G3890 παραμύθιον (paramýthion)

Consolation (3890) (paramuthion from para = towards + muthéomai = to speak, which is from múthos = a tale, myth, speech) literally describes speaking closely to someone. The idea is to speak to someone coming close to their side. The basic sense speaking to someone in a friendly way. It refers to that which causes or constitutes the basis for consolation and encouragement. Paramuthion "indicates a greater degree of tenderness than" the preceding word "encouragement" (paraklesis). One Greek lexicon defines paramuthion as an assuagement ( = lessening the intensity of something that pains or distresses). Friberg defines paramuthion... as persuasive power that points to a basis for hope and provides incentive. (Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament) Consolation is the attribute of agape love of God that alleviates grief, the sense of loss, trouble, etc. Vine says that "consolation" is "that tender cheer, imparted as the effect of “love” (agape practical love)." (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson ) Rienecker adds intriguing note that the preposition (para = beside) may have the force of aside and pictures consolation that draws one's mind "aside" from their cares and concerns. MacArthur adds that paramuthion "portrays the Lord coming close and whispering words of gentle cheer or tender counsel in a believer’s ear." Wuest has an excellent note "We have here the subjective genitive construction, in which the noun in the genitive case, “love,” produces the action in the noun of action, “consolation.” That is, the tender persuasion and encouragement which exhorts to unity among the Philippians, comes from God’s love for them. Their realization of divine love which reached down and saved them, should urge them to live in a spirit of unity with one another. In addition to that, this divine love produced in the hearts of the Philippian saints by the Holy Spirit (cf Ro 5:5, Gal 5:16), should cause them to so love each other with a love that impels one to sacrifice one’s self for the one loved, that their little differences will be ironed out, and they will live in unity with one another.” (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans) F B Meyer writes regarding the bonds of unity in a local body that... The second bond is the comfort of love. The Greek word will bear this rendering--if you know the tender cheer that love gives; that is, see to it that you maintain the bond of Christian fellowship by meeting your fellow Christians with the tender cheer of love. We all know what tender cheer is, when men have been out all day and tried, almost beyond endurance. As they come out of the storm, the depression of their spirit and their health may have conspired to reduce them to the lowest depth of darkness--then as the door opens, and they see the ruddy glow of the fire, and the wife comes to meet them, and the child is there with its prattle, for a moment it seems almost worth while having known the weariness and depression because of the contrasted cheer that greets them. All around us in the world are Christian hearts which are losing faith; many hands hang down, and knees shake together. Let us see to it that by the kindly cheer of a smile, the grasp of a hand, the welcome of a word, we do something to draw those people into the inner circle of Christian love. (The Epistle to the Philippians ) IF THERE IS ANY FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT: ei tis koinonia pneumatos: (Ro 5:5; 8:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16; 8:26; 1Co 3:16; 6:19,20; 12:13; 2Co 13:14; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13,14; 2:18, 19, 20, 21, 22; 4:4; 1Pet 1:2;1Pet 1:22,23; 1Jn 3:24) The third foundation stone for unity FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT in view of the fact that there is a certain joint-participation with the Spirit in a common interest and activity (Wuest), if your fellowship in the Spirit is a living reality. (Lightfoot) if you really are sharing in the Holy Spirit (Barclay) Paul says, in effect, “If there is any such thing as communion with the indwelling Spirit, or if your consciousness of fellowship with the Holy Spirit who dwells within is a reality in your life, and it most certainly is, then fulfill my joy by your love for one another.” Fellowship of the Spirit - The NET Bible has this technical note... Or "spiritual fellowship" if pneumatos is an attributive genitive; or "fellowship brought about by the Spirit" if pneumatos is a genitive of source or production.