NAS 1 Thessalonians 2:11 just as you know how we
were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each
one of you as a father would his own children,
Exhorting is the compound Koine Greek word parakaleo
(parakale,w). Para is a preposition and
means: “beside, along the side of.” Kaleo is a verb and means:
“to call, to invite.” “To stand beside and call” is a good
literal translation. The grammatical form of parakaleo is
a participle present active and stresses a continued activity. “To
continually stand beside and call” is the best literal translation.
Applications: Fathers need to consistently, habitually use their
voices to train their children. Proverbs 1:8 says, “Hear, my son, your
father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching.” “To stand
beside” and “to call” suggests that fathers need to get their children’s
attention--to listen. Proverbs 4:20 says, “My son, give attention to my
words; incline your ear to my sayings.” “To call” or “to invite”
suggests the use of volitional appeal in child raising. Getting your
children to consistently make good decisions with their volition is the
long-term goal. Proverbs 4:20-27 says:
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 DoEncouraging in the Greek text is the compound word paramutheomai (paramuqe,omai). Para is a preposition and means: “beside, along the side of.” Mutheomai is a verb and means: “counsel, advise.” “To stand beside and advise” is a good literal translation. The grammatical form of the word is a participle present middle and teaches that fathers should “themselves” (middle voices are used to stress personal participation) “keep on standing beside and advising” (present tense) their children. Applications: Fathers, you yourselves, continually stand beside your children and advise them. The Father’s consistent counsel is important in child raising. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. 22
For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their whole body.
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put devious lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly ahead, And let your gaze be fixed straight in
front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet, And all your ways will be
established. 27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from
evil.
Imploring is marturomai (martu,romai)
in the Greek and means “to make a solemn appeal, declaration.” The
grammatical form is a participle present middle and emphasizes how fathers
are to “themselves continually make a solemn appeal” to their children.
The root word here is martus (ma,rtuj)
and means “a legal witness” or even a “martyr.” One who is willing
to die for what one believes. Our English word martyr has
its origin from martus. Applications: Fathers, child raising
is a most serious verbal business (martyrdom). With the privilege of having
children comes much responsibility. Marturomai is a legal
term. Be legal now so things do not get legal later.
Final conclusion based on 1 Thessalonians 2:11:
Fathers: ‘Continually stand beside and call your children,’ ‘you yourselves keep on standing beside and advise your children,’ ‘you yourselves continually make a solemn appeal to your children.’ Child raising is serious verbal business.