sayinglegō to themautos, “whytis
existingeimi fearfuldeilos? Havingechō not stilloupō
faith?pistis”*
Now, a mega storm came up and the waves tossed about the boat so that the boat was now already filling, but Jesus was in the hinder part of the vessel sleeping.*
Now, to get the correct picture of what is happening, it was a mega storm, no ordinary storm but of hurricane force winds. Being driven by the winds we can picture in our mind what Jesus was talking about being fear driven, they are tossed about and driven by fear so the time they wake Jesus the boat is already filling with water. We get a picture of what it means to be fear driven and the opposite of fear, faith which gives peace within the storm, so much so, Jesus was sleeping during this mega storm. We are not called to be fearful, timid, and cowardly but to live by faith, which is often expressed as taking a leap of faith, this is what Peter did when he stepped out on the water with Jesus.
Therefore laying hold of a kingdom unshakable, possessing grace through which serving God acceptably, that together with disposition and a state of.*
This verse is often translated "with reverence and fear" but fear is the Greek word phobos from which we get the English word phobia, meaning a state of fear over something like spiders, arachnophobia. This word for state of, deos is believed to be the root word for deilós which we saw earlier to mean to be in state or condition of fear or fear driven. Deos, I believe refers to just the condition or state of, not necessarily being fearful, it can have a positive meaning and in this verse it means to be in a state and disposition; serving God acceptably. This idea fits with the word for disposition, which too is often translated as fear or reverence, but like a state or condition it refers to the "disposition of one who is" serving God acceptably. A disposition refers to a person's inherent qualities of mind and character thus it is often translated as to walk circumspectly, soberly, in a sound mind. Certainly in this verse we see that possessing grace is to serve God acceptably as is laying hold of faith.
In the days of his flesh, whom offered up prayers and supplications with strong outcry and tears to the one powerful to save him from death, and his petition was heard because of his disposition.*
The word for disposition, eulábeia has -ia denoting a state or condition of eulabḗs, which is derived from eú, "well, good," and lambánō, "aggressively lay hold of." To serve God acceptably is to be in a state of, and a disposition, "laying hold of a kingdom unshakable, possessing grace through which serving God acceptably, that together with disposition and state of."* And the word possessing means to hold, to seize, to have, possess. Those of faith add to their faith, excellence which also means moral virtue. The very nature of faith is that we must receive the word of God, which is a taking hold, we must take hold of it, possess it and as the parables of talents suggest, when we do invest it, it bears fruit. Several parables teach us we must be persistent in obtaining it, we must "contend" with man and God to be blessed. Seek, ask, and knock.
Now then be diligent to look towards this, be in a manner walking circumspectly, not as unwise but as wise.*
The word for walking circumspectly means to walk (around, circumspectly); to live, conduct one's life. We are not to walk around fearful. Like fear circumspect can have a negative side, so being cautious, prudent, and sober can be negative, in which one justifies their state as godliness, but these take no risks, take no leap of faith and are fear driven. Jesus noticed this condition in the people, so he asked why they walked around fearful, and still had no faith. We are to walk around as Jesus walked, "the one saying he abides in God, ought to walk around as Jesus walked also.* Jesus did not walk circumspectly with a disposition of being fearful, Jesus walked around in the Spirit, truth, agape love, and circumspectly, and so we are to walk.*
Exists no fear in agape love, but that perfect agape love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment, so the one fearing has not been perfected in agape love.*
False reverence and obedience and authority would produce a state of fearfulness. Why? to control and manipulate people even producing a false state of reverence. True reverence exists as a state or disposition, as one who possesses, has been perfected in character, who walks around as Jesus walked. Jesus walked around in agape love and we see that in the new covenant God is perfecting his children not in fear, but in agape love. As Jesus said, to exist in a state of fearfulness is to not possess faith and Paul writes to be fearful is not to be perfected or mature. Paul prays that ours eyes would be enlightened to understand the love of God, the infinite love without bounds. To grow is to become like Jesus and growth is in the knowledge of Jesus thus the end goal, perfection, and was finished on the cross, thus it began with love and is finished in agape love.
The disciples seeing him on the sea walking, were troubled saying it is a ghost and in fear they cried out. Now Jesus spoke to them saying be of good courage, I exist not fearful.*
The verse is usually translated as "be not fearful" but our solution to being courageous is increasing in faith and to increase in faith is to keep our eyes on Jesus. We have to possess, take hold of faith, to walk on water one must take a leap of faith, fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith, and the one who does not exists in a state, condition, nor disposition of fear. When Jesus calmed the seas the disciples were fearful, "and fearful, with great fear, and saying to one another, who exists this that even the winds and the sea obey him."* In Awe is what they should have been but they were fearful, and Jesus noticed this fear driven state. "And he said to them, why so fearful? have you not yet posses faith?"* Fear is used to represent a negative state until we get to Acts and the epistles, were we see a transition to a "fear of God." So let us look at what these early writers meant to fear God.
So the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, built up and departing in fear of the Lord and in exhortation of the Holy Spirit increased.*
Does not being peaceful and walking in fear seem like a contradiction? This verse is often translated as "walking in fear of the Lord" but the word is departing which means to pass from one place to another, or to pass away, to die. Surely death can be fearful, but in Christ we enter into God's rest. Built up speaks of edification, to strengthen each member, thus the Church was growing, which speaks of His workmanship, walking about as his work prepared beforehand.* Paul is most known in his writings for using phobos as a type of good fear or "fear of God." He writes in Romans, "exists no fear of God before their eyes."* But also he writes that there exists no fear in agape love and if you fear you have not been perfected in love.* This seems like a contradiction, yes? Of course there is no contradiction and the solution is to look closely at scriptures and the Greek words for fear.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, in whom crying, “Abba, Father.”*
We saw earlier déos ( δέος) but to confuse things we find similar Greek words for phobos (φόβον, φόβου, φόβῳ, φόβος) and they are often used interchangeably in translation. φόβος means a panic flight, or panic fear and the verb φόβον means a person feeling or in a state of fear * This would be the negative fear we looked at earlier. We notice that the called "godly fear" is φόβῳ, but it seems to miss a letter so possibly it doesn't mean fear at all, but has been translated as belonging to fear, phobos, (φόβος.) And in such a case φόβῳ is not godly fear at all but a better translation would be godly respect or awe. When we do not understand the new covenant, we can build upon the old developing an image of God to be fearful of. The Greek word fear (φόβος.) has as a root meaning to "cause to run away." Paul writes in Hebrews, in the new covenant Christ died and shed his blood to put into effect a new covenant, in His blood. We are not to be fearful of God but to have boldness to approach God and have not come to a covenant of old were God was thundering from a mountain, were the people were in dread and fear, "even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”* And while we exist in awe of Him, we come before Him boldly, because of what Christ has done for us.*
Possessing then, having these promises, friends, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, to carry out to the end sanctification in fear of God.*
We see fear (φόβος,) came upon the people in the Gospels, like when an angel appeared to tell of the coming of Jesus and of course as often seen the response was "fear not," I bring good news. In the early church we read fear came upon them (φόβος,) but also we see the negative state of being fear driven, thus we come to the conclusion there is both positive and negative fear (φόβος.) This verse Paul writes "carry out to the end sanctification in fear of God," but also he writes perfection is accomplished in agape love, this would seem to be a contradiction so what does he mean here to complete holiness in fear? Surely those who know not God and those not sure should be concerned about their eternal state. John writes of the promise that a child of God will not continue in sin, so one is to be diligent to walk as Jesus, circumspectly. And since faith is possessing and increasing to turn back would mean loss as if it were never possessed or taken hold of to begin with, so one should be fearful in such a state. A state of growth and maturity in love is overcoming evil, which is to build character and deposition, "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit." This means to put off the old sinful nature but also to cast away spirits that defile, overcoming evil that wars against our soul, and a spirit of fear that I believe has captivated many children of God.
... laying hold of a kingdom unshakable, possessing grace through which serving God acceptably...*
We see that for those who do not know God, it is a fearful state fear as there is condemnation for those who die and do not believe in Christ. Also Paul writes to believers "... continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,"* Certainly, to be in a state of not knowing or not being assured of salvation would be a fearful state, as faith exists assurance. Since Paul also writes that those who fear have not been perfected in agape love, we do not live in fear, we are not fear driven. If True godly fear would have positive end results, directed toward unbelievers and to those unsure of their eternal destiny, not causing people to run away from God but to come to Him. I believe we are not to be fearful but in awe of God, there is a difference, which I will write about next. To grow in maturity is to overcome fear, which is to be perfected in agape love, and to exist as Jesus was in the storm, not in a state of fear but one of peace within the storm, this is possessing great faith.