"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
How do Christians interpret this passage? I thought they said the relationship with God should be based on love, not fear.
2007-06-19 03:06:35 · 14 answers · asked by Graciela, RIRS 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The devil wouldn't create hell unless he wanted to be tortured. The verse refers to God.
2007-06-19 03:42:54 · update #1
That word "fear" comes from a 400 year old English translation. A better word in modern English would be "respect".
Pastor Art
2007-06-19 03:10:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
This verse speaks in the context of God's authority and power.. there are other verses all over the bible that speak of God's love..
Its crucial to stay within context.. don't be applying the matter of love where power and authority is the crux.. and vice versa...
This verse simply states that we should fear God... it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God... God is not to be mocked or considered a fool... He is GOD and there is nothing that you or i in our logic or preferences or opinions that can alter that.
Our God surely restrains Himself...He is all powerful yet He limits Himself even IN us so much.. He will work along with us for our growth in the Christian life.. He does not force us but speaks in us to read the word..to pray... to fellowship with other believers.. to give of ourselves to Him..but not in a bullying way.. but in a patient way...
He is all powerful . yet He does not zap us each time we sin or fall short...
But when it comes to the end... He has certain decisions to make that Only He can do and He is accountable for...
FOR US.. we simply need to leave that matter to him ... He is the one seeing and searching the souls of men and woman throughout the earth.. He knows the real condition and circumstances for their rejection or acceptance of Him and His free salvation he offers..
THis warning has its root in what we choose.. We can reject or accept What he has given us to escape such an end.. Or argue and fight with Him and still wind up facing Him and our fate for eternity in hell too.
2007-06-19 03:26:15 · answer #2 · answered by Broken Alabaster Flask 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is a Loving Father....do you discipline a child who is trying to touch a hot stove? If you have Fear on one side of the straight and narrow and Grace on the other, it will keep you from going too far either way.....It's not a fear God is going to kill us but a Holy Reverent Fear for the One who has the ability but will discipline us to keep us from harming ourselves (or others).
2007-06-19 03:18:08 · answer #3 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man can kill you. Your soul will still live.
God can destroy both, because He created you.
Fear not man, but God Himelf.
Just as God loves us, He hates it when we lie, murder etc.
It is the opposite of love and peace. So He hates aswell.
God loves the sinner, but hates the sin.
Sometimes people conciously sin and cause trouble out of there own and not because they "slipped". Etc. God hates it when one plans to sin. etc.
In order to be obedient to God, you should fear Him as He is God, the authority over all creation. Respect.
This world has been given to us, we can do with it as we please. Choice.
Because we have been given it we can choose freely and take what we wish, But.... everything must have consecences. Its Gods way of seperating, the the chaff from the wheat/grain.
Bless You!
*H*
2007-06-19 03:15:44 · answer #4 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What kind of fear is it? It is fear of displeasing Him. Like your parents. You have a healthy fear of disappointing them.
Rather, look at the next few verses. It shows he knows about the smallest of creatures and cares for them. Even the hairs on our heads are accounted for. "Have no fear, for you are worth more than sparrows."
That is a loving father figure.
2007-06-19 03:16:50 · answer #5 · answered by grnlow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not be afraid of man but rather Satan.
It is he who can destroy your soul by drawing you from God resulting in an eternity in the lake of fire.
2007-06-19 03:11:14 · answer #6 · answered by NickofTyme 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No father will want his children to fear him. In this verse the word 'fear' should be translated as 'revere'. Jesus was saying not to revere man but to revere God.
2007-06-19 03:34:15 · answer #7 · answered by seekfind 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello and in some versons that word is correctly put as "respect" no father in his right mind wants to have his children afraid of Him but to respect what He says, there are many other things you can learn also free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org email me not messenger also wgr88@yahoo.com God bless
2007-06-19 03:17:05 · answer #8 · answered by wgr88 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let me see how I should attack this question. I could use circular reasoning and baffle you with bullshit, I could quote from other passages that would contradict what you just wrote, I could tell you that you misinterpreted it, I could pick on your avatar, I could tell you to read further on in the chapter, I could ask you to look at another translation, I could tell you that you are going to hell for questioning God's word. These are just a few of the excuses I will use as a Christian to prove you wrong anymore questions?
2007-06-19 03:15:07 · answer #9 · answered by NIHIL VERUM NISI MORS 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
God is God. The verse means what it says.
2007-06-19 03:14:17 · answer #10 · answered by Red neck 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋