Fear (2)

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An attitude of anxiety or distress, caused by concern over a threat to one’s future. Scripture provides numerous examples of situations in which fear is experienced. It declares, however, that God alone is to be feared, and moments of human fear can be opportunities for deepening faith in him.

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Reverent fear of God commended

Proverbs 1:7 NASB95

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

See also Dt 6:13; Dt 31:12–13; Jos 4:24; Jos 24:14; 1 Sa 12:24; Ps 2:11; Ps 34:7–9; Pr 15:33; Ec 12:13; Is 33:6; Re 14:7

Fear of natural phenomena

Ps 91:5; Jon 1:4–5

See also Ge 19:30; Job 5:22; Ec 12:5; Is 7:25; Mt 8:26; Re 11:13

Fear as an opportunity for faith

Dt 1:21; Ps 23:4; Pr 3:25–26; Mt 10:29–31

See also Ex 14:13; Dt 1:29; Dt 7:18–21; Dt 31:6; Jos 11:6; Ne 4:14; Ps 3:6; Ps 34:4; Ps 49:5; Ps 56:3; Is 10:24; Is 35:3–4; Is 41:14; Is 43:5; Is 44:8; Is 51:12; Je 1:8; Je 1:17; Je 30:10; Je 42:11; Je 46:27; Eze 2:6; Eze 3:9; Da 10:19; Mt 8:26; Mk 6:49–51; Jn 14:27

Fear of the unnatural

Fear of thoughts and visions

Da 4:5; Ac 10:4

See also 1 Sa 3:15; Job 4:13–15; Is 21:4; Da 8:17; Da 10:11–12; Mt 1:20; Mt 28:4; Lk 1:12–13; Lk 1:29–30; Lk 2:9–10

Fear of the unknown or the abnormal

Mt 14:26–27; Ac 5:5

See also Ex 20:18; Ex 34:30 The radiance of Moses’ face reflected God’s glory and made the Israelites afraid; Dt 5:5; 1 Sa 4:7; Ne 6:16; Je 10:2; Da 5:9 Belshazzar’s fear at the writing on the wall; Jon 1:10; Mt 17:6 the fear of the disciples at the transfiguration; Mt 27:54; Mk 5:33; Mk 9:32; Mk 16:8; Lk 5:10; Lk 8:37 Fear seized the people when the Gerasene demoniac was healed; Lk 9:34; Jn 19:8; Ac 19:17

Fear of embarrassment or shame

Genesis 3:10 NASB95

He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

Fear of the future

Jeremiah 51:46 NASB95

“Now so that your heart does not grow faint, And you are not afraid at the report that will be heard in the land— For the report will come one year, And after that another report in another year, And violence will be in the land With ruler against ruler—

See also Is 41:23; Mk 10:32; Lk 12:32; Ac 27:24

Fear of persecution

Ezr 4:4; Jn 12:42–43

See also 1 Ki 19:3; Jn 7:13; Jn 9:22; Jn 20:19; 1 Pe 3:14; Re 2:10

Fear of death

Hebrews 2:14–15 NASB95

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Fear of people

Of enemies

Ex 14:10; 1 Sa 7:7

See also Nu 22:3; Jdg 7:3; 1 Sa 17:24; 1 Sa 17:11; 2 Sa 10:19; 2 Ch 12:5; Ps 27:1–3; Ps 56:1–4; Is 20:5; Is 41:5; Je 22:25; Je 41:18; Ob 9

Of one’s own family

Ge 32:11; Ge 45:3; Jdg 9:21

See also Ge 31:31; Ge 32:7; Ge 42:4; Ge 50:19; Jdg 6:27

Of particular people

1 Sa 15:24; 1 Co 2:3

See also Ge 26:7; Ex 2:14; Dt 2:4; 1 Sa 18:15 Saul’s fear of David; 2 Sa 3:11; Ne 2:2 Nehemiah’s fear before the king; Es 7:6; Je 26:21; Je 38:19; Mt 2:22; Mk 12:12; Lk 19:21; Ac 9:26 the disciples fear of Paul, not believing his conversion; 1 Co 16:10; 2 Co 7:15; Ga 2:12

Of human beings in general

Proverbs 29:25 NASB95

The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

Fear of judgment

Eze 11:8; Ac 24:25

See also 1 Sa 28:20; 1 Ch 21:30; Is 33:14; Je 17:18; Je 30:5; Je 42:15–16; Eze 12:18; Eze 27:35; Zec 9:5; 1 Jn 4:18 Christians, assured of God’s love, no longer fear judgment; Re 18:10; Re 18:15

Fear as a deterrent

Romans 13:4 NASB95

for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.