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Fear of God is fear of God.

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Updated: Jun 29, 2022

Many Bible teachers claim fear of God is really something else (respect, honor, reverence, for example). But not fear. Perhaps they are correct in some cases—I do not know—but certainly not in all.


Consider Ananias and Sapphira, the couple that died because they lied to God (Acts 5:1-11). Because of their deaths, people feared God. Three of the most popular Bible versions use the word “fear“ (or similar), not some other word. Why would they use “fear” if God did not mean fear?


Acts 5:5, 11 KJV

[5] And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

[11] And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Acts 5:5, 11 NIV

[5] When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

[11] Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Acts 5:5, 11 NLT

[5] As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified.

[11] Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.


Fear is the correct response to danger. It protects people from danger. If you are in a dangerous situation, fear is what gets you out of that situation. And fear keeps you from getting near danger. Fear is good when it accomplishes its purpose, to keep people from danger.


God is dangerous. In fact, there is no one, nothing more dangerous than God. God killed many people, as revealed in the Bible.



 
 
 

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