Examples of encouragement

In the OT

2 Ch 32:6–7 King Hezekiah encourages his people.

See also Jdg 20:21–22; 1 Sa 23:16; 1 Ch 11:10; 2 Ch 30:22; 2 Ch 35:2 King Josiah; Ne 9:26; Da 2:18; Zec 8:20–22; Mal 3:16

In the NT

Ac 11:22–23; 1 Th 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; 2 Co 7:4; 2 Co 7:13; Eph 6:21–22 Paul’s fellow-worker, Tychicus; Php 1:14 Paul in prison; Col 4:8; 1 Th 3:2 Timothy; 1 Th 3:7; Phm 7; Heb 13:22; 1 Pe 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; 1 Co 4:16; 1 Co 16:15–16; 2 Co 2:7–8 dealing with a repentant member; 2 Co 6:1; Eph 4:1; 1 Th 4:10; Heb 13:19; 1 Pe 2:11; Jud 3

Commands to encourage others

Isaiah 35:3–4 ESV

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

To Moses:

Dt 1:38; Dt 3:28

2 Sa 19:7 to David; Is 1:17; Ro 12:6–8; Ro 15:2; 1 Co 14:12; Col 3:16; 1 Th 4:18; 1 Th 5:11; 1 Th 5:14; 1 Ti 5:1; 2 Ti 4:2; Tt 1:9 the church overseer; Tt 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; Ec 4:1; Eze 16:49; Zec 10:2

Refusing to be comforted

Genesis 37:34–35 ESV

Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

See also Ps 77:2; Je 31:15; Mt 2:18

Scripture censures those who encourage others to do evil

2 Chronicles 22:2–3 ESV

Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly.

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

Introduction