian to study the Bible. Biblical encouragement might say you ought to start studying the Bible with them, and begin discipling them in the Christian life.
Most folks would probably think you’re doing a good job of encouragement if you tell a missionary you’ll pray for them. Biblical encouragement might say you give toward their ministry and help others get involved in their ministry.
What the Bible is talking about when it says “encourage one another” is to help people move forward in the path God has for them. And that requires us to invest the lives of others.
So how are you going to encourage someone?
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