8415 encouragement, examples of

Believers can encourage one another to have greater confidence in God and so to be bolder in living out their faith.

In the OT

2Ch 32:6-7 King Hezekiah encourages his people. See also Jdg 20:21-22; 1Sa 23:16; 1Ch 11:10; 2Ch 30:22; 2Ch 35:2 King Josiah; Ne 9:26; Da 2:18; Zec 8:20-22; Mal 3:16

In the NT

Ac 11:22-23; 1Th 2:11-12 See also Ac 4:36; Ac 13:43; Ac 14:21-22 Paul and Barnabas; Ac 15:32; Ac 16:40; Ac 18:27-28; Ac 20:1-2 after Paul’s ministry in Ephesus; Ro 1:11-12 Paul to the church at Rome; 2Co 7:4,13; Eph 6:21-22 Paul’s fellow-worker, Tychicus; Php 1:14 Paul in prison; Col 4:8; 1Th 3:2 Timothy; 1Th 3:7; Phm 7; Heb 13:22; 1Pe 5:12

Encouragement as exhortation in the life of faith

Col 1:28 Paul describes his ministry. See also Lk 3:18 John the Baptist; Ro 12:1; Ro 15:30; 1Co 4:16; 1Co 16:15-16; 2Co 2:7-8 dealing with a repentant member; 2Co 6:1; Eph 4:1; 1Th 4:10; Heb 13:19; 1Pe 2:11; Jude 3

Commands to encourage others

Isa 35:3-4 To Moses: Dt 1:38; Dt 3:28
2Sa 19:7 to David; Isa 1:17; Ro 12:6-8; Ro 15:2; 1Co 14:12; Col 3:16; 1Th 4:18; 1Th 5:11,14; 1Ti 5:1; 2Ti 4:2; Tit 1:9 the church overseer; Tit 2:15; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:25

Failure to encourage

Eze 34:4 Condemnation of Israel’s leaders. See also Job 16:2; Ps 69:20; Ecc 4:1; Eze 16:49; Zec 10:2

Refusing to be comforted

Ge 37:34-35 See also Ps 77:2; Jer 31:15; Mt 2:18

Scripture censures those who encourage others to do evil

2Ch 22:2-3 See also 2Sa 11:25 after David and Joab had arranged Uriah’s death; Ps 64:5 evildoers; Isa 41:7 makers of idols; Jer 23:14; Jer 29:8; Eze 13:22-23; 1Co 8:9-10

See also