Is Fear Sin? What The Bible Really Says.

Is Fear Sin? What The Bible Really Says.

The Fear of the Lord: Wisdom’s Forgotten Key

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” — Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)

Introduction: Fear Has Left the Church Building

We live in a culture that’s allergic to fear. Not just afraid of fear—afraid of admitting fear. It’s been replaced with empowerment slogans, self-help theology, and a “God is my buddy” mindset that avoids the raw, trembling holiness of Scripture like the plague. Fear has been branded as sin, weakness, as toxic, even as anti-Christian. But biblically? Fear is the beginning of everything.

Not just awe. Not just reverence. Not just respect.

Fear.

And until we recover that truth, we’ll keep producing Christians who are enthusiastic, emotional, even loud—but tragically, unwise.

The Foundation of Wisdom Is Fear

According to the book of Proverbs—Scripture’s manual for godly wisdom—fear isn’t optional; it’s essential. It’s not the final step of enlightenment—it’s the first. Proverbs 1:7 lays the groundwork:

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” — Proverbs 1:7 (NLT)

You can’t even begin to be wise without fear. You can’t graduate to love, grace, or service without enrolling in Fear 101. And this theme isn’t isolated to a single verse. Over 20 passages in Proverbs call believers to fear the Lord—actively, urgently, and continually.

Not Just “Fear of the Lord” — Fear, Period

Contrary to popular teaching, biblical fear isn’t just about fearing God. The book of Proverbs shows that fear—rightly applied—is part of wise living:

• “The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.” — Proverbs 14:16 (NLT)

• “My child, fear the Lord and the king. Don’t associate with rebels.” — Proverbs 24:21 (NLT)

• “Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.” — Proverbs 28:14 (NLT)

In other words, fearing God leads to fearing sin. Fearing authority. Fearing consequences. Not with paranoia—but with the clarity that wisdom requires.

The “365 Fear Nots” Claim: Repetition Doesn’t Make It True

You’ve probably heard the claim from pulpits and social media posts: “Did you know the Bible says ‘Fear not’ 365 times? One for every day of the year!” It’s catchy. It’s comforting.

It’s also completely false.

A thorough analysis of Scripture in both Hebrew and Greek shows that this number is wildly inflated. Using Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word most often translated as “fear” is יָרֵא (yare’), and the Greek equivalent is φοβέομαι (phobeomai)—from which we get the word phobia. Together, these root forms of "fear" (not counting derivatives like “afraid” or “terrified”) appear over 500 times in Scripture.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the overwhelming majority of these uses are not in the form of a comforting command to “fear not.” They are, instead, imperatives telling us whom we should fear—namely, the LORD. In fact, the fear of the Lord is repeatedly presented as the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13), and a mark of true reverence and obedience.

Even when you broaden the search to include variations like “do not be afraid,” “don’t fear,” or “be not afraid,” the combined total still falls far short of 365. Detailed searches typically yield around 100 distinct instances, depending on the translation. And not all of those are personal promises to believers—some are directed at specific individuals like Abraham or Joshua in specific circumstances.

What’s more, the contexts of these commands matter. “Fear not” doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it’s often surrounded by reasons to fear God instead of man, to trust God’s deliverance in battle, or to stand firm in persecution. It’s not a shallow pep talk. It’s a theologically rich command grounded in the character of God and the reality of danger.

So why do people keep repeating the 365 myth? Because it sounds nice. It fills a devotional calendar. It gives the illusion that Scripture is tailored for our emotional symmetry. But feel-good fabrication is still fabrication.

The truth is better: God doesn't promise us a fear-free life—He teaches us to fear rightly. And that begins not with denial, but with awe, obedience, and worshipful trembling before a holy God.

Word Study: What Fear Actually Means

To understand fear biblically, we have to go to the original languages. And guess what? It means what it says.

1. φόβος (phobos) – Strong’s G5401

• SBL Greek: φόβος

• Transliteration: phobos

• Definition: fear, terror, dread; in some contexts, awe or reverence—but always a response to real power.

2. τρόμος (tromos) – Strong’s G5156

• SBL Greek: τρόμος

• Transliteration: tromos

• Definition: trembling, quaking with fear; an extreme reaction of terror or anxiety in the face of danger or holiness.

Let’s look at a direct example:

“Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” — Philippians 2:12 (NLT)

The Greek?

μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου — “with fear (phobou) and trembling (tromou)” — Philippians 2:12 (SBL)

This isn’t metaphorical reverence. This is literal trembling.

You Can’t Pick and Choose: The Logical Trap

Here’s where the logic crushes the “awe only” crowd.

When people read, “Fear not,” they rightly assume it means actual fear. It’s clear from the context—someone is afraid and is being told not to be. But the word used there is φοβέομαι (phobeomai) — the same word used in verses commanding us to “fear the Lord.”

You can’t say it means real fear when we’re told not to do it……but then say it means just reverence when we’re commanded to do it.

Same word. Same grammar. Same Greek root.

If it’s real fear when the angel says, “Don’t be afraid,”…it’s real fear when Scripture says, “Fear the Lord.”

What About 1 John 4:18?

Let’s tackle the favorite rebuttal:

“Perfect love casts out fear…” — 1 John 4:18 (NLT)

Yes, it does—fear of judgment.

Let’s read it in context:

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” — 1 John 4:18 (NLT)

This isn’t a blanket ban on fear. It’s addressing fear of damnation.The believer’s fear doesn’t vanish—it matures. It shifts from terror of judgment to trembling awe of God’s holiness.

Jesus and the Reality of Fear

The claim that Jesus never experienced fear is refuted not only by Scripture, but by medical, linguistic, and theological evidence. In fact, the Gospels record a moment so intense, so emotionally and physically overwhelming, that Jesus sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44). This is a rare, documented medical condition known as hematidrosis, where extreme anguish causes capillaries in the sweat glands to burst.

The Garden of Gethsemane: A Picture of Terror

In Mark 14:33-34, the Greek is deeply telling:

“He began to be deeply distressed and troubled.”

Then he said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”

• “Deeply distressed” is from the Greek ἐκθαμβέω (ekthambeō, Strong’s G1568), meaning to be greatly alarmed, shocked, or horrified.

• “Troubled” is ἀδημονέω (adēmoneō, Strong’s G85), used for severe mental or emotional anguish.

The HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) translates Mark 14:33 as:

“He began to be deeply distressed and horrified.”

That’s not poetic sadness—it’s paralyzing fear.

Hematidrosis: The Body Reacts to Fear

In Luke 22:44, it says:

“He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.”

This isn’t metaphorical. It’s a documented stress-induced response under extreme terror, recorded in rare but real clinical cases. Jesus faced not just physical death but the full wrath of God for the sins of humanity. The fear was real, physiological, and overwhelming.

Hebrews 5:7 – A Sanitized Translation?

Hebrews 5:7 makes the point directly:

“He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent fear.” (CSB)

The Greek word is εὐλάβεια (eulabeia, Strong’s G2124), which plainly means godly fear, reverence, or awe. Many older or more literal translations softened this to “reverent submission,” which is both theologically and linguistically inaccurate. Jesus was heard because of His fear, not in spite of it.

Modern versions such as CSB, LEB, and others have begun to restore the rightful translation. But for years, translators—particularly under post-Enlightenment Western rationalism and a desire to present a stoic, impassive Jesus—downplayed fear. Cultural discomfort with divine vulnerability shaped those translation choices.

Paul and the Apostles Were Not Immune

Fear and anxiety are not sins in themselves. Even Paul admits in 2 Corinthians 11:28 to his “daily pressure” and “anxiety for all the churches.” In Philippians 2:28, he says he was “more eager to send him [Epaphroditus], so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may have less anxiety.” The word there is ἀλυπότερος (alypoteros)—less grieved or distressed.

Paul openly admitted to seasons of fear and inner turmoil. In 2 Corinthians 7:5 (NASB) he writes, “For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts on the outside, fears inside.” This confession strips away any illusion that fear is foreign to strong believers. Even the apostle Paul knew what it was to wrestle with anxiety. Yet, he also shows how God redeems it. Fear, then, is not always the enemy—it can be part of the rhythm of honest Christian life, as long as it leads us back to God’s presence and His strengthening grace.

If Jesus could tremble, agonize, and weep in fear, then fear itself is not failure—it’s the setup for obedience. He feared—and He still drank the cup.

What Does the Fear of the Lord Produce?

1. Honesty

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.” — Proverbs 12:22 (NLT)“Great fear gripped the entire church… after Ananias and Sapphira fell dead.” — Acts 5:11 (NLT)

Fear purged hypocrisy and lying from the early church. It made truth non-negotiable.

2. Humility

“Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.” — Proverbs 15:33 (NLT)“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6 (NLT)

Pride can’t survive in the presence of fear. Humility grows in the shadow of God’s greatness.

3. Wisdom

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” — Proverbs 9:10 (NLT)“Let us tremble with fear that some might fail to experience it.” — Hebrews 4:1 (NLT)

Fear drives us to obedience. It wakes us up. It keeps us alert.

4. Worship

“Let us worship God with holy fear and awe.” — Hebrews 12:28 (NLT)“Fear God… Worship him who made heaven and earth.” — Revelation 14:7 (NLT)

You don’t approach a consuming fire casually. Worship without fear is empty noise.

5. Love

“Fear the Lord your God… and love him with all your heart and soul.” — Deuteronomy 10:12 (NLT)“Submit to one another out of reverence [fear] for Christ.” — Ephesians 5:21 (NLT)

Fear doesn’t compete with love—it gives love its backbone.

Conclusion: Fear Isn’t the Enemy—It’s the Beginning

We’ve replaced fear with comfort. Reverence with relatability. Wisdom with warmth. And in doing so, we’ve raised a generation that can quote affirmations but can’t stand when the winds blow.

Fear of the Lord is the key to everything else:

It kills pride, fuels worship, preserves holiness, and births wisdom.

“Fear the LORD, follow His Word, cling to the cross — and you will never be moved.”

Final Encouragement

You’re not being told to fear God instead of loving Him.

You’re being told to fear Him because you love Him—and because He’s holy, righteous, and alive.

Let the world mock. Let the lukewarm scoff.

But as for this house:

We fear the Lord, we walk in wisdom, and we worship Jesus.

That’s the narrow road. That’s the wise man’s crown.

And that Rock is Christ.