5113. tolmétés
Lexical Summary
tolmétés: Bold person, daring person

Original Word: τολμητής
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: tolmétés
Pronunciation: tol-may-TACE
Phonetic Spelling: (tol-may-tace')
KJV: presumptuous
NASB: Daring
Word Origin: [from G5111 (τολμάω - dare)]

1. a daring (audacious) man

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
presumptuous.

From tolmao; a daring (audacious) man -- presumptuous.

see GREEK tolmao

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 5113 tolmētḗs – literally, darers, very bold people who foolishly ignore what should make them afraid, i.e. as they blatantly (boldly) practice their vile, disrespectful acts.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from tolmaó
Definition
a bold, daring man
NASB Translation
Daring (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 5113: τολμητής

τολμητής, τολμητου, (τολμάω), a daring man: 2 Peter 2:10. (Thucydides 1, 70; Josephus, b. j. 3, 10, 2; Philo de Joseph., § 38, Plutarch, Lucian).

Topical Lexicon
Definition and Nuanced Meaning

Strong’s Greek 5113 portrays a kind of audacious daring that disregards proper limits and authority. It is not the courageous, Spirit-empowered confidence celebrated elsewhere in Scripture, but a rash boldness rooted in self-will.

Biblical Occurrence

2 Peter 2:10 supplies the lone New Testament instance: “Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander glorious beings” (Berean Standard Bible). The term characterizes false teachers who indulge fleshly desires and despise lordship.

Context within 2 Peter

2 Peter exposes itinerant teachers who distorted apostolic doctrine. Their “daring” (Greek 5113) manifests in three ways:

1. Moral license—pursuing “the corrupt desire of the flesh.”
2. Contempt for authority—rejecting both earthly and heavenly order.
3. Reckless speech—vilifying “glorious beings,” a transgression even holy angels avoid (2 Peter 2:11).

Peter’s portrayal stands in purposeful contrast to the humble service commanded of shepherds (1 Peter 5:2-3).

Theological Significance

1. Sin of Presumption: Scripture consistently condemns presumption (Numbers 15:30-31; Psalm 19:13). Greek 5113 epitomizes that spirit—acting without reverence for God’s ordained boundaries.
2. Warning to Leaders: James 3:1 cautions that teachers “will incur stricter judgment.” The audacity depicted in 2 Peter 2:10 illustrates why.
3. Cosmic Order: Slandering “glorious beings” reveals a refusal to acknowledge the unseen hierarchy God established (Colossians 1:16).

Contrast with Godly Boldness

• Godly boldness (parrēsia) is Spirit-wrought and submissive to Christ: “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John… they marveled” (Acts 4:13).
• Rash daring (Greek 5113) is self-generated and insubordinate.
• The former approaches God reverently (Hebrews 4:16); the latter assaults His order defiantly.

Historical Perspective

In Greco-Roman culture, valor (andreia) was applauded, yet even pagan ethics frowned on hubris toward celestial powers. Peter leverages this cultural backdrop: the false teachers’ behavior is repugnant not only to Christian morality but also to common moral sense.

Pastoral and Ministry Application

1. Discernment: Congregations must test teachers by their fruit (Matthew 7:16) and attitude toward authority.
2. Humility in Teaching: True servants speak “as those supplying strength that God provides” (1 Peter 4:11), never exalting self.
3. Guarded Speech: Jude 8-10 reiterates Peter’s warning, urging believers to restrain the tongue when dealing with spiritual realities.
4. Accountability Structures: Elders and congregational oversight curb the emergence of daring, unaccountable voices.

Practical Warning for the Contemporary Church

Modern platforms can amplify personalities that mimic the arrogance of 2 Peter 2:10. Churches should:
• Prioritize doctrinal fidelity over charisma.
• Encourage communal correction (Galatians 6:1-2).
• Model servant leadership patterned after Christ, who “emptied Himself” (Philippians 2:7).

Summary

Greek 5113 captures a perilous boldness, distinguished by contempt for divine and human authority. Its single New Testament appearance serves as a sober reminder that true courage submits to God, while reckless audacity invites judgment.

Forms and Transliterations
τολμηται τολμηταί τολύπην τομή τομής τομίδας τόμον tolmetai tolmetaí tolmētai tolmētaí
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Peter 2:10 N-NMP
GRK: κυριότητος καταφρονοῦντας τολμηταί αὐθάδεις δόξας
NAS: authority. Daring, self-willed,
KJV: government. Presumptuous [are they], selfwilled,
INT: authority despise [They are] daring self-willed glories

Strong's Greek 5113
1 Occurrence


τολμηταί — 1 Occ.

5112
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