Using Storytelling to Build Up and Edify One Another
Scripture commands believers to "encourage one another and build up one another" [2, 3], a directive that appears in contexts of mutual care and anticipation of Christ's return. The Greek term translated "build up" (οἰκοδομέω) carries architectural imagery—constructing something solid and enduring [5]. This metaphor extends naturally to storytelling, which has served throughout Christian history as a primary vehicle for edification, transmitting truth through narrative rather than abstract proposition alone.
The Biblical Foundation for Mutual Edification
Paul's instruction in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 follows his teaching about Christ's return and the need for vigilance. The apostle urges believers to "comfort yourselves, or exhort one another, and edify one another" [6], with the original language allowing both comfort and exhortation as valid renderings. Matthew Henry observes that "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" [6]. The practice of mutual encouragement thus becomes both means and end—believers strengthen themselves by strengthening others.
Romans 15:2 reinforces this pattern: "let each one of us please his neighbor for good, to building up" [1]. The neighbor's good, not personal preference, determines the content and manner of our speech. This principle governs storytelling as much as any other form of discourse—the narrative must serve the hearer's spiritual growth rather than the teller's reputation.
Storytelling as Ordered Speech
The architectural metaphor of building suggests careful, ordered construction. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown note that "builded up" conveys "massive solidity," contrasting with the vitality implied by being "rooted" [5]. Stories that edify require similar structural integrity—they must be coherent, truthful, and purposeful. Paul's instruction that prophets should speak "one by one" [7] applies to all forms of public speech in the assembly. Adam Clarke explains that "the gifts which God grants are given for the purpose of edification; but there can be no edification where there is confusion; therefore let them speak one by one" [7]. Storytelling that builds up respects order, timing, and the capacity of hearers to receive.
The Content of Edifying Narrative
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown specify that believers edify one another "by discoursing together on such edifying topics as the Lord's coming, and the glory of the saints" [8]. This citation from Malachi 3:16 points to a tradition of godly conversation—those who feared the Lord spoke with one another, and their words were recorded in God's book of remembrance. Stories that build up the body direct attention toward divine realities: God's faithfulness in past deliverance, Christ's work of redemption, the Spirit's sanctifying power, and the hope of glory.
Such narratives stand in contrast to stories that indulge the sinful nature. While "all human beings are born sinners," the distinction between the wicked and the godly lies in their response: "the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it" [4]. Storytelling can serve either impulse. Tales that glorify rebellion, celebrate vice, or trivialize sin fail the test of edification, regardless of their entertainment value or emotional impact.
The Relational Context
The command to build up "one another" [2, 3] assumes a community bound by mutual obligation. Paul's language is reciprocal—not the strong instructing the weak in a one-directional flow, but each member contributing to the whole. Stories function within this ecology of mutual care. A testimony of God's provision encourages the anxious; an account of temptation resisted strengthens the wavering; a narrative of reconciliation models forgiveness.
The practice requires discernment about what serves "the neighbor's good" [1] in a given moment. Not every true story edifies in every context. The storyteller must consider whether a particular narrative will genuinely build up the hearer or merely satisfy the teller's need to speak. This discipline reflects the broader biblical pattern that speech must be measured, purposeful, and oriented toward the other's spiritual welfare rather than self-display.
Sources
- Romans “Romans 15:2 (LITV) — For let each one of us please his neighbor for good, to building up.”
- I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 5:11 (BSB) — Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.”
- 1 Thessalonians “1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB) — Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 2:7: Rooted-- (Eph 3:17). built up--Greek, "being builded up." As "rooted" implies their vitality; so "builded up," massive solidity. As in the Song of Solomon, when one image is not sufficient to express the varied aspects of divine truth, another is employed to supply the idea required. Thus "walking," a third image (Col 2:6), expresses the thought which "rooted" and "built," though each suggesting a thought peculiar to itself, could not express, namely, onward motion. "Rooted" is in the past tense, implying their first conversion and vital grafting ”
- 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,”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 14:31: For ye may all prophesy one by one - The gifts which God grants are given for the purpose of edification; but there can be no edification where there is confusion; therefore let them speak one by one.”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 5:11: comfort yourselves--Greek, "one another." Here he reverts to the same consolatory strain as in Th1 4:18. edify one another--rather as Greek, "edify (ye) the one the other"; "edify," literally, "build up," namely, in faith, hope, and love, by discoursing together on such edifying topics as the Lord's coming, and the glory of the saints (Mal 3:16).”