together as we have noted elsewhere) are two essential elements in the process that we are considering. The word translated “encourage” in most of the passages above is parakaleo.1 We have seen that this is a very broad term meaning not only “to urge, to comfort, to encourage, to exhort” but also “to assist in whatever way is required.” Used together with “strengthening” the joint phrase indicates that the apostles “encouraged” the brothers from place to place by urging them to maintain and live