Applying Biblical Examples of Courage to Modern Contexts
Courage, often understood as boldness or fortitude, is presented in biblical texts as a characteristic of those who trust in God and are faithful to divine commands [3]. This quality is not merely an absence of fear, but an active resolve in the face of adversity, frequently linked to faith and obedience [2, 3].
The Old Testament provides numerous examples and exhortations concerning courage. In 2 Samuel 10:12 and 1 Chronicles 19:13, Joab encourages his soldiers with the words, "Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Yahweh do that which seems good to him" [4, 6]. This demonstrates courage in the context of warfare and national defense, coupled with a submission to God's will. The prophet Isaiah also connects courage with trust in God, stating, "The Lord Yahweh will help me; therefore I have not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed" (Isaiah 50:7, cited in [3]). This suggests that courage stems from a conviction of divine support. Similarly, Joshua is exhorted to "be strong and very courageous" in leading Israel (Joshua 1:7, cited in [3]).
In the New Testament, courage is frequently associated with faith in Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel. The author of Hebrews encourages believers to "draw near with boldness to the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16) and to say with "good courage, 'The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6) [1, 5]. This boldness in prayer and in facing human opposition is a direct result of trust in God. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 3:12, speaks of having "boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him" [3]. The early apostles also exemplified this, praying for boldness to speak God's word despite threats (Acts 4:29, cited in [3]) and demonstrating it in their preaching (Acts 4:31, cited in [3]).
The concept of courage is also contrasted with rashness. Flavius Josephus, in The Wars of the Jews, distinguishes between true courage and "boldness and rashness, the effects of madness," noting that true courage is guided by obedience and fortitude [2]. John Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, similarly observes that human strength and military might are ineffective if people's hearts fail, emphasizing that true strength comes from God's Spirit [11].
The New Testament further develops courage in the context of endurance and perseverance. Hebrews 12:1 exhorts believers to "run with patience the race that is set before us," laying aside hindrances [7]. This "race" metaphor, common in Greco-Roman literature, signifies the need for endurance in life, with sin acting as a weight that hinders progress [8]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, interprets this passage as an encouragement to holiness, patience, and perseverance, taking Christ as the ultimate example [9]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, notes that the suffering endured by believers is a "striving against sin" and that they had not yet "resisted unto blood" [10]. This suggests that courage involves a sustained struggle against sin and adversity, even to the point of martyrdom.
Moses's composure in the face of the Red Sea, when confronted by a "seditious and desperate multitude," is presented as a sublime example of moral courage, rooted in his confidence in the miraculous cloud accompanying them and his trust in God [12]. This illustrates courage not just in physical battle, but in leadership and maintaining faith amidst overwhelming pressure.
Sources
- Hebrews “Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need. -- Hebrews 4:16”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, CHAPTER 10, section 3: they be soldiers, that manages wars with success, but it is their bravery that does it, though they be but a few; for a few are easily set in battle-array, and can easily assist one another, while over-numerous armies are more hurt by themselves than by their enemies. It is boldness and rashness, the effects of madness, that conduct the Jews. Those passions indeed make a great figure when they succeed, but are quite extinguished upon the least ill success; but we are led on by courage, and obedience, and fortitude, which shows itse”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
- 2 Samuel “Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and Yahweh do that which seems good to him.” -- 2 Samuel 10:12”
- Hebrews “So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?” -- Hebrews 13:6”
- 1 Chronicles “Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God. May Yahweh do that which seems good to him.” -- 1 Chronicles 19:13”
- Hebrews “Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, -- Hebrews 12:1”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:1: 12:1-17 The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17). 12:1 huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. • let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin . . . trips us up. It ent”
- Hebrews (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hebrews 12 (introduction): Having so many incitements to holiness, patience, and perseverance, we should lay aside every hinderance, and run with patience the race that is set before us, taking our blessed Lord for our example, Heb 12:1-4. These sufferings are to be considered as fatherly chastisements from God, and to be patiently submitted to on account of the benefits to be derived from them, Heb 12:5-11. They should take courage and go forward, Heb 12:12, Heb 12:13. Directions to follow peace with all men, and to take heed that they fall not from the grace of God, Heb 12:14,”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 12:4: Here the apostle presses the exhortation to patience and perseverance by an argument taken from the gentle measure and gracious nature of those sufferings which the believing Hebrews endured in their Christian course. I. From the gentle and moderate degree and measure of their sufferings: You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin, Heb 12:4. Observe, 1. He owns that they had suffered much, they had been striving to an agony against sin. Here, (1.) The cause of the conflict was sin, and to be engaged against sin is to fight in a good cause, for sin”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 18.28: Lord will break and take away their courage, so that they shall not be able to make use of their forces. For what avail arms and a vast multitude of men? What avail fortresses and bulwarks, when men’s hearts fail and are dismayed? It is therefore impossible for us to be strong and powerful, unless the Lord strengthen and uphold us by his Spirit. This statement occurs frequently in the law, that when they should revolt from God, a vast number of them would be put to flight by a very small number of enemies. But there is this difference betwee”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 14:13: Moses said, . . . Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord--Never, perhaps, was the fortitude of a man so severely tried as that of the Hebrew leader in this crisis, exposed as he was to various and inevitable dangers, the most formidable of which was the vengeance of a seditious and desperate multitude; but his meek, unruffled, magnanimous composure presents one of the sublimest examples of moral courage to be found in history. And whence did his courage arise? He saw the miraculous cloud still accompanying them, and his confidence”