Democracy was born in ancient Greece. When the citizens of a
Greek city gathered in their public assembly (ekklesia) they had
the right of free speech. They felt free to speak their minds
with complete boldness. Their word for this “freedom to say all”
was parrhesia (par ray SEE ah) and this is the important word
which is translated “boldness” in the New Testament. The early
church proclaimed God's word with boldness. Peter and John were
“uneducated and untrained,” but they stood before the Sanhedrin
and preached the gospel in such a way that the Jewish leaders
could not fail to observe their boldness (Acts 4:13). Unshaken
by the experience, Peter and John returned to the brethren and
they all asked God to grant them to speak His word with boldness
(Acts 4:29). The early church also prayed with boldness. They
had confidence of access into God's presence (Eph 3:12) because
Jesus had opened the way. They drew near with boldness to the
throne of grace, with a blessed assurance of receiving mercy and
finding grac