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The Fear of the Lord (Endnotes)

1. The exact wording differs. Phrases include, “the fear of God,” “the fear of the Lord,” “fear God,” “fear Him,” “fear His name,” etc. Close

2. It is frequently taught that the word “fear” really means “respect” or “awe.” This is accurate in some verses, but it would be a mistake to think that “respect” and “awe” can be applied in every case. It is very clear from a study of the Hebrew and Greek vocabulary and from an examination of the contexts of its occurrences, that “fear,” as it is commonly understood, is frequently the intended meaning. Bromiley, op. cit., Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, pp. 288–292 and Marshal, op. cit., New Bible Dictionary, p. 365. Close

3. See Appendix C. Biblically, the word “saved” refers to any person from any administration who is granted everlasting life. Close

4. The malefactor did not go to Paradise that day, because Paradise, the Kingdom, was not set up then and it is still not set up. When it is, the malefactor will enter it at the Resurrection of the Just. See our book, op. cit., Is There Death After Life?, p. 91. Close

5. Note that verse 27 says the “raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” As it states in 1 Corinthians 3:10–17, the “fire” will not consume disobedient Christians, because they are not the enemies of God (Rom. 8:37–39), but it will test the quality of their works. If a believer’s work does not “pass muster,” it (the work) will be burned up and the believer will suffer loss (of rewards). The believer will be saved, but only “as one escaping through the flames” (1 Cor. 3:15). The “enemies of God” who will be consumed in the fire are people who were not saved, the Devil, and demons (Matt. 25:41–46; Rev. 20:10 and 15). Close

6. Jay Carty, Counterattack, Taking Back Ground Lost to Sin (Multnomah, Portland, OR, 1988), p. 114. Close

7. Jesus was speaking to “a crowd of many thousands” (Luke 12:1), and no doubt many of them were unsaved. Furthermore, this speech took place before the Day of Pentecost when the Christian Church started. No Christian should use this verse to teach that God might throw Christians into Gehenna if they sin. Close