Parrhesia v Prvním Janově listu

Parrhesia was a right of a free Greek citizen to express his opinion in public meetings and trials. The gradual decline of parrhesia in the judicial and political environment in conjunction with decline of democracy led to a strengthening of its meaning and its shift into the moral domain. The use of the term in the Septuagint usually has a religious undertone or context. It expresses often the relationship of men toward God. The use of the term in the First Epistle of John is very close to its use in the Septuagint. Parrhesia occurs in the First Epistle of John four times. In 1 John 2:28 it means the trust of those who 'stay' in Christ and in a way, it can be identified with this 'staying'. In 1 John 3:21 parrhesia-trust is an attempt to overcome existential moral doubt before God. Parrhesia in 1 John 4:17 brings its content close to perfect love as a result of the identity of Johannine disciples as God's children. Parrhesia in 1 John 5:14 is an existential statement of a Christian's life in God and before God.