Bible Verses about
Encouragement
from Other People
If you are looking for Bible verses on encouragement because you feel a need for encouragement, these come with an unexpected twist. Encouragement, as the Bible describes it, seems to always come from other people.
This could good news because we are usually surrounded by people. But some (maybe most?) people are not that encouraging, so where can we find encouraging people?
A Definition or Two
In English, the word ‘encourage’ includes the word ‘courage.’ The prefix ‘en’ is a Greek word that means to wrap itself around or to be in something. So, encouraging someone is, perhaps, wrapping courage around someone so that they can do something. We might say, “Have courage!”
The New Testament was written in Greek. The word for ‘encourage’ in the New Testament has the idea of coming alongside someone and supporting them. There is a legal idea here: of an attorney going into court with you and doing everything for your best – an advocate. Almost every instance of the word ‘encourage’ in the New Testament comes from this root word, meaning to come alongside, to advocate.
So, on to Bible verses about
encouragement from others!
“After they [Paul and Barnabas] had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God’” (Acts 14:21-22).
Well, maybe that’s not good news, after all! But then, realistically, don’t we all go through trials and tribulations? Perhaps it’s just encouraging to know that these things are no surprise to God. What I liked, was that Paul and Barnabas led to the Lord the people in those towns, started little churches, left for a while, and then came back to encourage them to remain true to their new faith.
If you have faith in Jesus Christ, then you have an automatic family in the church. They will be the ones that can encourage you the most, because they love you and often are going through similar things.
I think that’s why the writer of Hebrews wrote: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 12:23-25).
If you haven’t gone to church for a while, perhaps that’s why you feel the need for encouragement.
“Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:1-2).
Other Kinds of Encouragement
Letters, birthday cards, phone calls: “So, when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement” (Acts 15:31-32).
“And when he [Apollos] wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace” (Acts 18:27).
Delivering good news can be encouraging to others: After Paul and Silas were released from prison in Philippi: “They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed” (Acts 16:40).
“But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition” (Philippians 2:19).
The Goal of our Encouragement
“You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (First Thessalonians 2:10-12).
“We sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this” (First Thessalonians 3:2-3).
“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have . . . for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:1-3).
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (First Thessalonians 5:11).
“We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (First Thessalonians 5:14).
“. . . That I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1;12).
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