Reverence Or Fear?

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Category: Holiness

Published on Saturday, 04 April 2009 05:23

Written by Ryan Hicks

REVERENCE OR FEAR?

By Ryan Hicks

Acts 9:31
31   Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

2 Corinthians 7:1
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.

Ephesians 5:20-21
20   Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21   Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Philippians 2:12-13
12   Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13   For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

1 Timothy 5:20
20   Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear.

1 Peter 1:14-17
14   As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15   But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16   Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17   And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Each of the times the Greek word phobos is used in these verses it is translated correctly "fear." Phobos means "fear, dread, terror, fright, afraid." It is from phobos that we get the English word phobia meaning "a strong fear." To say that fear in these verses really means "reverence" is erroneous. Look at the verses below in which the Greek word phobos is translated fear.

Matthew 14:25-26
25   And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26   And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Luke 21:25-26
25   And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26   Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

John 7:13
13   Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.

John 19:38
38   And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

John 20:19
19   Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Romans 8:15
15   For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Hebrews 2:14-15
14   Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15   And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

1 John 4:18
18 nbsp; There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Would any of these verses make sense if phobos really meant reverence? Of course not! Let us do away with the devilish idea that we don't have to fear God!

Psalm 2:11
11   Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Psalm 119:37-38
37   Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
38   Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

Proverbs 1:29
29   For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Proverbs 2:3-5
3   Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4   If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
5   Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

In the above verses the Hebrew word yirah is translated "fear." Yirah means "fear." Yet, many religionists teach that it means "reverence." If yirah did mean "reverence" then how would the following Scriptures where yirah is translated "fear" make any sense?

Deuteronomy 2:25
25   This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

Psalm 90:11
11   Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

Isaiah 7:24-25
24   With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
25   And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.

Ezekiel 30:13
13   Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.

The plain fact is that yirah means "fear." Men only believe otherwise because they are wicked and their heart is hardened from the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 63:17).

Psalm 33:8
8   Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Psalm 34:9
9   O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Proverbs 3:7
7   Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Ecclesiastes 3:14
14   I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

Ecclesiastes 5:7
7   For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
13   Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The Hebrew word yare is translated "fear" in the above verses. It also does not mean reverence as some suggest, rather it means "to fear, fright, dread, to be afraid." Notice how it is used when translated "fear" in the following verses.

Genesis 15:1
1   After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Genesis 46:3
3   And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make thee a great nation:

Psalm 23:4
4   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

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