Paul was not the only one to write about the end of fear. John also wrote, There is no fear (φόβος) in love, but perfect love drives out fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος), because fear (φόβος) has to do with punishment (κόλασιν, a form of κόλασις). The one who fears (φοβούμενος, a form of φοβέω) punishment has not been perfected in love. This is as good to hear as Paul’s statement, For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος). But I wonder about the fear of the Lord since the concept continued into the New Testament.
Therefore, because we know the fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος) of the Lord, Paul wrote the Corinthians, we try to persuade people… And to slaves in Colossae he wrote, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching – like those who are strictly people-pleasers – but with a sincere heart, fearing (φοβούμενοι, a form of φοβέω) the Lord. I have begun to track fear through the Old Testament to attempt to understand this better.
The first occurrence was from the mouth of Adam after he ate the forbidden fruit, “I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid (yārē’, וָֽאִירָ֛א) because I was naked, so I hid,” he said to the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day. The rabbis who translated the Septuagint used the Greek word ἐφοβήθην for the Hebrew word, the passive form of φοβέω the root of φόβος. This form does not occur in the New Testament but is close to, For I was afraid (ἐφοβούμην, a form of φοβέω) of you, because you are a severe man. This is apparently the middle voice of φέβομαι.
Next God spoke what would become the most common divine greeting to those born of Adam, “Fear (yârêʼ, תִּירָ֣א) not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.” In the Septuagint the rabbis chose the Greek word φοβοῦ. The first usage of this form in the New Testament was in Mark’s account of the synagogue ruler Jairus. He fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.” But, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?” But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, “Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ, a form of φοβέω); just believe (πίστευε, a form of πιστεύω).”
And here by faith in the revelation of Scripture I can begin to analyze the beginning of fear from its end. Jesus offered faith to Jairus as an antidote, or a preoccupation, to his fear of the revealed facts. (Jesus apparently raised his daughter from death.) This is the faith Adam lacked. Though he had unimaginable experience of God’s generous provision, Adam’s faith was in his own efforts to keep God’s commandment. Once that commandment was broken he feared punishment. Whatever sonship he experienced was forfeit and he was given over to a spirit of slavery leading to fear.
Sarah didn’t believe the word of the Lord when it was said, I will surely return to you when the season comes round again, and your wife Sarah will have a son, but trusted in her long experience of barrenness. She laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?” The Lord confronted Abraham about her. Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid (yârêʼ, יָרֵ֑אָה). But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.” While Adam’s fear prompted him to hide from the all-seeing God, Sarah’s fear persuaded her to lie to the all-knowing God.
The Hebrew word translated afraid above was the Greek word ἐφοβήθη in the Septuagint. This form of φοβέω was first used in Matthew’s narrative of Joseph’s, Mary’s and Jesus’ return from Egypt. After Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt saying, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” So he got up and took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid (ἐφοβήθη, another form of φοβέω) to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee. Joseph’s fear of Archelaus was apparently warranted since God warned him in a dream.
I get an image of the nature of Lot’s faith in the Lord from the next occurrence of fear (Genesis 19:15-17).
At dawn the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get going! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be destroyed when the city is judged!” When Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the Lord had compassion on them. They led them away and placed them outside the city [Table]. When they had brought them outside, they said, “Run for your lives! Don’t look behind you or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains or you will be destroyed!” [Table]
Lot apparently sensed the anxiousness in the angels’ tone of voice, but misunderstood its significance. “No, please, Lord!” [Table] he said. Your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I am not able to escape to the mountains because this disaster will overtake me and I’ll die” [Table]. Lot assumed that the angels’ anxiety was provoked by Lot’s relative slowness. He reasoned that he should seek closer shelter. “Look, this town over here is close enough to escape to, and it’s just a little one. Let me go there. It’s just a little place, isn’t it? Then I’ll survive.”
“Very well,” he replied, “I will grant this request too and will not overthrow the town you mentioned.” Then the angel revealed that he was anxious to fulfill the will of the Lord. “Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Lot made it safely to Zoar, and Zoar was spared from destruction when the Lord rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. But, Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and settled in the mountains because he was afraid (yârêʼ, יָרֵ֖א) to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. This, too, was ἐφοβήθη in the Septuagint.
The second usage of this form in the New Testament was, Although Herod wanted to kill John [because John had repeatedly told him, “It is not lawful for you to have {Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife}.”], he feared (ἐφοβήθη) the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. In other words, Herod did not believe the Lord that he should not have taken his brother’s wife. He feared the wrath of his people if he killed one they considered a prophet. Similarly, Lot did not believe that he would make it safely to the mountains and asked for Zoar to be spared as a place of refuge. When that request was granted he did not believe that Zoar would continue to be spared from destruction and fled to the mountains.
There is a pattern of sorts here. Those born of Adam fear God, but not in a good way. It is not a fear that leads to faith in Him. It prompts them to hide or lie or flee from his protection. It is a fear of punishment. They are not perfected in love. And I take this to mean they are not led by the Spirit, they do not experience that continuous stream of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [Table] that flows from Him.
Addendum: November 5, 2024
Tables comparing Genesis 18:12; 18:15; 19:15; 19:20; 19:21; 19:22; 19:24 and 19:30 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Genesis 18:12; 18:15; 19:15; 19:20; 19:21; 19:22; 19:24 and 19:30 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Colossians 3:22; Mark 5:23; 5:36; Matthew 2:21, 22 and 14:3 in the KJV and NET follow.
Genesis 18:12 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 18:12 (KJV)
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Genesis 18:12 (NET)
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And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: ‘After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’ |
Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? |
So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, “After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?” |
Genesis 18:15 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 18:15 (KJV)
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Genesis 18:15 (NET)
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Then Sarah denied, saying: ‘I laughed not’; for she was afraid. And He said: ‘Nay; but thou didst laugh.’ |
Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh. |
Then Sarah lied, saying, “I did not laugh,” because she was afraid. But the Lord said, “No! You did laugh.” |
Genesis 18:15 (BLB Septuagint)
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Genesis 18:15 (Elpenor Septuagint)
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ἠρνήσατο δὲ Σαρρα λέγουσα οὐκ ἐγέλασα ἐφοβήθη γάρ καὶ εἶπεν οὐχί ἀλλὰ ἐγέλασας |
ἠρνήσατο δὲ Σάρρα λέγουσα· οὐκ ἐγέλασα· ἐφοβήθη γάρ. καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· οὐχί, ἀλλὰ ἐγέλασας |
Genesis 18:15 (NETS)
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Genesis 18:15 (Elpenor English)
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But Sarra denied, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And he said, “No, but you did laugh.” |
But Sarrha denied, saying, I did not laugh, for she was afraid. And he said to her, Nay, but thou didst laugh. |
Genesis 19:15 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 19:15 (KJV)
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Genesis 19:15 (NET)
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And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying: ‘Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here; lest thou be swept away in the iniquity of the city.’ |
And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. |
At dawn the angels hurried Lot along, saying, “Get going! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be destroyed when the city is judged!” |
Genesis 19:15 (BLB Septuagint)
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Genesis 19:15 (Elpenor Septuagint)
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ἡνίκα δὲ ὄρθρος ἐγίνετο ἐπεσπούδαζον οἱ ἄγγελοι τὸν Λωτ λέγοντες ἀναστὰς λαβὲ τὴν γυναῖκά σου καὶ τὰς δύο θυγατέρας σου ἃς ἔχεις καὶ ἔξελθε ἵνα μὴ συναπόλῃ ταῖς ἀνομίαις τῆς πόλεως |
ἡνίκα δὲ ὄρθρος ἐγίνετο, ἐσπούδαζον οἱ ἄγγελοι τὸν Λὼτ λέγοντες· ἀναστὰς λάβε τὴν γυναῖκά σου καὶ τὰς δύο θυγατέρας σου, ἃς ἔχεις, καὶ ἔξελθε, ἵνα μὴ καὶ σὺ συναπόλῃ ταῖς ἀνομίαις τῆς πόλεως |
Genesis 19:15 (NETS)
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Genesis 19:15 (Elpenor English)
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Now when dawn was breaking, the angels were urging Lot, saying, “Rise, take your wife and the two daughters whom you have, and get out, lest you also be destroyed together with the lawlessness of the city.” |
But when it was morning, the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise and take thy wife, and thy two daughters whom thou hast, and go forth; lest thou also be destroyed with the iniquities of the city. |
Genesis 19:20 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 19:20 (KJV)
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Genesis 19:20 (NET)
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Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one; oh, let me escape thither–is it not a little one? –and my soul shall live.’ |
Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. |
Look, this town over here is close enough to escape to, and it’s just a little one. Let me go there. It’s just a little place, isn’t it? Then I’ll survive.” |
Genesis 19:21 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 19:21 (KJV)
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Genesis 19:21 (NET)
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And he said unto him: ‘See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken. |
And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. |
“Very well,” he replied, “I will grant this request too and will not overthrow the town you mentioned. |
Genesis 19:21 (BLB Septuagint)
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Genesis 19:21 (Elpenor Septuagint)
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καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ἰδοὺ ἐθαύμασά σου τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ῥήματι τούτῳ τοῦ μὴ καταστρέψαι τὴν πόλιν περὶ ἧς ἐλάλησας |
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· ἰδοὺ ἐθαύμασά σου τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ρήματι τούτῳ τοῦ μὴ καταστρέψαι τὴν πόλιν, περὶ ἧς ἐλάλησας |
Genesis 19:21 (NETS)
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Genesis 19:21 (Elpenor English)
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And he said to him, “Look, I have indulged your person also in reference to this matter, not to overthrow the city concerning which you have spoken. |
And he said to him, Behold, I have had respect to thee also about this thing, that I should not overthrow the city about which thou hast spoken. |
Genesis 19:22 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 19:22 (KJV)
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Genesis 19:22 (NET)
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Hasten thou, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.’ –Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.– |
Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. |
Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” (This incident explains why the town was called Zoar.) |
Genesis 19:24 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 19:24 (KJV)
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Genesis 19:24 (NET)
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Then HaShem caused to rain upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from HaShem out of heaven; |
Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; |
Then the Lord rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was sent down from the sky by the Lord. |
Genesis 19:30 (Tanakh)
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Genesis 19:30 (KJV)
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Genesis 19:30 (NET)
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And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. |
And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. |
Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and settled in the mountains because he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. |
Genesis 19:30 (BLB Septuagint)
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Genesis 19:30 (Elpenor Septuagint)
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ἀνέβη δὲ Λωτ ἐκ Σηγωρ καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ ὄρει καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἐφοβήθη γὰρ κατοικῆσαι ἐν Σηγωρ καὶ ᾤκησεν ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ αὐτὸς καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ |
᾿Ανέβη δὲ Λὼτ ἐκ Σηγὼρ καὶ ἐκάθητο ἐν τῷ ὄρει αὐτὸς καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ· ἐφοβήθη γὰρ κατοικῆσαι ἐν Σηγώρ. καὶ κατῴκησεν ἐν τῷ σπηλαίῳ, αὐτὸς καὶ αἱ δύο θυγατέρες αὐτοῦ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ |
Genesis 19:30 (NETS)
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Genesis 19:30 (Elpenor English)
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Now Lot went up out of Segor and settled in the mountain, and his two daughters with him, for he was afraid to dwell in Segor. And he lived in the cave, he and his two daughters with him. |
And Lot went up out of Segor, and dwelt in the mountain, he and his two daughters with him, for he feared to dwell in Segor; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters with him. |
Colossians 3:22 (NET)
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Colossians 3:22 (KJV)
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Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching—like those who are strictly people-pleasers—but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord. |
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: |
Mark 5:23 (NET)
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Mark 5:23 (KJV)
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He asked him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.” |
And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. |
Mark 5:36 (NET)
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Mark 5:36 (KJV)
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But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” |
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. |
Matthew 2:21, 22 (NET)
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Matthew 2:21, 22 (KJV)
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So he got up and took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel. |
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. |
But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee. |
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: |
Matthew 2:22 (NET Parallel Greek)
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Matthew 2:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)
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Matthew 2:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)
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Ἀκούσας δὲ ὅτι Ἀρχέλαος βασιλεύει τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἀντὶ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ Ἡρῴδου ἐφοβήθη ἐκεῖ ἀπελθεῖν· χρηματισθεὶς δὲ κατ᾿ ὄναρ ἀνεχώρησεν εἰς τὰ μέρη τῆς Γαλιλαίας |
ακουσας δε οτι αρχελαος βασιλευει επι της ιουδαιας αντι ηρωδου του πατρος αυτου εφοβηθη εκει απελθειν χρηματισθεις δε κατ οναρ ανεχωρησεν εις τα μερη της γαλιλαιας |
ακουσας δε οτι αρχελαος βασιλευει επι της ιουδαιας αντι ηρωδου του πατρος αυτου εφοβηθη εκει απελθειν χρηματισθεις δε κατ οναρ ανεχωρησεν εις τα μερη της γαλιλαιας |
Matthew 14:3 (NET)
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Matthew 14:3 (KJV)
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For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, |
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. |