The term "fear of God". It is often used in the Bible, what does it mean? you say he`s a loving god but then why fear? love isn`t love anymore if it`s based on fear isn`t it?
p.s. Christians, this is a serious question, i`m just trying to understand you guys.
2007-05-07 14:49:14 · 32 answers · asked by Sir Alex 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
the word fear is an old English translation, it actually mean to respect, and give honor to,
2007-05-07 14:56:39 · answer #1 · answered by Hannah's Grandpa 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
It's a real thing that is based upon the idea that God has all the power. You can call it respect if you can understand it better that way. But just think about what goes into fearing him:
1) It means that we believe in Him. No use in fearing something that does not exist, after all!
2) It puts the recognition of this God as being the one who has the power over everything.
3) After reading a bit about God, we find that He has the ability to see into our hearts, with all the wisdom in understanding our intent. In other words, there's no fooling him, he knows what we are up to. So if someone thinks that we might pull one over him, we are sorely mistaken. There is no such thing as 'familliarity breeds contempt' with him. He kills that notion quickly. 'Taking advantage of God' meets with a chastening already. He's on it already before we even get out of bed.
So whatever that means to you, 'the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' phrase that you might be familliar with should take on more meaning, unless I've failed to communicate it with you just now.
2007-05-07 15:08:18 · answer #2 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always felt that the fear of God was something like this, When your a small child you do not want to do anything that would upset your parents etc. for "fear" of disappointing them. So I view the fear of God the same way. This man loves me so much he killed, or as many say he gave, his only son for me. That's a kind of love I can never comprehend. The Fear of God I believe is reverential fear. I could be wrong.
2007-05-07 14:58:41 · answer #3 · answered by abigail 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Believers are not to be “scared” of God. We have no reason to be scared of Him. We have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him, that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe.
2007-05-07 15:28:52 · answer #4 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Fear of God" or what amounts to the same thing "Fear of the Lord" is the translation of three distinct words. The King James version was written in a time when these distinctions were understood and conflated to a single word. English has changed.
You are correct that sometimes the phrase means what we now mean "fear" to be: terror, dread, object of dread. The word thus translated is used exactly this way in 2 Chronicles 20:29 "And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel."
But in other cases a different word is used (still translated as fear): respect, reverence, piety, revered. This is the meaning used in 2 Samuel 23:3 "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God"
A third and different word, still translated as fear: reverence as in for one's wife or husband. This is the meaning in 2 Corinthians 7:1 "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" and in Ephesians. 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
It is these last two meanings that most Christians have in mind when using the phrase you asked about.
HTH
Charles
2007-05-07 15:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by Charles 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of it in the same way a child fears his/her parents. When you're little and you do something bad parents will punish you (the good ones at least). Then before you do something like that again you hopefully think twice about it.
We are all God's children. If people concentrated on the "love of God" more than the "fear of God" then it might be a litter easier to grasp and the world might be a better place.
2007-05-07 14:57:18 · answer #6 · answered by Rick 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Preachers in "Christendom" who teach the fear of God frequently do so on the basis of the unscriptural teaching that God punishes sinners eternally in hellfire. Such a doctrine is contrary to what the Bible teaches about Jehovah as God of love and justice. Deuteronomy 32:4 "The Rock, perfect is his activity,
For all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness, with whom there is no injustice;
Righteous and upright is he". Other ministers take the opposite approach, they never mention the fear of God; instead they teach that "God is permissive" and accepts almost anyone regardless of the kind of life he lives. That too is not what the Bible teaches. Galatians 5:19 'Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, 20 idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, 21 envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning YOU, the same way as I did forewarn YOU, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom". By not practicing these things you show reverential respect and also the fear of displeasing Your creator Jehovah. It is similar to the fear shown to your human father but in a grander scale since you are dealing with the giver of life.
2007-05-07 15:24:54 · answer #7 · answered by Nando Rodriguez 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No need for the p.s. I could tell you were serious when you so nicely asked your question. I appreciate that.
"Fear of God" was a tough one for me growing up for the same reason it's hard for you now. It wasn't until I started teaching in a Catholic school that it was explained either as to be "in awe of God" as to want to praise and respect him or "to be afraid to 'hurt his feelings' much like those few times as a kid that you did something hurtful to your parents that they didn't yell or hit or punish you in the conventional way but, rather, told you quietly that you had disappointed them by your behavior because they expected better. You felt so bad that you wished they would yell and punish you. That's they one that makes the most sense to me.
Again, thank you for being so respectful. I wish I could tell you to contact me with other questions, but it doesn't work for some reason.
2007-05-07 15:01:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Consider this: Imagine you father gave everything to you: life, love, health, a home, food and good education...he always looked after you, for you to become a person of good. Now that you are all grown up, wouldn't you be grateful enough to him, that you never dream of doing anything that let him down, in fear of make him feel very dissapointed of you? That is the kind of fear we talk about. Certainly you know your father is not going to harm you, but regardless that, you want to have a good relationship with him.
2007-05-07 15:14:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That would be a problem for the fanatical Christians to explain off. The flawed man-made Bible is full of violence supposedly meted out as punishment by God. Very good point you made.
2007-05-07 15:02:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was in the same boat before I became a believer.
It's fear as in "reverence". respect for who He is, awe, submission to His holiness and perfectness. He is total love. Once I understood that, it was easy for me to understand the 'fear' of Him.
blessings :)
2007-05-07 15:00:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋