Lexical Summary apotolmaó: To dare, to venture, to boldly undertake Original Word: ἀποτολμάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be very bold. From apo and tolmao; to venture plainly -- be very bold. see GREEK apo see GREEK tolmao NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and tolmaó Definition to be very bold NASB Translation very bold (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 662: ἀποτολμάωἀποτολμάω, ἀποτόλμω; properly, to be bold of oneself (ἀπό (which see V.)), i. e. to assume boldness, make bold: Romans 10:20; cf. Winers De verb. comp. etc. Part iv., p. 15. (Occasionally in Thucydides, Plato, Aeschines, Polybius, Diodorus, Plutarch.) Topical Lexicon Biblical SettingRomans 10 rehearses Israel’s history of hearing yet resisting the word of God. As Paul marshals Old Testament testimony to expose this resistance, he reaches Isaiah 65:1 and prefaces it with the lone appearance of Strong’s 662: “And Isaiah boldly says: ‘I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me’ ” (Romans 10:20). The term signals that Isaiah’s statement is not a cautious aside but an unflinching declaration of divine intent. Prophetic Boldness and Gentile Inclusion When Isaiah announces that a God-ignoring nation will “find” the LORD, he reverses Jewish expectations and foretells Gentile salvation. Paul seizes the prophet’s fearless tone to justify his own Gentile mission. The daring quality attributed to Isaiah becomes a theological hinge: the same Spirit who emboldened the prophet now emboldens apostolic proclamation that righteousness is received by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 10:4–13). Paul’s Rhetorical Strategy in Romans 10 1. Contrast: Paul opposes Israel’s zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2) to Isaiah’s Spirit-filled courage. Theological Themes • Sovereign Initiative: God “was found” by those who did not seek Him, underscoring grace that precedes human pursuit. Historical Reception Early church fathers drew on Romans 10:20 to defend universal evangelism. Irenaeus cited the verse against Gnostic elitism, arguing that the Gospel is publicly preached. Chrysostom highlighted Isaiah’s boldness to exhort preachers facing imperial hostility. Throughout patristic homilies the term became shorthand for fearless Gospel witness. Implications for Ministry 1. Evangelistic Confidence: God Himself sets the pattern of initiative; believers can proclaim Christ to “those who did not ask” with assurance of divine preparation. Contemporary Application • Cross-Cultural Missions: The text encourages ventures beyond traditional boundaries, trusting the Spirit to open hearts previously indifferent to God. Conclusion Strong’s 662 encapsulates the Spirit-given courage that marks prophetic and apostolic ministry. Its solitary New Testament appearance magnifies Isaiah’s startling claim and, through Paul, calls every generation to fearless, grace-centered proclamation of the risen Christ. Forms and Transliterations αποτολμα αποτολμά ἀποτολμᾷ apotolma apotolmā̂iLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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