“And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear — Paul's courage strengthens others in faith (pepoithotai en kyriō, trusting in the Lord). His exemplary fearlessness in suffering emboldens the Christian community to bolder witness. 'Without fear' (aphobōs) suggests the contagion of faith: one person's trust in suffering catalyzes others' boldness. The gospel's advance is thus relational and communal, not individualistic.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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