Bible Dictionary
EXHORTATION
An appeal that urges, encourages, or consoles. Christian exhortation calls believers toward faithful conduct while also strengthening and comforting them.
Definition
Exhortation is an earnest appeal that urges, encourages, strengthens, or consoles. Its underlying sense includes calling someone near to offer help or appeal on that person’s behalf.
Biblical Usage
In the New Testament exhortation may involve instruction, encouragement, comfort, or appeal. It appears in preaching, letters, Christian gatherings, and personal ministry, and may be associated with consolation as well as urging faithful conduct.
Historical Background
The Greek term was used in the Septuagint in the sense of consolation. In later Jewish writings it could mean an appeal or exhorting, while New Testament usage preserves both exhortation and consolation.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ek-sor-ta'-shun (paraklesis):</p><p>The Greek word translated "exhortation" (paraklesis) signifies, originally, "a calling near or for" (as an advocate or helper who should appeal on one's behalf), and carries the twofold sense of "exhortation" and "consolation" (which see). In the Septuagint of the Old Testament it is used in the sense of "consolation"; but in /APC 2Macc 7:24, it is translated "exhort," the Revised Version (British and American) "appeal." The verb parakaleo is also translated "exhortation" (1 Macc 13:3 the King James Version) and "exhort" ( /APC 2Macc 9:26). In the New Testament paraklesis is translated "exhortation" (Ac 13:15; Ro 12:8, the Revised Version (British and American) "exhorting"; 1Co 14:3, the English Revised Version "comfort," the American Revised Version, margin "or comfort"; 2Co 8:17; 1Th 2:3; 1Ti 4:13; Heb 12:5; 13:22). the American Standard Revised Version has also "exhortation," instead of "consolation" in Php 2:1. In Lu 3:18, parakaleo, "to call near or for," is translated "exhortation," "and many other things in his exhortation," the Revised Version (British and American) "with many other exhortations," and in Ac 20:2, parakaleo logo pollo is rendered (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American)), "had given them much exhortation."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>