by Allyn Smith

Created on: October 23, 2009   Last Updated: December 19, 2009

One of the many paradoxes found often in the Bible which is little understood by most Christians and not at all by non-Christians is that people are told to fear in some passages and not to fear in others. Perhaps the most puzzling is: "The fear of the Lord." Christians are told that God loves them and the Devil hates them. Nevertheless, they are not told to fear the Devil but to fear the Lord.

The Greek word for "fear" is "phobos," from which we have received the English word "phobia," which means unreasonable or intense fear. The Greek word "aphobos" means "without fear." The English word "terror," found in the Bible in Romans 13:3; 2 Corinthians 5:11; and I Peter 3:14 is also the Greek word "phobos". The word "tremble" in 2 Corinthians 7:15; 1 Corinthians 2:3; Ephesians 6:5; and Philippians 2:12 is from the Greek word "tremo," which means "to quake with fear."

Because "fear" is used with "quake," it does not mean "respect." The "fear of the Lord" does not mean "respect for the Lord" as some Christians claim. Fear can produce outward respect for a boss, ruler, or cop but an inward disrespect. They have disrespect for God because they fear His anger and judgment, and they think that He physically punishes every little sin. They will flatter and respect him for fear of punishment or judgment; but there is no punishment for the true Christian (Romans 8:1; John 5:24). The "fear of the Lord" is not fear of punishment.

Not all "fear" is undesirable. It is wise to "fear" some things. Without fear life would be impossible. A person without fear would walk in front of moving vehicles, jump off ten story buildings, and sass his wife, etc. Fear is God's gift for survival. Even a tiny ant, sensing danger, will curl up and play dead or scamper as fast as his six little feet will carry him. Fear is a manifestation of the love and providence of God. Fear causes you to fight against or flee from something you think might harm you. Fear produces self-preservation, which is necessary to live. A person without fear has no desire to live. Freedom from fear, therefore, is not desirable.

Unfounded fears, of course, are not desirable. They produce useless tension. Fear, love, hate, anger, and fearlessness are desirable or undesirable according to truth or falsehood. It is only if there is a genuine threat against our well-being is that fear is desirable. Some people become religious because they fear of what they think might happen to them after they die.. They are subject to bondage

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>