Supporting One Another in Sufferings and Building Up the Body

The concept of supporting one another in sufferings and building up the body is rooted in various biblical passages and has been interpreted and applied by different Christian traditions. The apostle Paul's exhortation to the Thessalonians to "encourage one another and build up one another" (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ^{[1, 2]}) serves as a foundational text for this doctrine.

In the context of 1 Thessalonians, Paul is addressing a community facing persecution and hardship. He encourages them to support one another, emphasizing the importance of mutual edification and comfort. This theme is echoed in other Pauline epistles, such as Ephesians, where believers are urged to "support one another through love" (Ephesians 4:2 ^[3]).

The biblical basis for supporting one another in sufferings is not limited to the New Testament. The Old Testament provides numerous examples of God's people comforting and caring for one another in times of distress. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights various passages that demonstrate God's comfort and support for the afflicted, as well as the importance of believers sympathizing with and relieving one another's sufferings ^{[4, 5]}.

Different Christian traditions have interpreted and applied this doctrine in various ways. The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as represented by John Chrysostom, emphasizes the importance of mutual support and comfort within the body of Christ ^[9]. Protestant academics have also explored the theme of suffering and mutual support in their commentaries on passages like 1 Peter 2:14 and 4:12 ^{[7, 8]}.

The practice of supporting one another in sufferings involves various aspects, including prayer, sympathy, and practical relief. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists several duties towards the afflicted, such as praying for them, sympathizing with them, and relieving their needs ^[5]. one commentary tradition on Job highlights the importance of understanding the complexities of suffering and the need for believers to support one another in their experiences ^[6].

In Romans 8:26, the apostle Paul notes that the Holy Spirit helps believers in their infirmities, including their sufferings. This passage has been interpreted by Baptist/Reformed theologians like John Gill as emphasizing the Spirit's role in supporting believers in their weaknesses ^[11].

The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, stresses the importance of mutual exhortation and edification within the Christian community. Henry's commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5:11 highlights the need for believers to comfort and encourage one another, particularly in the face of adversity ^[12].

The biblical teaching on supporting one another in sufferings and building up the body is closely tied to the concept of the church as the body of Christ. As the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary on Hebrews 13:3 notes, believers are "bound with" one another in their sufferings, and their shared experience of being "in the body" should foster a sense of sympathy and solidarity ^[10].

The practice of supporting one another in sufferings is not limited to individual actions but is also reflected in the corporate life of the church. The various Christian traditions represented in the sources emphasize the importance of communal support and mutual care in the face of adversity.

Sources

1 Thessalonians “1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB) — Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 5:11 (LITV) — Therefore, encourage one another, and build up one another, as you indeed do.”
Ephesians “Ephesians 4:2 (Geneva1599) — With all humblenesse of minde, and meekenesse, with long suffering, supporting one an other through loue,”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted, Duty Toward The — To pray for them -- Ac 12:5; Php 1:16,19; Jas 5:14-16. To sympathise with them -- Ro 12:15; Ga 6:2. To pity them -- Job 6:14. To bear them in mind -- Heb 13:3. To visit them -- Jas 1:27. To comfort them -- Job 16:5; 29:25; 2Co 1:4; 1Th 4:18. To relieve them -- Job 31:19,20; Isa 58:10; Php 4:14; 1Ti 5:10. To protect them -- Ps 82:3; Pr 22:22; 31:5.”
Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 21:7: The answer is Rom 2:4; Ti1 1:16; Psa 73:18; Ecc 8:11-13; Luk 2:35-end; Pro 16:4; Rom 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, Job 8:14).”
1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 2:14: 2:14 to punish those who do wrong and honor those who do right: Cp. Rom 13:3-4.”
1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Galatians–Colossians–Thessalonians: 13:17 13:23 James 1:6 2:13 2:19 2:26 3:11 4:3 1 Peter 1:3 1:12 2:13 2:21 2:21 2:22 2:22 2:22 5:5 5:8 5:8 5:8 2 Peter 2:4 3:13 1 John 2:9 3:2 3:8 4:8 Revelation 1 1:4 1:9 1:11 1:16 1:20 2 3 3:12 14:1 14:4 14:13 15:6 20:9 22:16 Tobit 12:9 Wisdom of Solomon 1:4 1:14 11:23 11:24 14:16 Sirach 2:2 2:2 2:4 2:10 2:11 2:27 3:10-12 3:11 5:6 6:14 6:16 6:34 7:6 7:31 9:13 9:15 10:9 10:12-13 11:1 11:2 11:3 11:3 11:4 11:15 11:28 12:13 13:15 14:9 15:9 16:3 18:13 18:13 19:14-15 20:20 21:2 22:21-22 23:17 23:17 25:1 25:1 25:11 26:27 28:6 31:1 32:10”
Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 13:3: Remember--in prayers and acts of kindness. bound with them--by virtue of the unity of the members in the body under one Head, Christ (Co1 12:26). suffer adversity--Greek, "are in evil state." being yourselves also in the body--and so liable to the adversities incident to the natural body, which ought to dispose you the more to sympathize with them, not knowing how soon your own turn of suffering may come. "One experiences adversity almost his whole life, as Jacob; another in youth, as Joseph; another in manhood, as Job; another in old age" [BENG”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities,.... The Spirit of God which dwells in us, by whom we are led, who is the spirit of adoption to us, who has witnessed to our spirits, that we are the children of God, whose firstfruits we have received, over and above, and besides what he has done for us, "also helpeth our infirmities"; whilst we are groaning within ourselves, both for ourselves and for others, and are waiting patiently for what we are hoping for. The people of God, all of them, more or less, have their infirmities in this life. They are not indeed weak”
1 Thessalonians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Thessalonians 5:11: In these words the apostle exhorts the Thessalonians to several duties. I. Towards those who were nearly related one to another. Such should comfort themselves, or exhort one another, and edify one another, Th1 5:11. 1. They must comfort or exhort themselves and one another; for the original word may be rendered both these ways. And we may observe, As those are most able and likely to comfort others who can comfort themselves, so the way to have comfort ourselves, or to administer comfort to others, is by compliance with the exhortation of the word. Note,”

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