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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 ôïëìᾶí , ‘to dare,’ ‘to be bold’ (2Co_10:2; 2Co_11:21, Php_1:14). The connate adverb ôïëìçñῶò in the compar. ôïëìçñüôåñïí is used by St. Paul (Rom_15:15). The verb, in composition with the strengthening prep. ἀðü , is used in Rom_10:20, where ἀðïôïëìᾶí has the force of ‘to be very bold.’-(b) In the sense of being of good courage it is employed to tender èáññåῖí in 2Co_5:6; 2Co_5:8; 2Co_7:16 (Revised Version ; the Authorized Version having ‘confident,’ ‘confidence’ in these places). In 2Co_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 Heb_13:6 is rendered in Revised Version ‘with Good courage we say.’ In Act_28:15 èÜñóïò occurs in the expression used regarding St. Paul-‘he thanked God and took courage.’ èñÜóïò and èñáóýôçò are used in the sense of ‘over-confidence,’ ‘insolence’ in Patristic literature in company with such words as ðëåïíåîßá , ‘covetousness,’ and ἀëáæïíåßá , ‘boastfulness’ (Didache iii. 9, v. 1).-(c) In the sense of liberty and frankness of speech it is employed to translate ðáññçóßá and the derived verb ðáññçóéÜæåóèáé . In classical usage ðáññçóßá ( ðᾶí and ῥῆóéò ) 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 (Eph_3:12, Heb_4:16, 1Jn_2:28). It is contrasted with shrinking back from fear or shame (Php_1:20, 1Jn_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 (Joh_7:13; Joh_11:14; Joh_16:25; Joh_16:29, Act_4:29; Act_13:46 where ðáññçóéÜæåóèáé is used). ‘When it is transferred from words to actions, it appears always to retain the idea of “confidence, boldness” ’ (Lightfoot on Col_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 (Act_2:24), St. Peter and St. John before the Council (Act_4:13), and in setting forth Christ to the people (Act_4:29; Act_4:31), St. Paul at Rome preaching to all and sundry (Act_28:31). In this sense ðáññçóéÜæåóèáé is used of Saul at Damascus and Jerusalem (Act_9:27 f.), of St. Paul and Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia (Act_13:46), of Apollos at Ephesus (Act_18:26), of St. Paul himself at Thessalonica (1Th_2:2; cf. Eph_6:19 f.).
(2) Confidence in prayer and communion with God through Christ.-This is the privilege which St. Paul (Eph_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 (Heb_4:16; Heb_10:19). This joyous confidence in prayer is specially notable in St. John’s First Epistle (1Jn_3:21; 1Jn_5:14). It comes of abiding in Christ (1Jn_2:28), of the presence in the heart of the love which casts out fear (1Jn_4:17 f.), of a clear conscience and an obedient life (1Jn_3:20-23).
(3) Candid speech towards Christian brethren (2Co_7:4, Phm_1:8, and possibly 2Co_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 (1Ti_3:13, Php_1:20).
(5) Fearless confidence at the appearance of Christ and before His judgment seat (1Jn_2:28; 1Jn_4:17-19).-The Scriptural opposite is the shame of the man without the wedding-garment who was speechless (Mat_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 Wis_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.