Fear

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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 ESV

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 ESV

And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Fear of the future

Jeremiah 51:46 ESV

Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is 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 ESV

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

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 ESV

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

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 ESV

for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.