“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40).
Exhorting is an important concept of setting forth the gospel message. John the Baptist did it (cf. Luke 3:18). The preachers of the gospel did it (cf. 1 Thess. 2:3-4). Paul charged Timothy to do it (cf. 2 Tim. 4:2). The book of Hebrews itself is a “word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22). Consider some thoughts about this great expression of divine purpose and proclamation.
1. Calling Alongside. Luke recorded of Paul’s words to certain Jews from Rome, “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain” (Acts 28:20). While the word “exhort” is not used in this passage, the Greek word often translated “exhort” is found in the phrase “I called for” (Acts 28:20). The Ethiopian eunuch is a great example here. Luke wrote, “And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:31). Here is the basic, literal meaning of the word. Such a concept involves a close relationship sought to be developed between the speaker and the hearer. It is an attempt to draw two sides together. It is no wonder that so many of the proclaimers of the gospel followed this pattern.
2. Challenging. Sometimes the term is translated to beseech so as to expect an appropriate response. Paul wrote to Philemon, “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds” (Philemon 10). Such would surely be a challenge under the past circumstances. Such a challenge is found in the words of the brother who owed his fellow brother, “And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all” (Matt. 18:29). Lydia used exhortation when she besought Paul and his companions (cf. Acts 16:15). Paul challenged Titus and those Paul sent with him to have the collection ready before he arrived in Corinth (cf. 2 Cor. 9:5). These examples show that exhorting involves a challenging persuasion expecting an appropriate response.
3. Comforting. There are many times in which the word translated “exhort” in certain contexts denotes a comforting or consoling effect due to the words of exhortation. Such is the case in the passage “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4:18). Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4). It was so much a characteristic of one of the early disciples that the apostles gave the man a surname called Barnabas “which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation” (Acts 4:36). When Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch in Pisidia in the synagogue one sabbath, Luke wrote, “And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on” (Acts 13:15). What was said was a calling alongside, challenging and, if applied to life, a very comforting message. No doubt such exhorting is very much needed today.
Jimmy Clark