Fear or Love?

Introduction
There are scriptures that tell us to love God and there are scriptures that tell us to fear God. Well, which is it? It cannot be both to my mind since real love cannot be based on fear. So why are we told that it is both? Another conundrum for the JLW to consider from the relevant scriptures. Amen.

Fear of God
So let us start by looking at God’s requirement for us to fear Him. Even such a patriarch as Joseph, in discussing their prospective imprisonment with his brothers, made the point that, even posing as an Egyptian official, he feared the one true God:

18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live: for I fear God: (Genesis 42 ASV)

The wise King Solomon tells us that the beginning of knowledge and wisdom is the fear of Jehovah. So is this the start of our spiritual journey in getting to know God. If so, what is the end, the love of God perhaps? I would have to say that Solomon’s words conflict with my own journey which started from the fear of the unknown (My Spiritual Journey):

7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; [But] the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1 ASV)

10 The commencement of wisdom {is} the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones {is} understanding. (Proverbs 9 YLT)

Solomon continues his message of the need of the wisdom to fear Jehovah:

27 When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah: (Proverbs 1 ASV)

3 Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;
4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:
5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2 ASV)

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: (Proverbs 3 ASV)

2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. (Proverbs 14 ASV)

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident. (Proverbs 14 ASV)

26 In the fear of Jehovah [is] strong trust, and His sons shall have a hiding place.
27 The fear of Jehovah [is] a fountain of life, to turn away from snares of death. (Proverbs 14 GLT)

16 Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15 ASV)

33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor [goeth] humility. (Proverbs 15 ASV)

4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah [Is] riches, and honor, and life. (Proverbs 22 ASV)

17 Let not thy heart envy sinners; But [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: (Proverbs 23 ASV)

So, the fear of God was something of extreme importance in the words of the wise King Solomon. In Chapter 8 of the Book of Proverbs, Solomon tells us that the fear of God is to hate evil. So, we are being told that our hatred of evil stems from our fear of God, not because a righteous soul will naturally eschew evil ways:

13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8 ASV)

Again, I must confess that I cannot relate to that. In contrast to that message, and whilst I am not a gentile, Paul’s words to the congregation of Rome ring true for me and I would like to think for all right-minded folk:

14 (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing [them]); (Romans 2 ASV)

It looks like Solomon literally took a leaf out of his father David’s book:

10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: His praise endureth for ever. (Psalms 111 ASV)

As did Job. When a phrase is repeated several times in the scriptures, we can be sure that God is not kidding:

28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding. (Job 28 KJV)

Early in the Book of Job, as something of a first, Satan and Jehovah both agree that Job fears God. Satan describes Job’s fear as being based on the protection and blessings that his righteousness has brought him from Jehovah. Again, I cannot make sense of that. Would you fear someone that brought security and goodness into your life?

8 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.
9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (Job 1 ASV)

Further verses from the Book of Proverbs go on to tell us that the fear of God will give us a long and satisfying life. I am not at all certain that these words are referring to our life here and now but that to come in the Kingdom of God:

27 The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. (Proverbs 10 ASV)

23 The fear of Jehovah {is} to life, And satisfied he remaineth -- he is not charged with evil. (Proverbs 19 YLT)

The following verses, again from the hand of Solomon, would seem to finalise the requirement to fear God:

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. (Ecclesiastes 8 KJV)

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. (Ecclesiastes 12 KJV)

More from David, but this time effectively repeated in Luke’s Gospel:

17 But the mercy of Jehovah [is] from everlasting, even to everlasting, on those who fear Him; yea, His righteousness [is] to the sons of sons; (Psalms 103 GLT)

50 And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation. (Luke 1 KJV)

Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah, interestingly saying that even He would have fear of Jehovah:

1 And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; (Isaiah 11 ASV)

And more on the fear of Jehovah from the Prophet Isaiah:

6 And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure. (Isaiah 33 ASV)

King David brought the fear of Jehovah upon all the nations after his destruction of the Philistine army:

16 And David did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.
17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and Jehovah brought the fear of him upon all nations. (1 Chronicles 14 ASV)

King Asa of Judah did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah so that the fear of the true God caused Asa to destroy the idolatrous surrounding nations:

11 And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
12 So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.
14 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them. (2 Chronicles 14 ASV)

King Jehoshaphat also did what was right in the eyes of Jehovah so that, in this case, the fear of the true God by the surrounding nations caused peace to reign in Judah. Here I can understand the fear of Jehovah by Judah’s potential enemies would protect His people:

10 And the fear of Jehovah fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 17 ASV)

King Jehoshaphat set his judges in place over Israel and told them that they were judges for Jehovah not for man and they should consequently execute their duties under the fear of God. He did likewise with the priests and leaders of His people:

6 and said to the judges, Watch what you are doing, for you shall not judge for man, but for Jehovah, and [He is] with you in the matter of judgment;
7 and now, let the fear of Jehovah be upon you; watch and act, for [there is] no perverseness with Jehovah our God, nor lifting up of faces, nor taking of a bribe.
8 And also in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat caused to stand from the Levites and from the priests, and from the heads of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of Jehovah, and for strife; and they returned to Jerusalem.
9 And he charged them, saying, So shall you do in the fear of Jehovah, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. (2 Chronicles 19 GLT)

In support of Solomon’s words, we have the surprising comment from Paul, in his letter to the congregation at Philippi, whereby he tells them to seek out their own salvation with fear and trembling. This did not sound very New Testament to me, although as we shall shortly see, the fear of God is a theme continued right throughout the New Testament as well as the Old:

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2 KJV)

In his letter to the Roman congregation, Paul tells them that the unrighteous have no fear of God, thereby being oblivious to the calamitous circumstances that they will no doubt soon find themselves in:

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3 KJV)

There are further interesting verses from Paul in his epistle to the Roman congregation. He symbolises God’s chosen ones as branches on the tree of life and refers to the Jews that have become dislodged branches due to their disbelief in the Son of God. However, in speaking to the gentile congregation, Paul tells them to be in fear if they are to be grafted onto the tree in place of the non-believers. Paul then refers to both the goodness and severity of Jehovah. This really does sound like a carrot and stick approach from our God:

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11 KJV)

To the congregation at Corinth, Paul talks of the judgement of Christ and that the fear of His judgement should be used in their evangelising to the non-believers. Once again, I have to say that this does not sit well with me:

10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5 ASV)

Paul, in a later chapter of his second epistle to the congregation at Corinth, tells them to perfect their holiness in the fear of God:

1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7 ASV)

And more fear of God from these scriptures from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke:

28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10 KJV)

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (Matthew 27 KJV)

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (Luke 12 KJV)

In another verse, from the Gospel of Luke, we find one of the two miscreants on the cross alongside Christ warning the other that he should fear God:

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (Luke 23 KJV)

Luke, in his Book of Acts, tells us of the centurion Cornelius, who was a man that feared God. He clearly had his reward through a friendly visitation from an angel of God:

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
2 [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. (Acts 10 KJV)

Further on in the Book of Acts, Paul is clearly addressing a mixed audience of Jews and gentiles. To those in the audience who fear God he gives the message of salvation of Jesus Christ:

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with [his] hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. (Acts 13 KJV)

26 Men [and] brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. (Acts 13 KJV)

Paul wrote to the Hebrew congregation that those who accepted Christ as their saviour but continued in their sinful ways should certainly fear the due recompense of God for their deliberately wayward actions when they should have known better:

26 For [if] we [are] willfully sinning after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice concerning sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and "zealous fire being about to consume the adversaries." [Isa. 26:11]
28 [If] anyone did not regard [the] Law of Moses, [that one] dies without pities on "[the word of] two or three witnesses." [Deut. 17:6]
29 How much worse punishment do you think will be thought worthy [to receive], the [one] trampling the Son of God, and having counted common the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified, and having insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who has said, "Vengeance [belongs] to Me; I will repay," says [the] Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people." [Deut. 32:35, 36]
31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into [the] hands of [the] living God. (Hebrews 10 GLT)

In the following Chapter of Paul’s letter to the Hebrew congregation, we find yet another of the Patriarchs, Noah, having a fear of God:

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11 KJV)

A couple of verses from Peter’s first letter tells us to fear God. This is a somewhat different message compared with verses from that same letter reproduced in the later sections of this paper:

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning [here] in fear: (1 Peter 1 KJV)

17 Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (1 Peter 2 KJV)

And now we have a scripture for which the fear of God makes perfect sense to me. Here we are looking at an end-times warning to the undecided people left on Earth after God’s faithful ones have been raptured. These will be ones who do not know the love of God, so the fear of God is the only likely option open for their salvation just prior to Armageddon:

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14 KJV)

Fear Not
Having been extensively told to fear God, we are then given numerous messages NOT to fear God!! We have God handing the Law to Moses telling him and His people not to be fearful, a message that Moses informs Joshua of:

6 Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them: for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
7 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage: for thou shalt go with this people into the land which Jehovah hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
8 And Jehovah, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31 ASV)

Upon Joshua’s appointment as Moses’ successor, God confirms the message directly to him not be afraid since He is their defender. Whilst the nature of that fear is not explicitly stated, I believe that Joshua was being told not to be fearful of Israel’s earthly enemies. But in that context, I believe that, as His chosen people, he was also being told not to be fearful of their God:

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for Jehovah your God is with you in all [places] where you go. (Joshua 1 GLT)

The following scriptures are addressed to the children of Israel in a similar vein. The message to them from Jehovah is the same as that spoken to Joshua in that they should not be afraid since He is their defender. Again, whilst the nature of that fear is not explicitly stated, I believe that they were being told not to be fearful of their earthly enemies. Again, in that context, I believe that, as His chosen people, they were also being told not to be fearful of their God:

4 Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you. (Isaiah 35 KJV)

10 Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
11 Behold, all they that are incensed against thee shall be put to shame and confounded: they that strive with thee shall be as nothing, and shall perish.
12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
13 For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. (Isaiah 41 ASV)

1 But now thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. (Isaiah 43 ASV)

These verses from David give out a similar message of not being fearful of man or God:

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalms 23 KJV)

1 Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27 ASV)

4 I sought Jehovah, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. (Psalms 34 ASV)

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas; (Psalms 46 ASV)

3 The day I am afraid I will trust in You.
4 In God I will praise His Word; in God I have trusted; I will not fear; what will flesh do to me? (Psalms 56 GLT)

6 Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? (Psalms 118 ASV)

The latter verse comes with a reprise from Paul to his Hebrew congregation:

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13 KJV)

Solomon followed his father down a similar path of telling us not to fear mankind and putting our trust in Jehovah:

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe. (Proverbs 29 ASV)

In John’s Gospel, we have the very words of our Saviour telling the 1NC Saints that He leaves them with His peace and not to be fearful of the world:

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. (John 14 ASV)

Although the word ’fear’ does not actually appear in the following verse from Paul’s letter to the congregation at Philippi, I think the word ‘anxious’ conveys the same meaning in effect. Here Paul is telling us that so long as we pray to God and offer Him thanks for His blessings we will have nothing to fear:

6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4 ASV)

And a similar message from Peter:

7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. (1 Peter 5 ASV)

As well as the Gospel of Matthew:

34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6 ASV)

In perhaps the most telling of verses from Paul’s epistle to the Roman congregation, they are being told that there is no longer any need to be fearful. The faithful have been accepted as God’s children. Children should love their Father but perhaps be fearful of His discipline, for what good Father does not discipline His children whom He loves:

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8 KJV)

A little earlier in Peter’s letter, he starts out by telling his congregation not to fear but then goes on to confirm their fear of God (doh!):

14 But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are ye:] and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;
15 but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: [being] ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3 ASV)

John’s Revelation has him falling at the feet of the risen Christ. Jesus tells him not to be fearful since He has the keys to free everyone from death and the grave (always subject to His judgement):

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,
18 and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (Revelation 1 ASV)

Love of God
Well, in apparent total contradiction to Solomon’s words at the beginning of the earlier section on 'Fear of God', Paul’s second letter to Timothy states that God did not give His followers a spirit of fear but one of love:

7 for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind; (2 Timothy 1 YLT)

Going right back to the Law of Moses, we are told of the favour that God will show those that love Him. It is interesting to compare this message with that from the later verses from Exodus Chapter 20 as covered at the start of the next section on ‘Fear v Love’:

6 and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20 ASV)

A clear instruction to love God wholeheartedly is contained in the Book of Deuteronomy:

5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6 ASV)

A message which is repeated in the Gospel of Mark from the Words of Christ:

30 and thou shalt love the Lord thy God out of all thy heart, and out of thy soul, and out of all thine understanding, and out of all thy strength -- this {is} the first command;
31 and the second {is} like {it}, this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself; -- greater than these there is no other command.'
32 And the scribe said to him, 'Well, Teacher, in truth thou hast spoken that there is one God, and there is none other but He;
33 and to love Him out of all the heart, and out of all the understanding, and out of all the soul, and out of all the strength, and to love one's neighbour as one's self, is more than all the whole burnt-offerings and the sacrifices.'
34 And Jesus, having seen him that he answered with understanding, said to him, 'Thou art not far from the reign of God;' and no one any more durst question him. (Mark 12 YLT)

This message is continued in the Book of Deuteronomy:

9 Know therefore that Jehovah thy God, he is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations, (Deuteronomy 7 ASV)

1 Therefore thou shalt love Jehovah thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his ordinances, and his commandments, alway. (Deuteronomy 11 ASV)

6 And Jehovah thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. (Deuteronomy 30 ASV)

More of the same as handed down by the Lord to Joshua from Moses:

5 Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Joshua 22 ASV)

11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Jehovah your God. (Joshua 23 ASV)

In stark contrast to the selection of Psalms referenced in the earlier ‘Fear of God’ section, we have this from the hand of David:

1 [To the chief musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of Jehovah, who spoke the words of this song to Jehovah in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his foes, and from the hand of Saul. And he said:] I love You, O Jehovah, my strength. (Psalms 18 GLT)

23 Oh love Jehovah, all ye his saints: Jehovah preserveth the faithful, And plentifully rewardeth him that dealeth proudly. (Psalms 31 ASV)

35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein. (Psalms 69 KJV)

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. (Psalms 91 KJV)

10 O ye that love Jehovah, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psalms 97 ASV)

1 I love Jehovah, because he heareth My voice and my supplications. (Psalms 116 ASV)

As was the case for David, we now also find his son Solomon changing his tune from fear to love of God. However, I find this next verse a little troubling. God says that He loves those that love Him. Does that mean that he does not love those who do not love Him? That does not sound like the all-loving God that I believe in:

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8 KJV)

Isaiah confirms that those not of the house of Jacob will be blessed if they love Jehovah:

6 Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and holdeth fast my covenant;
7 even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isaiah 56 ASV)

In Matthew’s Gospel we have the message from Christ’s own words that we should love Him more than our blood relatives. As a Messianic Jew, having been brought up in a Jewish household, this message certainly resonates with me:

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10 KJV)

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that those that demonstrate their love of Him will be forgiven of their sins:

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. (Luke 7 KJV)

Equally Jesus tirades against the Pharisees who put material things above the love of God:

42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Luke 11 KJV)

And similarly to those Jews who criticised His healing work on the Sabbath:

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. (John 5 KJV)

42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (John 8 KJV)

The Gospel of John also has much to say in a very different tone when Christ is speaking with His disciples:

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14 KJV)

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14 KJV)

28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14 KJV)

27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. (John 16 KJV)

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21 KJV)

Paul tells the Roman congregation that the love of God has been put into their hearts by the Holy Spirit:

5 And the hope does not put [us] to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through [the] Holy Spirit given to us; (Romans 5 GLT)

Paul goes on to tell the Romans that there is nothing that can separate the chosen ones from the love of God through Jesus Christ:

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. (Romans 8 KJV)

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8 KJV)

Paul effectively repeats this message of the chosen ones to the Corinthian congregation:

3 and if any one doth love God, this one hath been known by Him. (1 Corinthians 8 YLT)

Conversely, Paul tells them that those that do not love Christ will be cursed:

22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. The Lord comes! (1 Corinthians 16 GLT)

Paul continues his message of love overcoming the requirements of the Law to his congregation at Galatea:

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. (Galatians 5 ASV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5 KJV)

And a similar set of messages to his congregation in Ephesus:

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3 ASV)

15 But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ. (Ephesians 4 NWT)

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ with [a love] incorruptible. (Ephesians 6 ASV)

Ditto for the Philippian congregation:

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment; (Philippians 1 KJV)

Paul continues with the congregation at Colossus with an interesting comparison to be made with Solomon’s words. Here we have love associated with the gaining of true wisdom and understanding, not fear:

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1 KJV)

And more for those in Thessalonica:

5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3 ASV)

Paul’s message to Timothy is a powerful one in the context of this paper. He talks of our being given a spirit of love not one of fear:

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1 KJV)

And he continues, in his second letter to Timothy, with the theme of love in Christ:

13 Hold fast a pattern of sound words which you heard from me, in faith and love in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1 GLT)

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4 KJV)

More of the same to Paul’s co-worker, Philemon:

5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; (Philemon 1 KJV)

And the Hebrew congregation:

10 for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister. (Hebrews 6 ASV)

And in like manner, we have this from James’ letter:

12 Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1 KJV)

5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2 KJV)

Ditto from Peter:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1 KJV)

John’s first letter tells us that those who keep God’s word demonstrate, by doing so, their love of God:

5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1 John 2 KJV)

Equally, those that love the world or do not love their brother cannot also love God:

15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2 KJV)

17 But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?
18 [My] Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. (1 John 3 ASV)

In the following verses, John tells us that the love we have originally came from God:

9 Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us: (1 John 4 ASV)

19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (1 John 4 KJV)

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5 KJV)

And continued in John’s second letter, addressed to a certain elect lady and her children:

6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (2 John 1 KJV)

Fear v Love?
When Moses went to talk with God, the signs from the mountain caused the children of Israel to be fearful. Moses told them not to be afraid but then went on to tell them that their fear of God would prevent them from sinning. Something of a mixed message I think:

20 And Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid, for God has come in order to test you, and so that His fear may be on your faces, that you may not sin. (Exodus 20 GLT)

I think it noteworthy that, in two separate scriptures, Abraham is both described as a God-fearing man but then also as God’s friend. Who is afraid of a genuine friend?

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me. (Genesis 22 KJV)

8 But thou, Israel, [art] my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. (Isaiah 41 KJV)

Well, confirmation from David that those that fear Jehovah He considers to be His friends:

12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.
13 His soul shall dwell at ease; And his seed shall inherit the land.
14 The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him; And he will show them his covenant. (Psalms 25 ASV)

The Book of the Law, Deuteronomy, also contains a highly mixed message. Verse 2 below tells us to fear God in keeping all His Laws. Verse 5 tells to love God unequivocally:

2 that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:
5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6 ASV)

In Chapter 10, we have the same mixed message in a single verse:

12 And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (Deuteronomy 10 ASV)

More of the same in Chapter 13:

3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams. For Jehovah your God [is] testing you, to know if you love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 You shall walk after Jehovah your God, and you shall fear Him. And you shall keep His commandments, and you shall hear His voice, and you shall serve Him, and you shall cleave to Him. (Deuteronomy 13 GLT)

In the earlier section ‘Fear Not’ we saw that David tells us not to fear God or man. However, he also tells us that those that fear God will be blessed. More mixed messages methinks:

9 The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, [and] righteous altogether. (Psalms 19 ASV)

11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. (Psalms 34 ASV)

13 As a father hath mercy on sons, Jehovah hath mercy on those fearing Him. (Psalms 103 YLT)

1 Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments. (Psalms 112 ASV)

11 Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.
12 Jehovah hath been mindful of us; He will bless [us]: He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great. (Psalms 115 ASV)

We have had Psalms from David separately promoting the love and fear of God. Now we have both in the same Psalm to continue with that mixed message:

19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy. (Psalms 145 ASV)

In the Book of Acts, we get a mixed message from Luke all contained in a single verse. Here we are told that the churches of the day were ‘walking in the fear of the Lord’ whilst being in ‘the comfort of the Holy Spirit’. Perhaps this is recognising the Holy Spirit as the mediator between God and man pleading righteous mankind’s case for clemency from God’s judgement:

31 So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied. (Acts 9 ASV)

Something of a mixed message in this scripture here from Paul to his Corinthian congregation where he talks of the ‘fear of the Lord’ and ‘the love of Christ’:

11 Then, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, and we have been known to God; and I also hope to have been known in your consciences.
12 For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but are giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that you may have [it] toward those boasting in appearance and not in heart.
13 For if we are insane, [it is] to God; or [if] we are clear-minded, [it is] for you.
14 For the love of Christ constrains us, having judged this, that if One died for all, then the all died; (2 Corinthians 5 GLT)

Now this verse from the Apostle John’s first epistle much more matches my own view that perfect love cannot be based on fear:

18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4 ASV)

However, there is another key verse from Jude, in which he makes clear that men can be saved either through love or fear. So perhaps either road to God is acceptable:

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (Jude 1 KJV)

Possibly the best way to rap up this section is to go right back to a couple of verses from the Law of Moses. Here we have two scriptures telling us to both fear and honour our parents. Arguably, Jehovah is not asking for anything from us as our spiritual Father than He requires from us in regard to our fleshly parents:

3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father; and ye shall keep my sabbaths: I am Jehovah your God. (Leviticus 19 ASV)

16 Honor thy father and thy mother, as Jehovah thy God commanded thee; that thy days may be long, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. (Deuteronomy 5 ASV)

God’s Love
We have spent much time in consideration of our feelings towards God so we ought to spend some time thinking about His feelings towards us. Clearly, He does not fear us although I am pretty sure we have upset Him through the ages as we are still doing today. God’s anger at man’s bad behaviour could not have been expressed any more clearly than in the run up to the great flood in which He destroyed all of mankind. This was apart from His faithful servant Noah together with his family and the innocent animals to enable a fresh start on this planet of ours:

5 And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them. (Genesis 6 ASV)

And as we know, God has faced numerous disappointments with mankind since that ‘fresh’ start to which He has responded in ways that we have seen in my earlier War and Idolatry papers. However, David points out that God’s anger is a temporary reaction whereas His blessings upon His faithful ones lasts a (long) lifetime:

5 For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a life-time: Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy [cometh] in the morning. (Psalms 30 ASV)

The Lords’ Witnesses' True Bible Code website describes God’s unconditional love for His human children, both good and evil at: Introduction 14 - What the Hell is Gehenna? Why does God permit Demon Possession? Universal Salvation: God will save each and every one of us, for God is love and love is salvation. Also, we must not forget Jesus’ sacrifice for us, based on His and His Father’s love of mankind. We are all God’s children after all; we just need to grow up a bit more:

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3 KJV)

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4 KJV)

1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and [such] we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3 ASV)

Let us look at a couple of relevant verses from the Old Testament:

15 Only Jehovah had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day. (Deuteronomy 10 ASV)
15רַק בַּאֲבֹתֶיךָ חָשַׁק יְהוָה, לְאַהֲבָה אוֹתָם; וַיִּבְחַר בְּזַרְעָם אַחֲרֵיהֶם, בָּכֶם מִכָּל-הָעַמִּים--כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה. (Deuteronomy 10 WLC)

17 Behold, [it was] for [my] peace [that] I had great bitterness: But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. (Isaiah 38 ASV)
17הִנֵּה לְשָׁלוֹם, מַר-לִי מָר; וְאַתָּה חָשַׁקְתָּ נַפְשִׁי, מִשַּׁחַת בְּלִי, כִּי הִשְׁלַכְתָּ אַחֲרֵי גֵוְךָ, כָּל-חֲטָאָי. (Isaiah 38 WLC)

The above two verses are very unusual in that they use the same Hebrew words for God’s love as would be used for man’s love: ‘חָשַׁק’ meaning love or delight and ‘לְאַהֲבָה’ meaning just regular old love. The more normal way of describing God’s love for mankind can be found in the following verse from the Prophet Jeremiah:

3 Jehovah appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31 ASV)
3מֵרָחוֹק, יְהוָה נִרְאָה לִי; וְאַהֲבַת עוֹלָם אֲהַבְתִּיךְ, עַל-כֵּן מְשַׁכְתִּיךְ חָסֶד. (Jeremiah 31 WLC)

As in the previous examples this verse, again very unusually, contains two instances of the Hebrew root ‘אַהֲבַ’ again normally used to mean just regular old love to describe God’s love. However, it also contains the Hebrew word ‘חָסֶד’ meaning ‘lovingkindness’ or ‘mercy’. This is by far the most common expression of Jehovah’s love for us to be found in the Old Testament Hebrew.

So, what does this demonstrate to us? I think this shows that our love for Jehovah is not on an equal footing with His for us. On reflection this is not too surprising since He is our creator and the creator of everything in our existence, seen and unseen. Obviously, Jehovah is aware of this inequality between Himself and His Earthly creations. I think this is one reason why he needed Jesus to act as our fleshly saviour with help from the Holy Spirit. Like us, Jesus was also a created being as an angel and then He was made flesh. As an earthly man He was able to love us on a more equal footing than His Father, hence the difference in the nature between God’s and Jesus’ love for us between the two Testaments.

The Stakes
In this overall question of the fear or love of God, I think we must consider what is at stake in this life. For the righteous, there is the offer of an unlimited lifespan into the next system. For the unrighteous a very severe punishment:

5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of the revealing of God's righteous judgment.
6 And he will render to each one according to his works:
7 everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness by endurance in work that is good;
8 however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger, (Romans 2 NWT)

The stakes could not be higher, so it is unsurprising that God requires both our love and our fear of him. The Lords' Witnesses believe that we will all ultimately have to earn the right to be God’s truly begotten children as Christ did in becoming God’s divine first-born son upon His sacrifice. The offer is of becoming divine (Introduction 27 - Our destiny is to become Gods like Jehovah and Jesus). This must bring with it immense power and immortality. Jehovah will not give that gift to just any of His human children. So the love of God, as the giver of our life, must also be tempered with His harsh discipline since He will not accept just anyone as His divine child. He is looking for a fully righteous spirit in us all. Goodness only knows what catastrophic damage an unrighteous divine being could wreak!

Synopsis

There are scriptures that tell us to love God and there are scriptures that tell us to fear God. Which is it?
The wise King Solomon tells us that the beginning of knowledge and wisdom is the fear of Jehovah. So, if this the beginning what is the end, the love of God perhaps? The fear of God was something of extreme importance to King Solomon, who wrote many scriptures on this subject.
Apart from King Solomon, the need to fear God is repeated numerous times in the scriptures. Consequently, we can be sure that God is to be taken seriously on this matter.
As something of a first, Satan and Jehovah both agree on something, that Job fears God. Satan describes Job’s fear as being based on the protection and blessings that his righteousness has brought him from Jehovah. However, in my book, why would you fear someone that brought security and goodness into your life?
Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Messiah, interestingly saying that even He would have fear of Jehovah.
The fear of God is not just an Old Testament requirement as can be seen, for example, in Luke’s Gospel: ‘And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.’ (Luke 1:50 KJV)
As well as in the Gospels, the fear of God is stated frequently by Paul in his letters to the various congregations.
The Book of Revelation talks of the fear of God for those undecided folk left on the Earth just prior to Judgement Day. Those ones would not have known the love of God, so their fear will likely be their only route to salvation.
Confusingly, there are also numerous scriptures in both Testaments telling the faithful ones that they have no need to be fearful.
In Paul’s epistle to the Roman congregation, they are being told that the faithful have been accepted as God’s children. Children should love their Father but perhaps be fearful of His discipline, for what good Father does not discipline His children whom He loves?
There are apparently mixed messages in many of the scriptures. An example appears in Peter’s first letter. He starts out by telling his congregation not to fear but then goes on to confirm their fear of God.
Next, we have many scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments telling us to love God. In apparent total contradiction to Solomon’s words on fear, Paul’s second letter to Timothy states that God did not give His followers a spirit of fear but one of love.
An interesting verse from the hand of David tells the Saints to love Jehovah. Are we being given a clue here that love is for the elect whereas fear will be most likely for those to become the citizens of the Kingdom.
Both David and his son Solomon change their respective tunes from fear to love of God. Solomon writes that God says that He loves those that love Him: ‘I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.’ (Proverbs 8: 17 KJV). Does that mean that he does not love those who do not love Him? That does not sound like the all-loving God that I believe in. Here we see the word ‘early’ used. Again, does this reference the Saints, the first-fruits of the Kingdom of God?
Paul goes on to tell the Romans that there is nothing that can separate the chosen ones from the love of God through Jesus Christ: ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.’ (Romans 8:28 KJV). Again, is this a further indication that the love of God is for those called to be in the administration of God’s Kingdom?
A further confirmation of this may be seen in Paul’s letter to the Galatians in that ‘the fruit of the Spirit is love’. Perhaps those that do not have the Holy Spirit imbued in them must need to fear God for their salvation in to the Kingdom?
The slam dunk on this proposition is contained in Paul’s second letter to Timothy in which he states that the crowns of righteousness will be given to those that love Christ’s appearing. This would include the complete administrations in God’s Kingdom of the kings, queens, lords and ladies ruling the God’s Kingdoms in the new Heaven and the new Earth (check out: Understanding 8 - The Structure of the Kingdom of God: New Jerusalem and the Great Crowd of Revelation 7:9 and Revelation 19:6 & The Third Temple).
John’s first letter probably says it all. He tells us that perfect love cannot be based on fear. Love comes before fear but fear of God is better than no thought of God: ‘There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.’ (1 John 4:18 KJV)
Abraham is described both as a God-fearing man and as God’s friend. Again, this is a scripture that I have a problem with. How can you fear your friend?
There is a key scripture from Jude, in which he states that men can be saved either through love or fear.
In return, God clearly loves mankind since He gave His only-begotten son in sacrifice to provide a means of salvation for them.
However, God’s love is that of our creator and therefore not on an equal footing with our love for Him. He created our saviour as a fleshly man to bring that love into a more equal footing.
The stakes for our ultimate destiny are extremely high, so it is understandable that God will use man’s fear of Him to ensure men step up to His sense of judgement if their love of him is wanting.

Conclusion
I think I can say that I was quite correct in my thinking when I set out to write this paper. Without carrying out a detailed census count of all the scriptural instances of the words ‘fear’ and ‘love’, it is evident that there are equally large numbers of the instances of both words throughout both Testaments. Hence, my initial question of ‘love or fear which is it?’ was well-founded.

In putting together the above synopsis, I believe that I now understand the need for both. The ideal mind-set for the faithful would be for one to love God. The salvation for those for whom this is the case would be to serve as Jehovah’s first-fruits in the ruling administrations of the Kingdom of God. If one does not or cannot love God, then the second prize will be salvation into the Kingdom as a regular citizen. For those with neither love nor fear of God, they will be doomed to time to be served in Gehenna, subject to their genuine contrition for their sinful ways and consequent release into the Kingdom as citizens.

In coming up with this view, there was still an unanswered question for me. What of the Old Testament patriarchs who were described as God-fearing men, e.g. Noah, Abraham, Moses? The answer lies in the True Bible Code understanding on Eden2 (Introduction 54 - Eden2 and Eden3: Star Trek is a Reality: Where was David resurrected to?). The Lords' Witnesses believe that these ones are already in the Kingdom and will, no doubt, have a place of some considerably senior rulership in the Kingdom once it becomes fully populated upon judgement day. I suspect that the vast majority of faithful folk in Old Testament times would have had the fear of God and, thereby, will enter the Kingdom as citizens, since they would not have known of the love of Christ. In New Testament and latter-day times, the 1NC and 2NC saints and kings will occupy positions in the Kingdom administrations in the new Heaven and new Earth respectively (Understanding 8 - The Structure of the Kingdom of God: New Jerusalem and the Great Crowd of Revelation 7:9 and Revelation 19:6 & The Third Temple). Amen.

Date of Publication: 18th May 2026

Love VS Fear

Courtesy of lifecoachhub.com

Fear or Love of God?

Jewish Lords' Witness