Exploring the Biblical Concept of Fear and Anxiety in Men
The Biblical Concept of Fear and Anxiety
The biblical concept of fear and anxiety is complex and multifaceted, encompassing both positive and negative aspects. In the biblical context, fear can refer to a reverential awe or respect for God, as well as a debilitating anxiety or dread that can grip individuals [2].
The fear of the Lord is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, described as a characteristic of true piety (Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:9) [2]. This fear is not a slavish dread, but rather a filial reverence that is conjoined with love and hope. In the New Testament, a holy fear is also enjoined as a preventive of carelessness in religion and as an incentive to penitence (Matthew 10:28; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Philippians 2:12; Ephesians 5:21; Hebrews 12:28, 29) [2].
In contrast, unholy fear is described as a characteristic of the wicked (Revelation 21:8) [1]. The Bible notes that a guilty conscience can lead to fear (Genesis 3:8, 10; Psalms 53:5; Proverbs 28:1), and that the wicked are often seized by fear (Job 15:24; 18:11). The fear of man is also identified as a snare that can bring individuals into bondage (Proverbs 29:25) [4, 7].
The biblical text also explores the relationship between fear and anxiety. According to John Gill, "heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop" (Proverbs 12:25) [6]. Anxiety and fear can be overwhelming, causing individuals to become disquieted and troubled. The Bible notes that fear can be a response to the expectation of future punishment (Hebrews 10:27) or the anticipation of calamities and distresses (Luke 21:26) [3].
The author of Hebrews writes that fear of death can be a source of bondage for individuals, enslaving them throughout their lives (Hebrews 2:15) [8]. However, the biblical text also suggests that this fear can be alleviated through faith in Christ, who delivers believers from the curse of God against their sin and takes away the sting of death.
The biblical concept of fear and anxiety is not limited to individual experiences, but also has communal and societal implications. The fear of the Lord is often associated with wisdom and righteousness, while the fear of man can lead to cowardice and compromise (Proverbs 29:25) [4].
In the biblical narrative, fear is not always portrayed as a negative emotion. In some contexts, fear is a natural response to the presence or power of God (Job 4:13; Exodus 15:16) [5]. The Bible encourages believers to fear not man, but God, and to trust in His power and providence rather than being controlled by human fears.
The biblical concept of fear and anxiety remains a complex and multifaceted theme, reflecting both the positive and negative aspects of human experience. As the biblical text notes, a healthy fear of the Lord can be a source of wisdom and righteousness, while an excessive fear of man or circumstances can lead to bondage and distress.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Unholy — A characteristic of the wicked -- Re 21:8. Is described as A fear of idols. -- 2Ki 17:38. A fear of man. -- 1Sa 15:24; Joh 9:22. A fear of judgments. -- Isa 2:19; Lu 21:26; Re 6:16,17. A fear of future punishment. -- Heb 10:27. Overwhelming. -- Ex 15:16; Job 15:21,24. Consuming. -- Ps 73:19. A guilty conscience leads to -- Ge 3:8,10; Ps 53:5; Pr 28:1. Seizes the wicked -- Job 15:24; 18:11. Surprises the hypocrite -- Isa 33:14,18. The wicked judicially filled with -- Le 26:16,17; De 28:65-67; Jer 49:5. Shall be realised -- Pr 1:27; 10:24. God mocks -- P”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fear of the Lord the — Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Gen. 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared. A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28, 29).”
- Luke “Luke 21:26 (NASB) — men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 29:25: Here, 1. We are cautioned not to dread the power of man, neither the power of a prince nor the power of the multitude; both are formidable enough, but the slavish fear of either brings a snare, that is, exposes men to many insults (some take a pride in terrifying the timorous), or rather exposes men to many temptations. Abraham, for fear of man, denied his wife, and Peter his Master, and many a one his God and religion. We must not shrink from duty, nor commit sin, to avoid the wrath of man, nor, though we see it coming upon us, be disquieted with fear, Dan 3:1”
- Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 4:13: Fear came upon me, and trembling,.... Not only a dread of mind, but trembling of body; which was often the case even with good men, whenever there was any unusual appearance of God unto them by a voice, or by any representation, or by an angel; as with Abraham in the vision of the pieces, and with Moses on Mount Sinai, and with Daniel in some of his visions, and with Zechariah, when an angel appeared and brought him the tidings of a son to be born to him; which arises from the frailty and weakness of human nature, a consciousness of guilt, a sense of the awful majesty of”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 12:25: Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop,.... Either an anxious care and solicitude about living in the world, as the word (m) signifies; when it seizes a man's spirits, it depresses them, and keeps them down: or a fear and dread of adversity, or sorrow and grief, on account of some calamity and distress; when it gets into a man's heart, it sinks and bows it down, that it cannot take any pleasure or comfort in anything. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, a "terrible word troubles the heart of a just man"; or "troubles the heart of man", as the Syria”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man bringeth a snare,.... Either that which is subjectively in man; not a divine fear, or the fear of God, that grace which is put into the heart, for that leads to no snare, but tends to life; but a human fear, a servile one, a distrust of the power and providence, grace and goodness, of God, which has torment in it; which brings into bondage, and into many distresses and difficulties, and is opposed to trust in the Lord: or objectively, which has man for its object; a fear of losing the favour and friendship of men, of not having honour and applause f”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 2:15: fear of death--even before they had experienced its actual power. all their lifetime--Such a life can hardly be called life. subject to bondage--literally, "subjects of bondage"; not merely liable to it, but enthralled in it (compare Rom 8:15; Gal 5:1). Contrast with this bondage, the glory of the "sons" (Heb 2:10). "Bondage" is defined by Aristotle, "The living not as one chooses"; "liberty," "the living as one chooses." Christ by delivering us from the curse of God against our sin, has taken from death all that made it formidable. Death, viewed ”