Bible Lexicons

Bullinger's Figures of Speech Used in the BibleBullinger's Figures of Speech

Eleutheria; or Candour

An Expression of Feeling by way of bold Freedom of Speech in Reprehension

El-eu´-ther-i´-a. Greek, ἐλευθερία, liberty or licence. Hence, ἐλευθέριος, (eleutherios), speaking or acting like a free man, frank.

The figure is so called, because the speaker or writer, without intending offence, speaks with perfect freedom and boldness.

Eleutheria is therefore the bold reprehension of free speech.

It is called PARRHESIA (Par-rhee´-si-a). Greek, παρρησία, free spokenness, openness, boldness, frankness.

The Latins called it LICENTIA, licence.

The words of Elihu (Job 32:1-22 -xxxvii.) are a beautiful example of this figure.

Luke 13:32.-"Go ye, and tell that fox," was a very frank and fearless message to Herod.

John 8:44.-"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him." etc.

See under Idiom and Metonymy.

1 John 3:10.-"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil."

This is free-speaking indeed; too free for the false toleration and charity-mongering of the present day; but these are the words of the God of love, through John the apostle of love.

The following places where the word Parrhesia is used in the New Testament will furnish many interesting examples.

The word is translated:

"Plainness of speech," 2 Cot. 3:12 (marg. [Note: arg. Margin.] boldness).

"Be much bold," Philem. 8 (πολλὴν … παρρησίαν ἔχων).