(Parresia)

 

Greek Pronunciation [pahr ray SEE ah]

HCSB Translation: boldness 

Uses in the NT: 31

 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated,
common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had
been with Jesus”
(Acts 4:13)

The Greek noun parresia literally means every word and thus signifies the freedom to speak openly. Since such freedom of speech often provokes opposition, parresia also indicated fearlessness in speaking one’s mind. Finally, parresia developed into a term meaning boldness, openness, or confidence (as an adverb, openly or plainly). The word was normally used in a positive sense, but a negative usage such as bluntness or shamelessness also occurs in ancient Greek literature.
 

All ten occurrences of parresia in the Gospels refer to speaking openly or plainly, either by Jesus or about Jesus (Mk. 8:32; Jn. 7:4, 13, 26; 10:24; 11:14, 54; 16:25, 29; 18:20).  The uses of the term in Acts refer to three instances of boldness on the part of the apostles in proclaiming the gospel (2:29; 4:13, 29, 31; 28:31), something Paul referred to in his letters (2 Cor. 3:12; Eph. 6:19; Php. 1:20).

 

 


Word Studies courtesy of the Holman Christian Standard Study Bible. Used with permissions from B&H Publishing Group, A Division of LifeWay Christian Resources.