What Does “Apostolic exhortation” Mean in the Bible?
A writing of the Pope to encourage Catholics about a subject or a person.
It can mean
- Examples: by Pope Francis: Amoris laetitia, Gaudete et exsultate and Christus vivit.
- Another meaning: to exhort is to encourage someone to do good. Paul and Barnabas exhorted the disciples to persevere in the faith.
Where it appears in the Bible
Acts 14:22
What the Bible says
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith: and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.
Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.
Source: RAE, “exhortación”; vatican.va (documents of the Pope: “Apostolic Exhortations”)