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Encourage One Another

Encourage One Another

Encourage One Another.

“Let us encourage one another.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Paraclete: Called to come alongside someone in need, in order to help and bear burdens by Pointing to God, Advising, Reminding, Advocating for, Comforting, Listening, Exhorting, Teaching and Encouraging.

a. Some translations have “comfort” instead of “encourage” in this verse, and there is a good reason for that. The Greek word used here is actually “paraclete.” So literally, the verse says,  “Let us be paracletes to each other.” That term is a rich biblical Greek word that actually means many things in English. To be a paraclete is to come alongside someone and serve that person in a personal and helpful way, shoulder-to-shoulder. Each believer is called to be a paraclete for another person in need.

b. When Jesus said that He was sending the Holy Spirit to us (in John 14:16, 14:26, and 16:7), the Greek word that was used for the Spirit was “Paraclete.” The Holy Spirit is given to us to be a divine Paraclete, to come alongside us. John is saying here the Spirit is provided for each believer in order to comfort, encourage, advocate for, counsel and exhort each other as we mature in Christ.

c. Let us be little paracletes for one another, strengthened and enabled by the divine Paraclete to come alongside each other. The following Scriptures use the term paraclete in the Greek text, which is shown in parenthesis. The word within each parenthesis is generally how the term paraclete was translated in that version. Remember that when you see “encourage,” the word could just as well mean “comfort” or any of the other meanings of paraclete. The first verse is a good example, because Barnabas is known as “the son of comfort” as well as “the son of encouragement.”

“Joseph,  a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, which means Son of (Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” (Acts 4:36).

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all (comfort), who (comforts) us in all our troubles, so that we can (comfort) those in any trouble with the (comfort) we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow into our lives, so also through Christ our (comfort) overflows.”  (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

“Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the (encouragement) of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and (encouragement) give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:4-6).

“If you have any (encouragement) from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” (Philippians 1:1-2).

“Your love has given me great joy and (encouragement), because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” (Philemon v. 7).

“My purpose is that they may be (encouraged) in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:1-3).

“I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly (encouraged); in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds. God, who (comforts) the downcast, (comforted) us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the (comfort) you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.” (2 Corinthians 7:4, 6-7, 13).

“May the Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal (encouragement) and good hope, (encourage) your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16).