Also pray that God will give me the right words to say. Then I will speak fearlessly when I reveal the mystery of the Good News. Because I have already been doing this as Christ’s representative, I am in prison. So pray that I speak about this Good News as fearlessly as I have to.
Note that Paul uses the word ‘fearlessly’ - other translators render it as ‘boldly’ - and the reader might ask: what causes Paul’s fears?
The quickest answer is that Paul is afraid of those who would resist or mock the Gospel which he proclaims. Anyone who talks about the Good News of Jesus, whether in a private conversation or before a large audience, risks encountering mockery or rejection. That risk is often realized into actuality. Such a fear would be reasonable on Paul’s part: he is realistically anticipating (‘counting the cost’ Luke 14:28).
Yet there are other possible objects of fear. The quickest answer is not the only answer.
Perhaps Paul is concerned about fearing God. A proper relationship to God is described as the ‘fear of the Lord’ which is a respect and reverence. A correct understand of the ‘fear’ of the Lord reveals that it is not a form of anxiety. This distinction is sometimes expressed in the difference between Furcht and Ehrfurcht. Paul may be worried that his healthy respect and reverence could give way to unhealthy anxiety.
It could also be that case that Paul is afraid of himself. He knows all too well the frailty of human nature. Maybe he’s afraid that he won’t declare the Gospel well, that his own sinfulness will undermine the reputation of the Gospel, that his anticipation of mockery and rejection will dampen his enthusiasm about the Gospel - Paul is afraid of being afraid.
Note, too, that Paul uses the word ‘mystery’ to refer to the Gospel that he proclaims. The Gospel includes truths which human reason cannot quite grasp. Paul wants to be bold in presenting this mystery.
The reader can see in this text an encouragement to embrace the notion of mystery: humans cannot ‘understand’ the Gospel thoroughly as we understand, e.g., a chemistry textbook. There are questions which, in this lifetime on this earth, will never be answered. There are paradoxes: seeming contradictions, the final harmonizations of which will be revealed only in the next life.
Paul’s request reveals that he, like all humans, wrestled with fear and mystery. Jesus strengthens individuals to face their fears. Jesus helps people to accept that there are some mysteries which human reason can never clarify.
