“Exhort and exhortation are common words in Christadelphian speech. Common words are likely to be devalued as a result of frequent use. Exploring the meaning and use of these terms has two benefits: it reminds us of our exhortational obligation to one another and it reminds us what an exhortation should be.
Meaning of “exhort”
The English words “exhortation” and “exhort” are found only in the New Testament. The Greek word behind them is parakaleo which means “to call to the side of,” and in addition to “exhort,” it is translated “beseech” (Mk. 1:40), “comforted” (Matt. 5:4), “in-treat” (I Tim. 5:1), “desired” (II Cor. 12:18) and “pray” (Acts 27:34).
Consider how a sampling of the context of three of these passages gives color and depth to the scriptural meaning of exhorting. The desperate cry of a leper is a beseeching, or exhorting, of the Master for help (Mk. 1:40). They who mourn can trust in the promise that they will be comforted, or exhorted, by the rewards of the kingdom (Mt. 5:4). Paul’s earnest desire to prepare and dispatch Titus to Corinth meant that Paul had exhorted, or “urged,” him to go (cf. RSV).
A loving appeal
Common to all five passages is the basic idea of an urgent appeal prompted by loving care. Several Old Testament terms also carry the same range of meaning. Moses beseeched God in an earnest appeal to reveal His glory (Ex. 33:18). The plea through Isaiah, “Give ear!” (Isa. 51:4) is also like parakaleo in that it was a call to come over to God’s side and be responsive to His instruction.
The apostle bids us to “exhort one another” (Heb. 10:25), but we need to consider how to put that into practice. At times, we may neglect to fulfill our obligation to call others to God’s side; a Sunday morning “exhortation” may be far short of its scriptural meaning.
Responsibility of all
Of course, exhortation is not solely the responsibility of Sunday morning exhorting brethren. For “exhorters” in daily life, we need sisters to be “mothers in Israel” (Jdg. 5:7) and we need brethren to be “fathers” (I Cor. 4:15) -which Paul said were always in short supply.
A helpful passage is II Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Timothy 4:2). The context here is instructive. “Exhort” is preceded by the terms “reprove” and “rebuke;” together, they convey the idea of convincing and correcting. Then notice how “exhort” follows with the qualification that it is to be done with “the utmost patience and instruction” (Weymouth’s).
A complement to these words to Timothy is Paul’s earlier counsel: “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (II Tim. 2:24,25). Before we exhort others, we need to exhort ourselves to take on the right attitude. Awareness of our own imperfection, however, should not become an endless excuse to do nothing if a “word in season” is needed.
Loving but firm
Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul refers to his exhortations and motives: “For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile” (I Thess. 2:3). Godly exhortation requires pure motives. Later in the same chapter, Paul reminds them, “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father [doth] his children” (I Thess. 2:11). As a “father,” describes both intent and approach. Note the balance in Paul’s approach: “father” and “charged” (v.11) suggest firm but loving direction.
Approach is important
How important, then, is one’s approach to the task of exhorting? Effective exhortation (on or off the platform) requires “a word fitly spoken” (Prov. 25:11). So, yes, our approach does matter. We need an approach that builds a fire under people without necessarily making their blood boil. It’s a true saying, “If the only tool we have is a hammer, we’ll tend to see every issue [or person] as a nail!”
Notice also the terms of endearment found in I Thessalonians 2:11 and its surrounding context: “gentle,” “nurse” and “cherish” (v.7), “affectionately desirous” (v.8), “comforted” and “children” (v.11). All these terms emphasize Paul’s approach. He knew that the task of exhorting (in its many applications) will miss the mark if loving motives and a kind approach are neglected.
A right cause but wrong approach, therefore, fails as scriptural exhortation. “A hammer sometimes misses its mark — loving tact, rarely,” is a saying that captures the point. The genius of godly exhortation is the ability to be both honest and Christlike.
Like the eagle
Moses’ final words to Israel contain a graphic summary of how God exhorted, or called, Israel to His side: “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings” (Deut. 32:11).
The behavior of the mother eagle toward her young illustrates what exhorting is about. The mother’s aim is to teach her young. The young eagles need to learn how to leave the nest to gain independence and maturity. Their mother will have to cope with some reluctance from her fledglings. But simply pecking and pushing them out of the nest would bring unwanted results. Firmly, but lovingly, the young will be coached and encouraged. Patience nourishes growth — a mother eagle applies the first to develop the second.
Three roles
Consider the three exhortational tasks: “stirreth up,” “fluttereth over,” beareth them [up].” When we offer a word of exhortation to another, we need all three approaches. Remember, the purpose is to stir up — not cause a stir.
In exhorting others to action and growth, we also need to both “flutter over” and to “bear up.” The first implies having a watchful, caring eye over those we are trying to help. The second demands what Paul asked of the Galatians: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).
Bearing up another means sympathetically sharing his load: weaknesses, frustrations, sometimes shame and sorrow. And, finally, the exhorter — like the mother eagle — doesn’t offer a pointed beak but an outstretched, supportive wing.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One