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Bible Dictionaries
Boldness
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or ‘Boldness’ (with the allied expressions ‘bold,’ ‘boldly,’ ‘to be bold’) has several Greek equivalents in the apostolic writings.-(a) In the sense of daring, we find it used to render τολμᾶν, ‘to dare,’ ‘to be bold’ (2 Corinthians 10:2; 2 Corinthians 11:21, Philippians 1:14). The connate adverb τολμηρῶς in the compar. τολμηρότερον is used by St. Paul (Romans 15:15). The verb, in composition with the strengthening prep. ἀπό, is used in Romans 10:20, where ἀποτολμᾶν has the force of ‘to be very bold.’-(b) In the sense of being of good courage it is employed to tender θαρρεῖν in 2 Corinthians 5:6; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 7:16 (Revised Version ; the Authorized Version having ‘confident,’ ‘confidence’ in these places). In 2 Corinthians 10:1-2, where the same verb is rendered ‘to be bold’ in Authorized Version , the Revised Version prefers ‘to be of good courage’; and similarly ‘we may boldly say’ of Authorized Version in Hebrews 13:6 is rendered in Revised Version ‘with Good courage we say.’ In Acts 28:15 θάρσος occurs in the expression used regarding St. Paul-‘he thanked God and took courage.’ θράσος and θρασύτης are used in the sense of ‘over-confidence,’ ‘insolence’ in Patristic literature in company with such words as πλεονεξία, ‘covetousness,’ and ἀλαζονεία, ‘boastfulness’ (Didache iii. 9, v. 1).-(c) In the sense of liberty and frankness of speech it is employed to translate παρρησία and the derived verb παρρησιάζεσθαι. In classical usage παρρησία (πᾶν and ῥῆσις) is the frank and outspoken expression of opinion which was the cherished privilege of Athenian citizenship. In NT usage it denotes the glad and fearless confidence in drawing near to God, and having communion with Him, which is the dearest privilege of the Christian heart (Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 2:28). It is contrasted with shrinking back from fear or shame (Philippians 1:20, 1 John 2:28). In reference to speech, it is plainness and candour without reserve or ambiguity, without parable or metaphor, without hesitation or misgiving, in the utterance of it (John 7:13; John 11:14; John 16:25; John 16:29, Acts 4:29; Acts 13:46 where παρρησιάζεσθαι is used). ‘When it is transferred from words to actions, it appears always to retain the idea of “confidence, boldness” ’ (Lightfoot on Colossians 2:15).
The chief usages of the word in the apostolic writers may be given as follows.:
(1) Fearlessness and frankness in the public proclamation of the gospel.-Examples are St. Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:24), St. Peter and St. John before the Council (Acts 4:13), and in setting forth Christ to the people (Acts 4:29; Acts 4:31), St. Paul at Rome preaching to all and sundry (Acts 28:31). In this sense παρρησιάζεσθαι is used of Saul at Damascus and Jerusalem (Acts 9:27 f.), of St. Paul and Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:46), of Apollos at Ephesus (Acts 18:26), of St. Paul himself at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:2; cf. Ephesians 6:19 f.).
(2) Confidence in prayer and communion with God through Christ.-This is the privilege which St. Paul (Ephesians 3:12) commends to his readers when he speaks of ‘boldness and access in confidence’ which are theirs through their faith in Christ. The same fearless confidence is dwelt upon by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 10:19). This joyous confidence in prayer is specially notable in St. John’s First Epistle (1 John 3:21; 1 John 5:14). It comes of abiding in Christ (1 John 2:28), of the presence in the heart of the love which casts out fear (1 John 4:17 f.), of a clear conscience and an obedient life (1 John 3:20-23).
(3) Candid speech towards Christian brethren (2 Corinthians 7:4, Philemon 1:8, and possibly 2 Corinthians 3:12, if Chrysostom’s interpretation be correct).
(4) Fearless bearing in the Church and before the world acquired through the faithful discharge of duty (1 Timothy 3:13, Philippians 1:20).
(5) Fearless confidence at the appearance of Christ and before His judgment seat (1 John 2:28; 1 John 4:17-19).-The Scriptural opposite is the shame of the man without the wedding-garment who was speechless (Matthew 22:12). Clement’s words are a good illustration; ‘The good workman takes with boldness the bread which is the reward of labour, but the slothful and the indolent dare not meat the eye of their employer’ (1 Clem. xxxiv. 1). Cf. also Wisdom of Solomon 5:1 : ‘Then [in the judgment] shall the righteous man stand in great boldness before the face of them that afflicted him.’
Literature.-D. Russell Scott, article ‘Boldness (Christian)’ In Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics ii. 785, with lit. [Note: literally, literature.] there cited; also J. H. Jowett, The Transfigured Church, 1910, p. 181.
T. Nicol.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Boldness'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/b/boldness.html. 1906-1918.
