Comments on: Our Role in God’s Kingdom Part 5 http://wspc.ca/2009/02/02/our-role-in-gods-kingdom-part-5/ Pentecostal Church Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:50:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Pastor Steve http://wspc.ca/2009/02/02/our-role-in-gods-kingdom-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Pastor Steve Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:17:44 +0000 http://wspc.ca/?p=93#comment-39 Wayne, Thanks for the feedback. It's good to know people are listening. When I prepare a message for Sunday, I'm always left with far too much material to include in the message. This is one of those cases. Let me respond here to your comment with a bit of that extra material: 1) Paul didn't use the Canadian Gage Dictionary. If we're going to understand what Paul said, we need to see what the Greek word means, and how it was used. 2) The word translated "exhorter" is parakaleo. For NT word studies, I use the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (NIDNTT). Here's a three-point summary of what it has to say: a) In classical Literature, parakaleo meant to call, to ask, to beg, to exhort, and to request. It's a broad word. b) The Greek version of the Old Testament that the apostles would have used frequently (LXX) uses parakaleo to translate the Hebrew word naham, which is often translated "to comfort" (e.g. Isaiah 40:1). It can also mean "to be sorry", or "to have compassion". c) Parakaleo occurs 109 times in the New Testament, and means "(a) summon, invite, ask, implore; (b) exhort; (c) comfort, encourage" (NIDNTT 570). From this we can get a general understanding of what Paul meant when he used the word in Romans. If you want to go deeper, use the Greek Resurgence Project (http://www.zhubert.com) to look up the word and see how Paul uses it in other contexts. 3) I'm not sure what word you're looking at in Hebrews (via Strongs). The word the NIV translates as "spur one another on" in 10:24 is paroxusmos. It bears a superficial resemblance to parakaleo, since it begins with the same prefix. The verb, however, is quite different. I can't remember if I quoted Hebrews 10:24 verbatim in the message, so we may be looking at different words here. In sum: the main emphasis of the gift of "exhortation" consists in encouragement and sympathy. This Sunday we're looking at the gift of mercy/compassion, and there is a lot of overlap between the two. Now that that's out of the way, you were looking for Scriptural backing for the 7 characteristics I mentioned. Those are simply the general observations of people who feel they have that gift. While I could come up with support for the diverse characteristics, there is nothing in Scripture that explicitly ties them to the gift of exhortation. They're just proven observation. Now let's use these gifts! Steve. Wayne,

Thanks for the feedback. It’s good to know people are listening.

When I prepare a message for Sunday, I’m always left with far too much material to include in the message. This is one of those cases. Let me respond here to your comment with a bit of that extra material:

1) Paul didn’t use the Canadian Gage Dictionary. If we’re going to understand what Paul said, we need to see what the Greek word means, and how it was used.

2) The word translated “exhorter” is parakaleo. For NT word studies, I use the New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (NIDNTT). Here’s a three-point summary of what it has to say:

a) In classical Literature, parakaleo meant to call, to ask, to beg, to exhort, and to request. It’s a broad word.

b) The Greek version of the Old Testament that the apostles would have used frequently (LXX) uses parakaleo to translate the Hebrew word naham, which is often translated “to comfort” (e.g. Isaiah 40:1). It can also mean “to be sorry”, or “to have compassion”.

c) Parakaleo occurs 109 times in the New Testament, and means “(a) summon, invite, ask, implore; (b) exhort; (c) comfort, encourage” (NIDNTT 570).

From this we can get a general understanding of what Paul meant when he used the word in Romans. If you want to go deeper, use the Greek Resurgence Project (http://www.zhubert.com) to look up the word and see how Paul uses it in other contexts.

3) I’m not sure what word you’re looking at in Hebrews (via Strongs). The word the NIV translates as “spur one another on” in 10:24 is paroxusmos. It bears a superficial resemblance to parakaleo, since it begins with the same prefix. The verb, however, is quite different. I can’t remember if I quoted Hebrews 10:24 verbatim in the message, so we may be looking at different words here.

In sum: the main emphasis of the gift of “exhortation” consists in encouragement and sympathy. This Sunday we’re looking at the gift of mercy/compassion, and there is a lot of overlap between the two.

Now that that’s out of the way, you were looking for Scriptural backing for the 7 characteristics I mentioned. Those are simply the general observations of people who feel they have that gift. While I could come up with support for the diverse characteristics, there is nothing in Scripture that explicitly ties them to the gift of exhortation. They’re just proven observation.

Now let’s use these gifts!

Steve.

]]> By: Wayne Welden http://wspc.ca/2009/02/02/our-role-in-gods-kingdom-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Wayne Welden Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:28:33 +0000 http://wspc.ca/?p=93#comment-34 I listened a few times to your message especially the first gift of exhorting... Steve you have said you wish feed back, from people on what you teach/preach. So here you have some...I was waiting from about the 8 minute mark to the 14 minute mark of your message,for scriptural support for what you call general characteristics of an exhorting person. I believe you mix up an encourager and exhorting person... it gets alittle foggy when you bring up the idea that exhorters should visit shut-in etc. Though it would be great that we all should do such things. The bible doesnot limit visiting the elderly, widows, and those in prison to just people that are exhorters. I read the meaning of the word exhort in the Canadian Gage Dictionary as.; "exh-hort... urge strongly; advise or warn earnestly" "ex-hor-ta-tion...1. a strong urging: earnest advice or warning. 2. a speech, sermon, etc. that exhorts." I feel that your meaning of the word exhort is broader than what to have said it is in the message and saying the the word exhort that Paul uses in Romans is different the what you said it is in Hebrews 10? In fact sir it is the same or close to as the Strongs Concordance states. The two different greek words take their meaning from each other to explain the meaning. Not what you alude to as two different meanings. Steve over all it was a good message, it is my wish to only clarify the message and await your responce. I urge you on to greater heights brother. Servant or Christ Jesus Wayne Welden. I listened a few times to your message especially the first gift of exhorting… Steve you have said you wish feed back, from people on what you teach/preach. So here you have some…I was waiting from about the 8 minute mark to the 14 minute mark of your message,for scriptural support for what you call general characteristics of an exhorting person. I believe you mix up an encourager and exhorting person… it gets alittle foggy when you bring up the idea that exhorters should visit shut-in etc. Though it would be great that we all should do such things. The bible doesnot limit visiting the elderly, widows, and those in prison to just people that are exhorters.
I read the meaning of the word exhort in the Canadian Gage Dictionary as.;
“exh-hort… urge strongly; advise or warn earnestly”
“ex-hor-ta-tion…1. a strong urging: earnest advice or warning. 2. a speech, sermon, etc. that exhorts.”
I feel that your meaning of the word exhort is broader than what to have said it is in the message and saying the the word exhort that Paul uses in Romans is different the what you said it is in Hebrews 10?
In fact sir it is the same or close to as the Strongs Concordance states. The two different greek words take their meaning from each other to explain the meaning. Not what you alude to as two different meanings.
Steve over all it was a good message, it is my wish to only clarify the message and await your responce. I urge you on to greater heights brother.
Servant or Christ Jesus
Wayne Welden.

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