Within the past twenty-four hours, I have been the recipient of “encouragement.” In one instance, as I shared heart-concerns, I knew that I had been heard, and in the hearing I knew comfort. In another instance, altogether unsolicited, I received a brief email – but in few words, I knew that a blog had been well received, and therefore I knew that my efforts of thought had been helpful. I was encouraged.
I note these two instances, not simply because they are fresh in memory, but because they reflect my desire for the pastors with whom I have related in Malawi and Romania (and yes, in MA, IN, and elsewhere). I know what it means to my pastor’s heart to be encouraged, and therefore I am convinced that pastors, myself included, if encouraged will then be able to better fulfill their callings – and for some, their calling is difficult, and comfort is entirely appropriate.
As I thought of “encouragement,” my heart and mind returned to 2Corinthinas 1:3-7,* where Paul, in an effort to better relate to the Corinthians (their relational fabric had become greatly frayed), used the word “encouragement” ten times in five verses. A cursory survey of several English translations indicates that the Greek noun, παράκλησις, or its verb form, παρακαλέω, which I am suggesting here means: “encouragement” consistently translate these cognates as “comfort.” For instance, the ESV translates 2Corinthians 1:3-4 as:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
I have no quibble with this fine translation, for in fact, the noun, παράκλησις, can mean “comfort,” “exhortation,” “consolation,” and/ “encouragement.”[1] With reflection, easily we can recognize that “comfort” leads to “encouragement,” and vice versa.
Clearly from these two verses (and the remaining three: verses 5-7), Paul could encourage/comfort because he had been comforted/encouraged by God – and in my mind, no greater sign of Heavenly encouragement/comfort exists than our Lord’s Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Incarnation.
My point: Just as you and I have been encouraged/comforted – and are not Advent and Christmas about encouragement/comfort? – then it is well for us to give these to others.
Encouraged,
Stan
* See my blog for September 28. If you are as I am, I/we need regular encouragement – and reminders.
[1] Cf. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), p. 766.