What does godly fear mean?

Question

What does it mean to have and what is godly fear?

Thanks.

Answer 1

fear of God, or obedience to God.

God loves and He doesn't want us to be afraid. And if you live right, there's no need to fear anything.

It's like if you drive a car within the speed limit, there's no fear of getting caught for speeding. (Of course, some people drive too fast and have no fear. We call these sort of people 'fools'!)

God loves, and because of that, we have the freedom to choose whatever we want to believe.

Here are a few different definitions of 'God-fearing' that religious people might come up with. Choose whichever you want to believe.

* 'Fear', when talking about God, is synonymous with 'respect', 'reverence', 'piety', 'awe toward a supreme power', etc
* 'God-fearing' is an archaic term that's been bouncing around for so many years that we're not too sure of the original meaning. Similar to terms like 'God-parents' and 'God speed' (or is it 'God's speed'?).
* A Biblical reference is found in Exodus 20:20, which says that fearing God keeps us from sinning. Logic tells us that God cannot love evil, because evil is the opposite of love. God loves, but He doesn't love everything. God loves the sinner, but not the sin, and He gets pretty peeved when we sin. If we die as a sinner, we go to Hell, and I reckon that's where most souls go. Hell, whatever that is, and God's anger, sound like things to REALLY fear!

Fortunately there’s a simple way out of this.

Because God is love, He's a forgiving God. It's like if you cheat on your partner, you say you're sorry and you really mean it, and you promise never to do it again. Then, if you're lucky, your partner will forgive you.

It's like that with God, but you're always lucky in that if you ask, with sincerity from your heart, He always forgives and then you are safe. All pretty simple really.

As we said at the top of this page, if you live right, as your heart tells you is God's way, then there's no need to fear anything.

Answer 2

Godly Fear

Answer 3

There are two types of fear in the Bible. Old Testament example: Exodus 20:20: And Moses said to the people, “Do not FEAR; for God has come to test you, and that His FEAR may be before you, so that you may not sin.”
The first is a referenct to cowardly fear, something God didn't give us and we should seek to avoid. The latter refers to a reverence of God. This is something we should have.

A New Testament Example: Matthew 10:28: And do not FEAR those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather FEAR Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Again, the first fear is to be avoided, the latter sought.

The reverential fear means to hold God in such awe and respect, that you wouldn't want to do anything to bring Him shame and sorrow.

Answer 4

Hey---everyone should fear that homicidal maniac Biblical god--there have been thousands of other vicious brutal Gods that man has created but few are as gross & barbaric as the Biblical god.-I'm glad he's just a stolen myth!!
" The so called “God” of the Bible makes Osama Bin Laden look like a Boy Scout. This God, according to the Bible, is directly responsible for many mass-murders, rapes, pillage, plunder, slavery, child abuse and killing, not to mention the killing of unborn children. "--quote from http://www.evilbible.com/

Answer 5

It means, the fear of God. Here, it is used metaphorically to describe a great fear that was experienced for example: "My parachute failed to open until the last minute, what a godly fear that was." Or you can say, "If he does not pay me back my money, I'll put a godly fear in him" (that means, I'll greatly scare him to pay me back my money).

Answer 6

I haven't heard it used quite that way but what I think you are referring to is the fear of God or the fear God. Many of the earlier religions, like the Pilgrims and the Huguenots etc. had a fire and brimstone philosophy. It was intended to put the "Fear God" into the people so they would tow the mark.

Answer 7

It is not what we normally think of when we hear the word 'fear'. It doesn't mean to be afraid. It means to be in awe.

Answer 8

Do you mean a "fear of god",, or "god fearing"? This means that you have a healthy "respect for God" and his power and you dont dare tempt him or provoke his anger. It doesnt necessarily mean that u go around scared of the lord all the time, just that u have again the key word here "RESPECT" for him and treat him and his word and commandments as such..

Answer 9

the word fear translates into what in english means respect or reverence

Answer 10

To completely reverence God, which is to honor and respect him, and to be in total awe of him, and to recognize that he is sovereign in all the earth.