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Using Extrabiblical Examples to Challenge and Encourage Believers

Believers are frequently encouraged to emulate various virtues and actions, drawing inspiration not only from biblical figures but also from extrabiblical examples. The life of Christ serves as the ultimate example for numerous Christian virtues, including self-denial, boldness, zeal, communion with God, and sincerity [1, 2, 3, 5, 6].

Self-denial, for instance, is exemplified by Christ in passages such as Matthew 4:8-10 and Philippians 2:6-8. It is presented as a test of devotion (Matthew 10:37-38), necessary for following Christ (Luke 14:27-33), and crucial for the spiritual warfare and triumph of saints (2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27) [1]. Ministers are particularly called to exercise self-denial (2 Corinthians 6:4-5), which involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts (Romans 6:12; Titus 2:12), controlling appetite (Proverbs 23:2), abstaining from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11), and mortifying sinful desires [1].

Boldness, or holy boldness, is another characteristic exemplified by Christ (John 7:26) and is rooted in faith in Him (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 10:19). It is a trait of saints (Proverbs 28:1), produced by trust in God (Isaiah 50:7), the fear of God (Acts 4:19; 5:29), and faithfulness to God (1 Timothy 3:13) [2]. Believers are exhorted to express trust in God with boldness (Hebrews 13:6) and to have boldness in prayer (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16). Saints are promised boldness in judgment (1 John 4:17), and there are exhortations to cultivate it (Joshua 1:7; Jeremiah 1:8). Ministers are specifically called to exhibit boldness in faithfulness to their people and in preaching (Acts 4:29; Ephesians 6:19-20) [2].

Zeal is also exemplified by Christ (Psalm 69:9; John 2:17) and is described as ardent among saints (Psalm 119:139). Godly sorrow can lead to zeal (2 Corinthians 7:10-11), and the zeal of some can provoke others to good works (2 Corinthians 9:2) [3]. Zeal should be exhibited in spirit (Romans 12:11), in well-doing (Galatians 4:18; Titus 2:14), in desiring the salvation of others (Acts 26:29; Romans 10:1), in contending for the faith (Jude 1:3), in missionary labors (Romans 15:19, 23), and for the glory of God (Numbers 25:11, 13) and the welfare of saints (Colossians 4:13) [3]. However, zeal can sometimes be misdirected, as seen in examples like 2 Samuel 21:2 or Acts 22:3-4 [3].

The concept of all Christians being missionaries is also presented, following the example of Christ (Acts 10:38). This calling extends to women and children as well as men (Psalm 8:2; Philippians 4:3; Titus 2:3-5) [4]. The zeal of idolaters or hypocrites can serve to provoke believers to missionary efforts (Jeremiah 7:18; Matthew 23:15). This is presented as an imperative duty (Judges 5:23; Luke 19:40), driven by the principle of Christ's love (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) [4]. Even those who are weak are called to this mission (1 Corinthians 1:27), as it stems from their calling as saints (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9) and faithful stewards (1 Peter 4:10-11), applicable in youth and old age alike (Psalm 71:17; Deuteronomy 32:7) [4].

Communion with God is another virtue Christ exemplified (Luke 19:41-42) [5]. Believers are exhorted to show communion towards the afflicted (Job 6:14; Hebrews 13:3), the chastened (Isaiah 22:4), enemies (Psalm 35:13), the poor (Proverbs 19:17), the weak (2 Corinthians 11:29), and other saints (1 Corinthians 12:25-26) [5]. This communion is inseparable from love for God (1 John 3:17; John 4:20) and is motivated by God's compassion (Matthew 13:27, 33) and a sense of human infirmities (Hebrews 5:2) [5].

Sincerity, too, finds its ultimate example in Christ (1 Peter 2:22) [6]. Ministers are called to be examples of sincerity (Titus 2:7), which stands in opposition to fleshly wisdom (2 Corinthians 1:12). Sincerity should characterize love for God (2 Corinthians 8:8, 24) and Christ (Ephesians 6:24), service to God (Joshua 24:14; John 4:23-24), faith (1 Timothy 1:5), and love for one another (Romans 12:9; 1 Peter 1:22) [6]. It should permeate one's entire conduct (2 Corinthians 1:12) and the preaching of the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5). While the doctrines of the gospel are characterized by sincerity (1 Peter 2:2), the gospel can sometimes be preached without it (Philippians 1:16), and the wicked are often devoid of sincerity (Psalm 5:9) [6].

Beyond these specific virtues, the broader concept of challenging and encouraging believers through examples is evident in the New Testament. For instance, Paul expresses a desire to incite emulation among his kinsmen to save some of them (Romans 11:14) [7]. The testing of faith is understood to produce endurance (James 1:3) [8]. The author of Hebrews challenges believers to endure by imitating Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, in his suffering, and by enduring God's discipline (Hebrews 12:1-4) [9]. The "huge crowd of witnesses" from chapter 11 of Hebrews are presented as those who bear witness to the truth that God blesses a life of faith, encouraging believers to "strip off every weight" and sin that hinders them in their spiritual race [9].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Zeal — Christ an example of -- Ps 69:9; Joh 2:17. Godly sorrow leads to -- 2Co 7:10,11. Of saints, ardent -- Ps 119:139. Provokes others to do good -- 2Co 9:2. Should be exhibited In spirit. -- Ro 12:11. In well-doing. -- Ga 4:18; Tit 2:14. In desiring the salvation of others. -- Ac 26:29; Ro 10:1. In contending for the faith. -- Jude 1:3. In missionary labours. -- Ro 15:19,23. For the glory of God. -- Nu 25:11,13. For the welfare of saints. -- Col 4:13. Against idolatry. -- 2Ki 23:4-14. Sometimes wrongly directed -- 2Sa 21:2; Ac 22:3,4; Php 3:6. Sometimes not accord”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Missionaries, All Christians Should Be As — After the example of Christ -- Ac 10:38. Women and children as well as men -- Ps 8:2; Pr 31:26; Mt 21:15,16; Php 4:3; 1Ti 5:10; Tit 2:3-5; 1Pe 3:1. The zeal of idolaters should provoke to -- Jer 7:18. The zeal of hypocrites should provoke to -- Mt 23:15. An imperative duty -- Jdj 5:23; Lu 19:40. The principle on which -- 2Co 5:14,15. However weak they may be -- 1Co 1:27. From their calling as saints -- Ex 19:6; 1Pe 2:9. As faithful stewards -- 1Pe 4:10,11. In youth -- Ps 71:17; 148:12,13. In old age -- De 32:7; Ps 71:18. In”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
  7. Romans “Romans 11:14 (Webster) — If by any means I may incite to emulation [them who are] my flesh, and may save some of them.”
  8. James “James 1:3 (NASB) — knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”
  9. Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:1: 12:1-17 The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17). 12:1 huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. • let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin . . . trips us up. It ent”
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