θάρσος
courage
Definition
θάρσος refers to a state of courage, confidence, or boldness, particularly in the face of fear or adversity. In the New Testament, it specifically denotes the kind of confidence that is bolstered by faith and the presence of fellow believers. Its sole biblical occurrence is in Acts 28:15, where Paul takes courage upon seeing the brothers who have come to meet him. This suggests the word carries a communal dimension—courage is often found and strengthened within the community of faith.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 28:15. It describes the Apostle Paul's emotional and spiritual response upon seeing fellow Christians who had traveled to meet him as he journeyed to Rome under guard. The context is one of encouragement and solidarity in the midst of trial, showing that θάρσος is a courage activated by the support and presence of other believers.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek verb θαρρέω (tharreō, G2292), meaning 'to be of good courage' or 'to be confident.' It is related to the adjective θρασύς (thrasys), meaning 'bold' or 'daring.' The word family centers on the concept of inner boldness and a confident state of mind.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, θάρσος is theologically significant as it illustrates how Christian courage is often communal and relational. Paul's courage is directly linked to the visible support of the church. This enriches our reading by showing that biblical courage is not merely a solitary, stoic virtue but is frequently nurtured and expressed within the body of Christ, reinforcing the New Testament theme of mutual encouragement (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
In ancient Greek culture, courage (θάρσος) was a prized virtue, often associated with military and heroic contexts. The New Testament usage subtly reorients this concept from individualistic, martial bravery to a confidence rooted in spiritual fellowship and divine providence, even in non-heroic circumstances like a prisoner's journey.
παρρησία (parrēsia, G3954) — boldness of speech or public declaration, often before authorities. θαρρέω (tharreō, G2292) — the verbal form, 'to be courageous or confident.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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