NOTHING TO FEAR?

"For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men..." (Mark 7:8a)

It has been a few years since the 'No Fear' logo was all the rage. Today, there is not much more than a remnant of it, but I was able to find several good pictures on the internet.



The idea of 'No Fear' is a bold and strong statement from the secular side of our world. I suspect it is intended to present an image of security and self-confidence. It's as though they're saying that "We are the biggest, toughest kids on the block, able to beat up any other kid on the block."

I suspect that for many, this is probably true; they are the biggest kids on the block, so perhaps they are safe in making that statement? As long as they limit their social involvement to their own 'block', they probably have no need to fear. Maybe they better make sure they have no need to leave their own block?

But, as big as their block is, perhaps even as big as the entire planet, there is a boundary to it, and outside that boundary they may not be so bold. However, I believe that the entire 'No Fear' idea presented by so many is nothing short of blatant defiance of God. Take a look for yourself. Who wears a hat with that logo on it?

Now, how 'bout us Christians? What are we saying along this line?

How long has it been since you last hear a preacher say that the word 'fear' in the Bible, when used in conjunction with our attitude toward God, doesn't really mean Fear? Didn't your preacher tell you that when you read the words 'fear of God' it actually means; awe or respect or reverence? Didn't he tell you that we're not supposed to be afraid of our God? Maybe I'm the only one who has had preachers tell me that.

No. I don't think so. I think that this teaching is quite universal throughout the worldwide body of Christ. We have moved away from the days of such preaching as that done by Jonathan Edwards. We have come to know God as a powerful being whom we need to reverence and hold in awe, but certainly not be afraid of. Then we read what Paul wrote to the Romans:

"What then? are we better than they? As it is written, There is none
righteous, no, not one: No, in no wise: for we have before proved both
Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; There is none that
understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out
of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that
does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their
tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to
shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of
peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes."
(Romans 3:9-18)

Quickly now; let's remember that 'fear' doesn't really mean 'fear' in this verse. It just means awe and reverence for God?

Really?

Actually, the Greek word translated as 'fear' in verse 18 is 'phobos'. It is the root word for a word we should recognize in our own language; phobia. Does phobia mean awe or reverence?

In the New Testament, the word fear appears 84 times. In all but four cases it is translated from the Greek words phobos/phobeo. What about the other four times? Let's look at them. 2nd Timothy 1:7 is often quoted in support of not being afraid.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind." (2nd Timothy 1:7)

In this passage, the Greek word isn't phobos, and if you are reading from the NIV or from the NASB, you will see what is probably a better translation of the Greek word here: timidity. Paul was encouraging Timothy to bear witness and not be timid about it.

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved
with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is
by faith." (Hebrews 11:7)

In this passage, Noah built the ark in reverence toward God. The Greek word is not phobos.

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have
grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly
fear: For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:27-28)

Again, the Greek word is not phobos, and the NIV and NASB give a better rendering as awe.

One other verse should be cited before declaring that all the other occurrences of 'fear' come from the Greek word phobos. This example is a reverse version of what we have looked at so far. In this verse, the only one of its kind, the Greek word is phobos, but it ISN'T translated as
fear. I wonder why?

"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even
as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."
(Ephesians 5:33)

In this passage, the Greek word phobos is actually translated as reverence. It is the only place where such is the case. Wherever the word reverence occurs in the New Testament, except for Ephesians 5:33, it is translated from the Greek word enopion.

So, now we've covered all of the exceptions. Every other New Testament verse where we find the word fear, the Greek word from which it is translated is phobos/phobeo. Let's look at just a few of them.

"But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for
all hold John as a prophet." (Matthew 21:26)

Did the chief priests and scribes hold the people in awe or reverence in this case? No. They feared (phobeo) what the people would do if they didn't give the right answer, so they decided not to answer at all.

"And for fear of him the keepers did shake,
and became as dead men." (Matthew 28:4)

Did the guards at the tomb fall down out of awe or reverence? No. They fell down out of fear (phobos) of the angel.

"Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round
about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with
great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again."
(Luke 8:17)

Were the Gadarenes taken with awe and reverence of our Lord? No. What they saw scared them. They left the area.

These are just some of the many examples that demonstrate that the English word fear is the correct translation from the Greek words phobos and phobeo, and they also demonstrate that fear means 'to be afraid', not 'to be in awe' or 'to reverence.'

But, some will reply and quote such verses as the following:

"That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of
our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness
before him, all the days of our life." (Luke 1:74-75)

Fair enough. Here's my question: Are we to serve him without fear of him, or are we to serve him without fear of what other might say or do? Which answer would not contradict the following verses?

"And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation." (Luke 1:50)

"Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and
Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and
in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." (Acts 9:31)

"Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.
Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches,
take heed lest he also spare not thee." (Romans 11:20-21)

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God." (2nd Corinthians 7:1)

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the
soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and
body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

Let us not be guilty of what Paul condemns in Romans 3:18.