Boldness of Speech

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Boldness of Speech

Ephesians 3:12
In whom we have boldness [parrhesia] and access with confidence by the faith of him.

In Christ we have been given access to God and we have been given boldness to speak the truth of God's Word. Boldness is the Greek word "parrhesia." In means to speak openly, plainly, boldly confidently, freely all that you have to speak without keeping anything secret or holding anything back. A related Greek word is "parrhesiazomai." It is used along with parrhesia in the following verse regarding the Apostle Paul.

Acts 9:26-27
    And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
    But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached [parrhesia] boldly [parrhesiazomai] at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

    After the Apostle Paul got born again he began to speak to everyone God's Word regarding the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke boldly. He spoke all he knew. He did not hold anything back. The following chart shows all the ways that parrhesia and parrhesiazomai are translated in the New Testament:

TRANSLATED	GREEK WORD	TIMES USED
boldness	parrhesia	9
openly	parrhesia	6
confidence	parrhesia	6
boldly	parrhesiazomai	6
plainly	parrhesia	4
boldly	parrhesia	3
freely	parrhesia	1
preached	parrhesia	1
plainness	parrhesia	1
bold	parrhesia	1
waxed bold	parrhesiazomai	1
freely	parrhesiazomai	1
bold	parrhesiazomai	1

FIRST PLACE USED

Mark 8:31-33
     And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
     And he spake that saying openly [parrhesia], And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
     But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

     Jesus Christ spoke boldly before everyone about his crucifixion and resurrection. Peter took him aside privately and told him not to say these things. Jesus Christ recognized the influence of the adversary and rebuked Peter. The devil does not want the truth of God's Word to be spoken openly.

John 7:13
     Howbeit no man spake openly [parrhesia] of him for fear of the Jews.

     Fear is the believer's only real enemy. Fear keeps us from acting according to the Word of God. We have been given boldness to speak in Christ Jesus. We cannot allow fear to keep us from the abundance that God has given us in Christ.

Acts 4:18-20, 31
     And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
     But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
     For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. . . . .
     And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness [parrhesia].

     The Greek word for "filled" in this verse is pletho which means to be filled to overflowing - to spill outside that which is inside. The born again believers (who were gathered to talk about the threats of the elders of Israel) prayed and then acted. Manifesting the gift of holy spirit from within, they spoke the Word of God fearlessly, openly, boldly. It is the power of God in us that overcomes fear.

Hebrews 4:16
     Let us therefore come boldly [parrhesia] unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

    In Christ we have access to God. Not only can we speak His Word boldly to those in the world, but we have been given boldness to approach God Himself in Christ Jesus. When we have a need we go straight to the Father and speak it all out!

1 John 3:21
     Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence [parrhesia] toward God.
     And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

1 John 5:14-15
     And this is the confidence [parrhesia] that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
     And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

     In Christ we have been given boldness of speech to approach God and make request of Him. God's Word assures us that God hears and answers our requests. So when you have a need do not be afraid to speak to God. We have access and boldness to approach God because of the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was tempted in all ways that we are tempted. He was tempted to keep quiet and not speak God's Word as we saw in the first use of parrhesia. But Jesus Christ always obeyed God and never gave in to the temptation of the adversary. We approach God in the name of Jesus Christ. He did it all for us. Now we have access to God because of him.

Ephesians 6:19
     And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly [parrhesia], to make known the mystery of the gospel.
     For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly [parrhesiazomai], as I ought to speak.

     We have been called to speak God's Word regarding the mystery. It is what we ought to speak. Paul asked the believers to pray for him: that even in prison he would have boldness to speak about the mystery of the gospel. This is what we have been called to speak with all boldness.

1 John 4:17
     Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness [parrhesia] in the day of judgment [today - man's day of judgment]: because as he is, so are we in this world.