Talk:Heb 4:11-16

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Verse 16

Boldly vs. openly

The Greek word parrhesia is translated boldly in each New Testament translation I could find. I don't know Greek, but an alternate translation seems more appropriate to me here: "openly, frankly, i.e without concealment". This definition seems to be a more natural continuation with the ideas about God discerning thoughts and intents (v. 12), having "all things . . . naked and opened" unto him (v. 13).

I think this matters because it bears directly on the tension Nathan posted (Heb 5:5) about passivity vs. assertiveness. The assertiveness described here may be more appropriately viewed as opening ourselves to God rather than, say, boldy marching up to the temple. On this view, there is not so much a tension between passivity and assertiveness, rather the passivity in being called of God is one facet of a broader submission to and unity with God that we should strive for by also "hold[ing] fast our profession" of God (v. 14), relating to God's infirmities (v. 15), opening ourselves to God (v. 16), offering prayers to God (Heb 5:7), and learning and suffering like God (Heb 5:8).

What do you think?

--RobertC 04:53, 24 Feb 2006 (UTC)

Robert, I am not so sure. The second definition of parrhesia is "free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance." I take it that you want to resist this definition, preferring instead the first. However, I do think that "cheerful courage" captures much of the tone of Hebrews. The author is writing a people who "recall former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured hard struggle and sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and afflication, and sometimes being partners with those so treated." (RSV) See Heb 10:32 et seq. One of my absolute favorite passages of scripture is the contrast between the old and the new law that the author of Hebrews offers by contrasting Mount Siani with Mount Zion. See Heb 12:18 et seq. (Incidentally, this is a passage that the KJV mangles a bit. The RSV -- which I have with me -- does a bit better.) The basic contrast is between the terror of Mt. Siani -- "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned" (Heb 12:20) -- and Mt. Zion, a place where we are gathered to "the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering" (Heb 21:22, emphasis added). I think that "cheerful courage" is not a bad way of understanding Hebrew's soteriology. Another -- implicit contrast -- is the believer boldly approaching the throne of grace and the awful and blood-soaked journey of the high priest into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. In short, I think that the current translation is more consistent with the rest of Hebrews. Besides, I love the tone of "boldly going to the throne of grace" and I would be loath to lose it.

--Nathan Oman 18:30, 24 Feb 2006 (UTC)

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