Boldness (have boldness) (3955) parrhesiazomai

Had the boldness (3955) (parrhesiazomai from parrhesia = freedom or frankness in speaking or confident in spirit and demeanor <> pas = all + rhesis = speech) means literally speaking out of every word and conveys the idea idea of freedom to say all and thus means to speak freely, openly, boldly, fearlessly, without constraint. The Greeks used this word for speaking in a democratic assembly. This verb is always used in the NT of speaking. It means to be bold and courageous in one's speech reflecting an attitude of openness that comes from freedom and lack of fear. Paul uses the aorist tense which conveys the sense that "we took courage" or "we became bold." As Morris has written parrhesiazomai... denotes the state of mind when the words flow freely, the attitude of feeling quite at home with no sense of stress or strain. This attitude includes both boldness and confidence. Parrhesia is the opposite of kolakeia which is flattery and literally conveys the idea of freedom to say all or of unreservedness in speech. It can also convey the ideas of plainness or outspokenness. Parrhesia is speaking in a way conceals nothing and passes over nothing. It can describe state of boldness and confidence mixed with courage and fearlessness, especially in the presence of persons of high rank or in the face of possible danger. It is that attitude of openness that stems from freedom and lack of fear ("shaking" fear whereas godly, reverential fear is always appropriate). Greeks used parrhesia of those with the right to speak openly in the assembly. Parrhesiazomai describes both a lack of fear and a full confidence in the message itself, two additional indicators of authentic evangelism. This verb was used in classical Greek to signify freedom of speech or expression often with a political connotation. Boldness in our God or on account of our fellowship with God. This boldness was their own natural courage but was that inspired by God's Spirit Who enabled them in the midst of the opposition even in light of the memories they had of the recent sufferings at Philippi! Furthermore, their boldness in face of the awareness that it could happen again in Thessalonica, was sure proof that their ministry was not a self-seeking, mercenary endeavor, for if it had been so motivated they would surely have shrunk back. They had confidence in God, Luke recording that as the opponents... observed the confidence (parrhesia) of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13) Richison writes that... True ministry withstands the blast of criticism and persecution. Out of the crucible of Philippi came the pure gold of Thessalonica. The gospel team was clearly not in ministry for selfish purposes. The Devil tried to cut Paul’s ministry off, but Paul did not stop communicating the gospel. His trials only became a platform for further ministry. (Ref) Calvin notes that... We know that indignity and persecution weaken and indeed completely break men’s minds. It was, therefore, a work of God that, although Paul had suffered various misfortunes and indignity, he appeared unaffected, and did not hesitate to launch an assault on a large and wealthy city for the purpose of leading its people captive to Christ. Hiebert comments that the fact that their boldness was in our God means that... It was imparted to them by their union with Him. In Him their suffering was metabolized into strength and courage in His service. Boldness arose with their consciousness that their life had its sphere of existence in Him and all that happened to them was under His control. "Christian courage springs from the belief that 'this God is our God.' (Ibid) Luke also speaks of the ultimate Source of bold speech... Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness. (parrhesia from pas = all + rhesis = speech - literally conveys the idea of freedom to say all or of unreservedness in speech.) (Comment: See also See Acts 4:29 where they prayed for boldness ["confidence"]. Are you timid and fearful to speak forth the gospel? Most of us are beloved. But have you ever ask your Father in heaven to give you a supernatural boldness {not a brusqueness but a boldness!} that come from the empowering presence of His Spirit Who dwells in you? Try it this week and stand and see the salvation of the LORD, cf 2Chr 20:17, see note 2 Timothy 1:7) In a surprising request Paul ask others to pray for his boldness! This demonstrates Paul's continual dependence on the Holy Spirit's enablement coupled in a supernatural way with the prayers of the saints. This is surely a mysterious equation!... Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (See notes Ephesians 6:19; 6:20) Vine adds an interesting note on the historical context writing that... shortly before writing these words, at Corinth (Ed note: Recall Paul wrote the epistle to the Thessalonians from Corinth), the apostle had been “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling,” 1Corinthians 2:3, a state of mind probably due in some measure, at least, to the absence of his fellow workers, for it seems to have passed with the arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia, Acts 18:5. In the overruling providence of God, the wrath of the Jews, notwithstanding the conversion of the ruler of their synagogue, was at Corinth restrained, and the inevitable outbreak deferred for a year and a half whereas at Philippi, Acts 16:19, and at Thessalonica, Acts 17:5, and at Berea, Acts 17:13, persecution began very shortly. It was about the time, too, of the writing of this epistle, that God encouraged His servant by a vision and reassuring words in the night, Acts 18:9. Thus graciously did the Lord consider the frailty of the earthen vessel to which He had committed the treasure of His gospel, 2Corinthians 4:7, and in the apostle’s human weakness displayed His own divine power, 2Corinthians 12:9, 10; see also at 2Cor 3:7. Hence it is clear that the characteristic boldness of the apostle was not mere natural courage, though he was not devoid of that, but the calm fearlessness that comes of consciousness of the presence of God, cp. 1 Peter 2:19 (note), (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson or Logos) F F Bruce comments that... They do not say, Having been ill-treated at Philippi, we were more circumspect in Thessalonica but rather: we were emboldened in God to preach the gospel there too. In Greek democratic parlance meant freedom of speech and something of this sense attaches to it and its derivative verb as used in the NT, together with the sense of courage. Here the writers imply, We took courage (ingressive aorist) and declared the gospel of God to you frankly and fearlessly (NEB). Undoubtedly Paul is reacting here against all sorts of religious propagandists of his day. His preaching does not aim at pleasing men, not even himself, but pleasing God: his gospel is not according to man (Gal 1:11) and therefore provokes opposition; but he has not adulterated the gospel. The word freedom of speech has here its place in the missionary-practice of the apostle: it comprises both the full truth of the gospel and full freedom towards the judgment of men (van Unnik, Freedom of Speech, 473). (Bruce, F F: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated. 1982 or Logos) (Italics and bolding added) Parrhesiazomai occurs 4 times in the Lxx (Job 22:26 Psalm 12:5 Psalm 94:1 Proverbs 20:9) Here are the 9 uses of parrhesiazomai in the NT. Note the concentration in Acts in Luke's description of Spirit filled men proclaiming the gospel. Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. Acts 13:46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. Acts 14:3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. Acts 18:26 and he (Apollos) began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Acts 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. Acts 26:26 "For the king knows about these matters, and I (Paul) speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. Ephesians 6:20 (see note) (pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel) for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Comment: Always a good prayer request). 1 Thessalonians 2:2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. Barnes summarizes this section writing that their boldness was a result of... humble dependence on the support of our God. It was only his powerful aid that could have enabled them to persevere with ardour and zeal in such a work after such treatment. The meaning here is, that they were not deterred from preaching the gospel by the treatment which they had received, but at the very next important town, and on the first opportunity, they proclaimed the same truth, though there was no security that they might not meet with the same persecution there. Paul evidently appeals to this in order to show them that they were not impostors, and that they were not influenced by the hope of ease or of selfish gains. Men who were not sincere and earnest in their purposes would have been deterred by such treatment as they had received at Philippi. (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary) TO SPEAK TO YOU THE GOSPEL OF GOD AMID MUCH OPPOSITION: lalesai (AAN) pros humas to euaggelion tou theou en pollo agoni: (Acts 6:9,10; 15:1,2; 17.2-Acts.17.9" class="scriptRef">17:2-9,17; 19:8; Php 1:27 28 29 30; Col 2:1; Jude 1:3) John MacArthur who himself has experienced much opposition reminds us that... In the ministry, there is always pressure to mitigate the message, to be inoffensive to sinners, to make the gospel acceptable to them. But such a compromise had no place in Paul’s strategy. Instead, he had full confidence in God’s power to overcome all opposition and achieve His redemptive purpose. The servant of God preaches the true, unmitigated message God has laid out in His Word, not some other message. He does so for the sake of truth, not for personal popularity. And when opposition comes, he trusts in the power of God and stays obedient to his calling. All that was true of Paul and his companions. As with all dedicated preachers of the gospel, they counted the cost of faithfully confronting sinners with the truth and rested boldly in the sovereign, supreme power of God. (MacArthur, John: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Moody Press or Logos) To speak to you the gospel - Most of us shy away from this out of fear of men's ridicule and rejection. What we need is boldness in God to speak forth on such a "hypersensitive" hot button topic as the Gospel. We need to remember that the Gospel is good news but it first must prick the heart of the hearer with the bad news that they are sinners in danger of experiencing separation from God and His eternal wrath! This is really bad news! Thus it should come as no surprise that the Gospel offends people, because it strips them of the defenses found in the trappings of religion in contrast to the security found in a relationship with Christ. The Gospel strips them bare and shows them what they are and what they deserve before a holy God. Hebrews 4 pictures this dynamic exhorting the readers... Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through following the same example of disobedience (they did not enter God's rest, in this life or the one to come). For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight (God's microscope lays bare the smallest microbe of sin), but all things are open (literally "stark naked"!) and laid bare (describes the bending back and exposing of the neck of an animal to be slaughtered as an offering! This verb was also used of a wrestler taking his opponent by the throat creating a position in which the two men were unavoidably face to face. Finally it was used in regard to a criminal trial. A sharp dagger would be bound to the neck of the accused, with the point just below his chin, so that he could not bow his head, but had to face the court!) to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do (or as NIV renders it "to Whom we must give account") (See notes Hebrews 4:11; 12; 13) Richison rightly reminds us that... No one likes to communicate that, but this is part of the Gospel message. That is why most Christians, including preachers want to remain in the safe cloister of the church. Everyone likes to be liked. If we love the Lord, we must set forth the unvarnished facts of the gospel. That means we have to reveal human nature in its stark reality...Suffering for the gospel sharpens our boldness, if all things are spiritually equal...No one can daunt people in ministry who have confidence in God. Nothing can drive them from telling about Christ and His gospel. They are far from the current consumer Christianity that seeks self–interest above all else. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.”...Most of us concern ourselves with self–protection, but the successful Christian life is no rosy bed of ease. Do you declare the gospel in spite of opposition, or do you fold up and silently steal away? (Ref) Paul declared that he was a man just like all of us (weak, fearful, tremulous) but then explained how he could boldly speak the Gospel writing that... And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1Cor 2:3 4 5)

Be the first to react on this!

Boldness (have boldness) (3955) parrhesiazomai

Greek Word Studies

Greek Word Studies ( - )

Group of Brands