Greek word · G3955

παρρησιάζομαι

parrēsiazomai

to preach boldly

From parrēsia, "saying everything" (pan, "all" + rhēsis, "speech"). The verb means "to speak openly or freely, to speak with this kind of confidence."

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

παρρησιάζομαι

(παρρησία), [in LXX: Job 22:26 (עָנַג hithp.), Psalms 12:5 94:1, Proverbs 20:9, Song of Songs 8:10, Sirach 6:11 * ;]

to speak freely or boldly, be bold in speech: Acts 9:27-28 13:46 14:3 18:26 19:8 26:26, Ephesians 6:20, 1 Thessalonians 2:2.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ephesians 6:20

Range of meaning

From parrēsia, "saying everything" (pan, "all" + rhēsis, "speech"). Its range covers: (1) freedom of speech, the citizen's right to speak openly in the assembly; (2) frankness, plain speech without concealment or flattery; (3) fearless confidence, especially before people with power over you; (4) in Jewish and Christian use, confident openness before God. The verb means "to speak openly or freely, to speak with this kind of confidence."

Against the English

"Boldly" (KJV, WEB, ESV, NASB) and "fearlessly" (BSB, NIV) catch the courage. They can lose the core idea of openness and holding nothing back, which YLT's "speak freely" keeps. Modern "bold" can also suggest brashness or aggressive confidence. That is not the point here: the point is not trimming or hiding the message under pressure.

How it drifted

In everyday modern English "bold" leans toward personality (forward, loud, daring). The Greek word belonged to the public and political world: the free person's right and courage to speak the truth plainly in front of those who could punish him.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical Athens parrēsia was a mark of the free citizen. Hellenistic moralists (Philodemus, On Frank Criticism; Plutarch, How to Tell a Flatterer from a Friend) contrast it with flattery. Philo uses it of Moses' and the righteous person's frankness before God. In Acts it is the signature of apostolic preaching (4:13, 29, 31; 9:27-28; 14:3; 19:8; 26:26), and Acts closes with Paul in Roman custody preaching "with all parrēsia, unhindered" (28:31). Philippians 1:20, also written from prison, hopes that "with all parrēsia" Christ will be honored in Paul's body.

From the study of Acts 14:3

Range of meaning

From parrēsia, literally 'saying everything'. The range covers:

  • speaking openly and in public, not in secret
  • speaking frankly, without flattery or hedging
  • speaking without fear in front of people with power over you

It carries both openness and courage. With ἐπί plus the dative ('relying on the Lord'), the verse names what that courage rested on.

Against the English

'Speak boldly' captures the courage. But modern 'bold' can suggest brash, pushy or daring for its own sake. Parrēsia is the frankness of someone with nothing to hide who does not hold back. 'Speak openly', 'speak freely' and 'speak fearlessly' each cover part of it.

How it drifted

Not a full drift. The English word stresses daring more than the openness and frankness at the centre of the Greek.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical Athens, parrēsia was the citizen's right to speak freely in the assembly (Euripides, Hippolytus 421–423; Ion 670–675). Later moralists made it the mark of a true friend as opposed to a flatterer (Plutarch, How to Tell a Flatterer from a Friend; Philodemus, On Frank Speech). Philo uses it for Moses' frank speech with God (Who Is the Heir 5–29). In the Septuagint, the righteous 'stand with great parrēsia' before their oppressors (Wisdom 5:1). In Acts it is a signature word: 4:13, 29, 31; 9:27–28; 13:46; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26. The book ends with Paul preaching 'with all parrēsia, unhindered' (28:31).

From the study of 1 Thessalonians 2:2

Range of meaning

To use parrēsia: frank, open, unafraid speech. It means saying everything plainly, with no hedging or flattery, and with the confidence of someone who has the right to speak. It can also mean having courage or confidence in general.

Against the English

Most versions: "we were bold" / "had boldness"; WEB "grew bold"; NIV "we dared"; NLT "courage... boldly." "Bold" is accurate but can sound like a personality trait (brash, outgoing). The Greek is about speech: openness and candour, the opposite of concealment and flattery.

How it drifted

No serious drift, but modern "bold" suggests temperament, whereas parrēsia names a way of speaking with civic and moral overtones.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical Athens parrēsia was the free citizen's right to speak his mind in the assembly. Hellenistic moralists made it the mark of the true friend and the genuine philosopher, set against the flatterer (Plutarch, How to Tell a Flatterer from a Friend; Philodemus, On Frank Criticism). Dio Chrysostom (Oration 32.11) contrasts the true philosopher who speaks with frankness against the charlatans who flatter crowds for money. In the LXX, Wisdom "speaks openly" in the streets (Prov 1:20), and the righteous stand "with great boldness" before their oppressors (Wisdom 5:1). Acts uses this verb repeatedly for Paul's preaching (9:27-28; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8).

Similar words

Where it appears

Acts · 6

  1. Acts 9:27 ἐπαρρησιάσατο he had spoken boldly

    Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus.

    Here: He spoke out openly and fearlessly, holding nothing back. The word stresses frank, unhidden speech at personal risk, and the risk here was real: it led to a plot on his life (9:23-25).

  2. Acts 13:46 παρρησιασάμενοί Having spoken boldly

    Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. But since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

    Here: "Having spoken out openly." They say it in public, without hedging, while the opposition is loud. In Acts this word marks speech given courage by God when the speakers are under pressure.

  3. Acts 14:3 παρρησιαζόμενοι speaking boldly

    So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

    Here: To speak openly and frankly in public, holding nothing back and not afraid of the consequences. The present participle describes what they kept doing the whole time they stayed.

  4. Acts 18:26 παρρησιάζεσθαι to speak boldly

    And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

    Here: To speak frankly and openly, without holding back or fearing pushback. Acts uses this verb for the apostles' public preaching (9:27–28; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8), so Luke counts Apollos among the true proclaimers even before he is instructed further.

  5. Acts 19:8 ἐπαρρησιάζετο he was speaking boldly

    Then Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

    Here: The main verb. The imperfect tense shows ongoing, repeated action: 'he kept speaking openly'. The word means saying everything plainly, without hedging or holding back from fear, and is how Acts regularly describes the apostles' speech.

  6. Acts 26:26 παρρησιαζόμενος using boldness

    For the king knows about these matters, and I can speak freely to him. I am confident that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 6:20 παρρησιάσωμαι I may be bold

    for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

    Here: To speak with open freedom: holding nothing back and not intimidated by the powerful. The form expresses a hope or purpose ("that I may"), and it looks at the act as a whole, most likely including speaking before Roman authorities.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 ἐπαρρησιασάμεθα we had boldness

    As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.

    Here: "We spoke out openly" or "we took courage to speak." The word belongs to *parrēsia*, the frank, unafraid speech of a free person who says everything plainly. The past tense may mean the moment they took heart ("grew bold") or simply sum up how they spoke.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.