A Word to the Wise

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Since the Christian does not await eternal punishment for sin, what does it mean for the Christian to fear God?Consider this verse after the death of Ananias and Sapphira. “And great fear[phobos 5401] came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things” (Acts 5:11). Yet this did not result in people leaving the church. Acts 5:14 says, “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (cf v13).When the church began, Acts 2:43 NASB says “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe[phobos 5401]; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”

Ephesians 5:21 says we should be “submitting to one another out of reverence[phobos 5401] for Christ.”

So we should have phobos for Christ. But probably not in the same sense as in Matthew 14:26 “But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear[phobos 5401].”

Consider also eulabeia 2124 and eulabeomai 2125

We see an interesting statement in Acts 9:31: “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear[phobos 5401] of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” These believers feared the Lord and were at the same time being comforted by the Holy Spirit.

Turning to the Old Testament, consider Psalm 34:7-10, 18-19 “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear[3373] Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear[3372] the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear[3373] Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing. [v18] The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.” And Psalm 128:1 “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!” God is powerful, but He is good to those who fear Him, take refuge in Him, and seek Him.

Spiros Zodhiates’ Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible helps explain 3372 to us, saying “There are two main types of fear described by yare: (a) the emotion and intellectual anticipation of harm, what one feels may go wrong for him; (b) a very positive feeling of awe or reverence for God, which may be expressed in piety or formal worship.” (Zodhiates 1733). This same Hebrew word is used both for being afraid as well as for reverence for God.

One way to understand fearing God is to look at a contrast. Consider John 12:42-43, “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God” (Consider also John 7:13). These individuals believed in Jesus, but they feared man rather than God.

Psalm 56:3-4 NASB says, “When I am afraid[3372], I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid[3372]. What can mere man do to me?” So, placing your trust in God results in not being afraid of man.

So for the Christian to fear God means, at least in part, that He is our concern. He is what we are paying attention to and acting in regard to, rather than in accordance with or for the approval or desires of man (whether others, or ourselves).

Hebrews 12:28b-29 says to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

The conclusion of Ecclesiastes says, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear[3372] God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).