A Word Study

"Exhort" is the Greek word "parakaleo" (verb): literally, to call alongside; thus to invite, to summon, to beseech, to comfort, to encourage. This Greek word occurs over 100 times in the New Testament.

The noun form "exhortation" is "paraklesis", meaning: consolation, comfort, encouragement. This word occurs about 30 times in the New Testament.

Some examples of "parakaleo" and "paraklesis" from the Gospels:

  • "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matt 5:4).
  • The old man Simeon "waited for the consolation of Israel", which was realized when Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus into the Temple.
  • When the older brother became angry [at the special treatment given his younger brother, the "prodigal son"], then "his father went out and pleaded with him" (Luke 15:28) to come in the house and share the meal of joy and fellowship with his brother.

Otherwise, "parakaleo" in the Gospels mainly consists of those who are sick or in need "pleading" with or "begging" Jesus to stay with them, care for them, teach them, and heal them. These passages are not directly spiritual in their instruction. However, they do teach us something: The word "parakaleo" is not about commanding or demanding, nor about 'laying down the law'. Instead it is about asking and even begging, politely and patiently.

Some examples of "parakaleo" and "paraklesis" from Acts and the Letters:

  • This "encouragement", or exhortation, was common in the synagogue after the Scripture readings (Acts 13:15).
  • Paul and Barnabas "encouraged [the believers] to remain true to the faith: "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
  • After being released from prison in Philippi, Paul and Silas "encouraged… the brethren" (Acts 16:39).
  • "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship" (Rom 12:1).
  • "If [his gift is for] encouraging, then let him encourage" (Rom 12:8).
  • By "encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (Rom 15:4).
  • 'May the God of encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus' (Rom 15:5).
  • "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought" (1Cor 1:10).
  • "When we are slandered, we answer kindly" (1Cor 4:13).
  • "I urge you to imitate me" (1Cor 4:16).
  • 'Everyone who prophesies [teaches] should speak to men for their strengthening [upbuilding], encouragement and comfort' (1Cor 14:3).
  • "Praise… the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort they have received from God… [This comfort] produces… patient endurance [bearing up under burdens]… As you share in our sufferings, so you may share in our comfort" (2Cor 1:3-7).
  • "Forgive and comfort him [i.e., the repentant sinner], so that he not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him" (2Cor 2:7,8).
  • "We urge you not to receive God's grace in vain" (2Cor 6:1).
  • "God comforts the downcast" (2Cor 7:6).
  • Paul urges the brothers to visit the Corinthians and finish the arrangements for the generous gift to be given to the poor (2Cor 9:5).
  • "I appeal to you… by the meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2Cor 10:1).
  • "Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you" (2Cor 13:11).
  • "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received" (Eph 4:1; cf 1Thes 2:12).
  • "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord" (Phil 4:2).
  • Paul encourages the brethren "in heart [to be] united in love." This, he says, will lead them to "have the full riches of complete understanding" (Col 2:2).
  • "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 or compassion… then be like-minded, and show the same love, being one in spirit. Do nothing because of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility look to help others" (Phil 2:1-4).
  • "In all our distress and persecution we were [nevertheless] encouraged about you because of your faith" (1Thes 3:7).
  • "We urge you, brothers, to… love all the brethren throughout Macedonia" (1Thes 4:10).
  • "Encourage one another and build each other up" (1Thes 5:11).
  • "We urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1Thes 5:14).
  • "May our Lord Jesus Christ… and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope", "encourage" one another "in every good deed and word" (2Thes 2:16,17).
  • "Urge" the believers "to settle down and earn the bread they eat" (2Thes 3:12).
  • Paul "urged Timothy to stay in Ephesus so that he might command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer" (1Tim 1:3).
  • "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone", especially for kings and those who are in authority (1Tim 2:1,2).
  • "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching ['paraklesis', 'exhortation' in KJV] and to teaching [instruction]" (1Tim 4:13).
  • "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father" (1Tim 5:1).
  • "Encourage the young men to be self-controlled" (Titus 2:6).
  • "Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you have refreshed the hearts of the saints" (Philemon 1:7).
  • 'Do not forget "the word of encouragement, and do not lose heart when he chastens or rebukes you" (Heb 12:5).
  • Peter "urges [the brethren] to abstain from sinful desires" (1Pet 2:11).
  • Jude "urges [believers] to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

A Summary of the Bible Evidence

Certain types of "exhortation" predominate in the New Testament. Some of the following exhortations are repeated four or five times:

  • Comforting and visiting those who are sick, who are in distress and trouble, who are persecuted, and who mourn.
  • Encouraging believers to read the Scriptures so that they might have hope.
  • Encouraging believers to agree with one another, in a spirit of unity.
  • Encouraging believers to welcome, accept, and join together with one another.
  • Encouraging believers to acts of sacrifice, and giving, on behalf of others.
  • Encouraging believers to love one another, and to forgive one another.
  • Encouraging kindness toward others, even when slandered or mistreated.

Most of the following ones are mentioned two or three times:

  • Encouraging believers to a spirit of joy, rejoicing and thanksgiving.
  • Urging believers not to lose heart, or become discouraged, when tried or chastened.
  • Urging believers not to take God's grace for granted.
  • Encouraging believers to live lives worthy of Christ and the gospel.
  • Encouraging and building up believers in the faith.
  • Urging believers to pray for one another, and for all men, even leaders and rulers.
  • Encouraging believers to tenderness and caring for others.
  • Encouraging believers in every good deed and word.
  • Encouraging believers to control their desires.

Only a few have a distinctly negative tone, and usually occur only once:

  • Warning those who are idle, and encouraging them to work.
  • Commanding certain ones not to teach false doctrines.
  • Urging believers to abstain from sin.
  • Urging believers to contend for the faith.

There is very little that is truly negative, harsh or critical in Biblical exhortation, but there is very much that is strengthening, encouraging, upbuilding, healing, uplifting and accepting.

Overall, there are about 20 positive and encouraging passages about exhortation for every negative and critical one. It is reasonable to conclude that our own ecclesial exhortations ought to follow the same rule:

For every single word of rebuke, there ought to be 20 words of comfort, kindness and love.

What the Exhortation Is

Bro. Harry Tennant says this about exhortation:

No exhortation, however cleverly composed, has served its true purpose if it has failed to enter into the feelings of the hearers by showing true sympathy and compassion.

The word of exhortation is no set speech, no display of oratory, no occasion for self-preening or exhibition of a good memory or a discerning taste for good English. The world has enough of that. Rather is it that "through comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope." Let the brother seek to follow Paul in his words when he "exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord": follow him in his true service for Christ when he comforted "the souls of the disciples and exhorted them to continue in the faith". Such is exhortation: not merely what is spoken but what it is hoped to achieve.

It is good to have in one's mind in preparing an exhortation certain basic ideas behind the very word "exhortation" itself: comfort, consolation, beseeching, urging others forward by encouragement.

Ye Servants of the Lord

Bro. F.W. Turner emphasizes the role of hope in the exhortation:

To our worship and our remembrance at the Memorial Service we add the word of exhortation. To be effective this must have some relation to the things concerning our hope; and so again we are brought into touch with the unseen and eternal things. Because they are related to our hope they must of necessity be unseen; for as Paul reminds us: "We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for?" (Rom 8:24). But although unseen, they are real, and like those faithful men and women of old, we are persuaded of them and have embraced them, and are absolutely convinced that they will be realized.

Meditations

Scriptural exhortation is positive; it is about looking toward the future in hope and encouraging one another to do the same.

Exhortation is kind and considerate. It asks, and even begs; it does not demand.

Exhortation never loses sight of the love of God, demonstrated by the mercy He shows toward us all.

Exhortation always reminds us that we stand in God's sight only because our sins are forgiven, and that we always need to forgive others.

Exhortation always seeks to build up, to encourage, to strengthen others — in their appreciation of spiritual things, and in their desire to help one another.

Exhortation is about positive, upbuilding and encouraging things. It is about encouraging your listeners to do something positive and constructive! Although the passage does not contain the words for "exhort" or "exhortation", the point of exhortation may be summed up in what Paul wrote to the Philippians:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" (Phil 4:8,9).

For good measure, we should also consider what Peter wrote to the believers:

"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2Pet 1:5-8).

According to the apostles, exhortation should be about putting into practice what is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, and worthy of praise. It should be about putting into practice, effectively and productively, all the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23): goodness, self-control, perseverance, brotherly kindness, peace, joy, and love.

Finally, and foremost, exhortation is always about putting Christ forward, and showing his character and his life, and preparing those who hear to partake of the emblems that represent his sacrifice.

What the Exhortation Is Not

The exhortation is not a serious, in-depth Bible study, although it may contain elements of Bible study. (There are other places in ecclesial life for that sort of Bible study.)

The exhortation is not a word study in Hebrew or Greek, although it may contain elements of word study. (There are other places for serious word study.)

The exhortation is not about reviewing the Bible evidence for the first principles that we believe. (There are other places to do that.)

The exhortation is not just about feelings and emotions. It ought to encourage listeners to do something:

Bro. Harry Whittaker once told me that his wife, Sis. Phyllis, usually listened to or read his exhortations ahead of time. Quite often she would say, "Harry, that was good. But… what are you going to tell them to do?"

The exhortation is not about interpreting prophecy or predicting the future, although it may be about encouraging others generally, because of "the day that is approaching":

"Let us encourage ['parakaleo'] one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Heb 10:25).

"The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed" (Rom 13:11).

Exhortation is not about taking advantage of the platform to push a particular idea of your own, nor to argue a point with another brother who can't answer back. (If that really needs to be done, it should be done privately, and altogether away from the public exhortation.)

Exhortation is not about showing off, or calling attention to ourselves and what we know (or think we know). When we stand up to exhort, it is never about us — it is always about Christ!

Preparing the Exhortation

  • Most ecclesias publish programs showing well in advance who is exhorting and when. Start preparing your next exhortation a month or more in advance. Don't leave it to the last few days.
  • Don't assume that using 10 Bible passages is better than using two or three. Choose the best Bible passages, think about them carefully, and make them count.
  • It is good to use a story, or an illustration, or an analogy. But remember that the exhortation cannot be all about stories or illustrations. The tail should not wag the dog! Use the story to emphasize a key point, and help others to remember it. But the key point must be the most important thing — the Bible teaching!
  • Talk from your own experiences, not from others' experiences. This will make your exhortation real. Remember: Jesus told wonderful stories with powerful lessons, but they were about what he knew personally — shepherds with their flocks, farmers sowing seed in their fields, men in the marketplace, and other everyday scenes of his world.
  • Avoid detailed comments about politics and world affairs, or about political leaders and personalities. Such comments distract your listeners from the really important matters, such as the hope of the kingdom, God's love, and Christ's sacrifice. Besides, everyone already knows that the world is a wicked place.
  • Avoid predictions and guesses about what will happen next in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. (More often than not, such predictions have proven wrong as time passed.) Jesus has told us that no one knows the day or the hour when the Son of man will return (Matt 24:36; Acts 1:7). You, the exhorting brother, are no exception!
  • If you must look to the future, let it be by focusing on the return of Christ, and the establishment of God's Kingdom. Your guesses about interim events are uncertain at best, while the coming kingdom is absolutely certain.
  • Never use a word if you aren't sure what it means. There is absolutely no need to impress anyone with your vocabulary.
  • Don't summarize what you've already said. If that needs to be done, the presiding brother will do it.

Delivering the Exhortation

  • Remember: You can select a special reading that introduces or supports your exhortation. But don't ask for more to be read than you really need. There's no benefit in having extra-long Bible readings before the exhortation.
  • Remember also: You can, within reason, select one or more hymns that supplement and reinforce what you want to say in your exhortation. "Within reason" means: Be sure the musician can play, and the congregation can sing, the hymn or hymns you are selecting. Don't think you need to select all the hymns.
  • The night before you are exhorting, go to bed early and get a good night's rest.
  • On the day you are exhorting, get up early. Be on time. Be ready. (In Hebrew, and probably for good reason, the word for "early" may also be translated "eager" or "eagerly"; those who start out on their tasks early in the morning are presumed to be eager!)
  • Double-check any Bible references you plan to look up and read. Don't be caught wondering what verse you were really thinking about, and why you have this unfamiliar verse staring back at you from the Bible page! 'This isn't what I wanted!'
  • If you plan to read certain passages (rather than having them written out already), then it is good to use sticky notes to help you find them in your Bible. Don't leave yourself wondering where Nahum, or Titus, went to — and how you could have misplaced them when you needed them most! Don't be forced to say, 'Sorry. I can't seem to find that verse!'
  • Never begin with an apology or an excuse! Don't say, 'I'm sorry that I didn't have enough time to prepare.' (You've probably known for weeks or even months that you were scheduled. If it didn't mean enough to you to prepare well, why should it mean enough to everyone else to listen to what you have to say?)
  • There is no need to hurry, that is, to speak or read your exhortation faster and faster. The exhortation is not a "race". Take your time to say what you need to say.
  • It's okay to pause for a moment. It allows your listeners to absorb what you have said. Sometimes a pause helps your listeners to focus on what you are about to say.
  • While it's fine to use a personal experience or anecdote as an illustration, keep in mind: 'The exhortation is not about me! It's about Christ.'
  • How to conclude the exhortation? If possible (and it should be possible), call attention to the emblems — the bread and the wine — for three reasons:
  • They are the next item on the program;
  • The purpose of the exhortation is to prepare the brothers and sisters to partake of the emblems; and
  • The bread and the wine point most directly to the Lord Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection. There is nothing more important that that.
  • The last rule of exhorting, or any public speaking: When you finish, sit down! My father used to say: "Very few souls are saved after the first 30 minutes." To the same point, he also said, "The mind can absorb only as much as the backside can endure."

If you are tempted, when you finish, to congratulate yourself on your exhortation, on how well it was written or delivered, or what compliments you received afterward, then be warned! You may have forgotten the most important thing about your service: 'The exhortation — like everything in the service — is about Christ, and not about me!'

The story is told that, after one talk, Bro. Robert Roberts was approached immediately by a sister who said, "I want to be the first one to tell you what a wonderful exhortation that was." To this Bro. Roberts replied, "No, sister. You are the second one to tell me. The 'devil' has already whispered that in my ear!"