Hebrew Bible
New Testament
Hebrew Bible
New Testament
Pronunciation Guide: pah-rah’-klay-sis
Quick Answer: παράκλησις encompasses the profound biblical concept of divine and human “coming alongside” – whether as encouragement that strengthens, comfort that heals, or exhortation that guides believers toward righteousness and hope.
παράκλησις
g3874
paraklesis (par-ak’-lay-sis) n.1. an imploration, entreaty (urgent request (for mercy or help))2. an exhortation (urgent counsel, encouragement, or caution)3. a comfort, solace[from G3870]KJV: comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty Root(s): G3870 See also: G3875
Strong’s G3874: παράκλησις represents one of the New Testament’s most multifaceted and spiritually significant terms, encompassing the divine ministry of coming alongside believers in their time of need. Far more than simple comfort, this word describes the comprehensive work of יהוה (Yahweh) through the Messiah and the Holy Spirit to encourage, strengthen, console, and exhort His people. The word captures the intimate nature of God’s care – He doesn’t merely observe our struggles from afar but draws near to provide exactly what we need in each circumstance. Whether manifested as the encouragement that lifts our spirits, the comfort that soothes our pain, or the loving exhortation that guides us back to righteousness, παράκλησις reflects the heart of our covenant God who promises never to leave or forsake His children.
Key Insight: True biblical comfort doesn’t make us comfortable in sin but strengthens us for righteousness and service.
The etymology of παράκλησις reveals profound theological truth about God’s character and His relationship with His people. Derived from the verb παρακαλέω, meaning “to call alongside,” the word originally carried legal connotations in classical Greek literature. In the Greek literature at the time of Yeshua, parakletos was an advocate in a legal sense (like a lawyer), referring to one who represents someone in the presence of another. This legal background illuminates how the word functions in Scripture – God comes alongside His people not merely as a comforter but as their divine Advocate.
Classical Development and Hebrew Connections
The Septuagint translators chose παράκλησις and its related forms to render several Hebrew concepts, most notably words from the root נחם (nacham). The Hebrew word nacham means “to sigh, breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue”. This connection reveals the emotional depth of biblical comfort – it involves God’s own heart being moved with compassion for His people’s suffering.
Rabbinic and Messianic Significance
The rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter, κατ’ ἐξοχήν, מְנַחֵם (Menachem). This rabbinic understanding directly connects παράκλησις to Messianic expectation, as seen in Luke 2:25 where Simeon was “waiting for the consolation of Israel.” The word thus carries eschatological weight – it points to the ultimate comfort that comes through Messiah’s redemptive work.
Historical Summary: From legal advocacy in classical Greek to divine comfort in Scripture, παράκλησις embodies God’s covenant faithfulness to His people.
παράκλησις appears 29 times in the New Testament, demonstrating its central importance to apostolic teaching and Christian experience. The KJV translates Strong’s G3874 in the following manner: consolation (14x), exhortation (8x), comfort (6x), intreaty (1x). This distribution reveals the word’s semantic range – from tender consolation in times of grief to powerful exhortation toward righteous living.
The apostle Paul especially employs παράκλησις to describe both the content and purpose of Christian ministry. Two-thirds of the writing in the Brit Chadasha (New Testament) is the Spirit of God working through Paul’s gift of paraklesis for our encouragement, edification, exhortation, and comfort. Paul’s usage demonstrates that παράκλησις is not passive comfort but active ministry that builds up the body of Messiah.
Biblical Usage Patterns:
The word functions in three primary contexts: Divine Comfort (God as the source), Ministerial Exhortation (human agents of encouragement), and Scriptural Encouragement (the Word as means of comfort). Each usage reveals different facets of how יהוה (Yahweh) provides for His people’s spiritual needs.
Usage Summary: παράκλησις describes both God’s ministry to believers and believers’ ministry to one another through encouragement, comfort, and loving exhortation.
Translation Tip: Context determines whether παράκλησις emphasizes comfort in suffering, encouragement in service, or exhortation toward holiness.
παράκλησις Translation Options:
Translation | Context | Reasoning |
---|---|---|
“comfort” | Times of grief or suffering | Emphasizes the soothing, healing aspect of God’s presence |
“consolation” | Messianic hope and eschatological blessing | Carries deeper theological weight, pointing to ultimate restoration |
“encouragement” | Christian service and ministry | Highlights the strengthening, empowering dimension |
“exhortation” | Moral and spiritual instruction | Focuses on the call to righteous living and spiritual growth |
“entreaty” | Urgent appeal or supplication | Emphasizes the compelling nature of the appeal |
παράκλησις reveals the relational heart of יהוה (Yahweh) – He is not a distant deity but the God who draws near to His people in their time of need. He is the “God of All Comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:6). He comforts the downcast (2 Corinthians 7:6) and those who mourn (Matthew 5:4). This divine comfort demonstrates God’s covenant faithfulness – His commitment to care for His people extends beyond mere provision to intimate emotional and spiritual support.
The theological depth of παράκλησις also reveals God’s redemptive purpose in suffering. Biblical comfort doesn’t remove us from difficulties but transforms us through them. “God comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:4). This shows that God’s παράκλησις creates a community of comfort where believers minister to one another from their own experience of divine grace.
Theological Core: παράκλησις reveals God as the covenant-keeping Father who personally involves Himself in His children’s struggles and victories.
The biblical concept of παράκλησις calls us to both receive and give comfort in the community of faith. Just as יהוה (Yahweh) comes alongside us in our struggles, we are called to come alongside others with the same divine comfort we have received. This means developing sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading in recognizing when others need encouragement, comfort, or loving exhortation. It also means cultivating our own relationship with the “God of all comfort” through prayer, Scripture meditation, and fellowship with other believers.
Biblical παράκλησις also challenges us to embrace a biblical view of suffering – not as something to be avoided at all costs, but as an opportunity to experience God’s comfort more deeply and to become instruments of His comfort to others. This transforms our trials from mere obstacles into potential ministries.
Self-Examination Questions: How am I currently receiving God’s comfort in my struggles? In what ways is God calling me to be an instrument of His παράκλησις to others? Am I open to both giving and receiving biblical exhortation?
Greek Word | Definition | How It Differs |
---|---|---|
παράκλητος (parakletos) | “Advocate, Helper, Comforter” – See G3875 | Refers to the person (Holy Spirit, Messiah) while παράκλησις refers to the action or ministry |
παραμυθία (paramythia) | “Comfort, consolation, encouragement” – See G3889 | More focused on soothing words; παράκλησις has broader range including exhortation |
θάρσος (tharsos) | “Courage, confidence” – See G2294 | Emphasizes boldness; παράκλησις provides the foundation for such courage |
ἐπιστηρίζω (episterizo) | “To strengthen, establish” – See G1991 | Focuses on making firm; παράκλησις includes emotional and relational strengthening |
Key Takeaway: παράκλησις is God’s ministry of drawing near to His people, providing exactly what they need – whether comfort in sorrow, encouragement in service, or exhortation toward holiness.
Note: While this entry strives for accuracy, readers engaged in critical research should verify citations and keyword occurrences in their Bible translation of choice. For Biblical citations, the F.O.G Bible project recommends Logos Bible software.
Strong's g3874
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