Fear of God and Christian Obedience

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

"Fear the Lord," he said, "and keep His commandments." Ecclesiastes 12:13 For if you keep God's commandments, you will be strong in everything you do, and everything you do will be beyond compare. For by fearing the Lord, you will do everything well. This is the fear you ought to have, so that you may be saved. But do not fear the devil. For if you fear the Lord, you will rule over the devil, because there is no power in him. But someone in whom there is no power should never be feared. He in whom there is glorious power is the one who is truly to be feared. For everyone who has power ought to be feared, but he who has no power is despised by all. Therefore, fear the deeds of the devil, because they are evil. For if you fear the Lord, you will not do these deeds, but will hold back from them. For there are two kinds of fear. If you do not want to do what is evil, fear the Lord, and you will not do it. But again, if you want to do what is good, fear the Lord, and you will do it. Therefore the fear of the Lord is strong, great, and glorious. Fear the Lord, then, and you will live to Him, and all who fear Him and keep His commandments will live to God. "Why," I said, "sir, did you say

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

They only who fear the Lord and keep His commandments have life with God;

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

Fear, then, the Lord, and you will live to Him, and as many as fear Him and keep His commandments will live to God.

Cyprian, Life and Passion of Cyprian Direct teaching

It was indeed that fear— and rightly so — that fear which would dread to offend the Lord — that fear which prefers to obey God's commands rather than to be crowned in disobedience.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

2. But if in Holy Scripture discipline is frequently and everywhere prescribed, and the whole foundation of religion and of faith proceeds from obedience and fear;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Direct teaching

Humans have gained the knowledge of good and evil. It is good to obey God, to believe in Him, and to keep His commandments, and this is the true life for humans; not obeying God is evil and leads to death. Since God gave humans such mental power, they can understand both the good of obedience and the evil of disobedience. This allows the mind, through experience, to wisely choose better things, ensuring that they are never lazy or neglectful of God's command. Learning that disobedience to God, which deprives them of life, is evil, they should avoid it completely. Understanding that what preserves life is obedience to God, they should diligently follow it with earnestness. Humans, therefore, have twofold experiences: knowing both kinds of actions, they can choose better paths with discipline. Without knowledge of the opposite, how could they understand what is good? A clear and definite understanding of what is presented is better than mere opinion. Just like tasting helps the tongue distinguish sweet from bitter, vision helps the eyes distinguish black from white, and hearing helps the ear recognize different sounds, the mind uses the experience of both good and evil to firmly hold

Tertullian, On Patience Supporting witness

...ience is willing submission, how much more should we be found with a character that agrees with our Lord. For we are servants of the living God. His judgment on His servants does not concern chains or a cap that marks freedom, but an eternity either of punishment or of salvation. To escape that severity or to seek that generosity, we need diligence in obedience as great as the threats spoken by that severity, or the promises freely made by that generosity. And yet we demand obedience not only from men, who bear the yoke of slavery under their chin, or who in some other legal way owe obedience, but even from cattle, even from brute beasts. For we understand that the Lord has provided and handed them over for our use. Shall the creatures God has made subject to us, then, be better than we are in the discipline of obedience? In the end, the creatures that obey acknowledge their masters. Do we hesitate to listen carefully to Him alone, to whom we are subject, that is, the Lord? But how unjust it is, and how ungrateful as well, not to repay from yourself the same thing which, through your neighbor's kindness, you receive from others, to Him through whom you receive it. Nor is there a

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

Take care, you children of God, to do all things in obedience to God;

Clement of Rome, Second Epistle (attributed) Supporting witness

Wherefore, brethren, by doing the will of the Father, and keeping the flesh holy, and observing the commandments of the Lord, we shall obtain eternal life.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...e creatures that God made, He made very good. And He gave to each person the sense of free will. In keeping with that standard, He also established the law of judgment. To sin is ours, and that we do not sin is God's gift, since our will is formed to choose either to sin or not to sin. And you surely understand this well enough yourself, Manes. For you know that even if you brought together all your disciples and warned them not to commit any transgression or do any unrighteousness, every one of them might still pass by the law of judgment. And certainly, whoever wills may keep the commandments. And whoever despises them, and turns aside to what is contrary to them, will still, without doubt, have to face this law of judgment. For this reason also, certain of the angels refused to submit themselves to God's commandment, and resisted His will. One of them indeed fell like a flash of lightning upon the earth, while others, harassed by the dragon, sought their felicity in intercourse with the daughters of men, and so brought on themselves the deserved sentence of the punishment of eternal fire. And that angel who was cast down to earth, finding no further entrance into any of the r

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...be pure in heart? And this fully agrees with the truth we have now learned: if a person succeeds in keeping the two commandments, he fulfills the whole law and the prophets. Moreover, Paul, the chief of the apostles, after all these sayings, gives us even clearer instruction on this subject when he says, "Or do you seek proof of Christ who speaks in me?" What then do I have to do with circumcision, seeing that I may be justified in uncircumcision? For it is written: "Is any man circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is any man uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. For neither of these is anything, but only the keeping of the commandments of God." Therefore, since circumcision is unable to save anyone, it is not greatly to be insisted on, especially when we see that if a man has been called while uncircumcised, and then wishes to be circumcised, he is immediately made a transgressor of the law. For if I am circumcised, I also keep the commandments of the law in order to be in a position to be saved. But if I am uncircumcised, and remain uncircumcised, then much more, by keeping the commandments, I will have life. For I have received the circumcision of the heart, in

Deuteronomy 5:29 Background

Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...st. They make a distinction between what is good and what is just. But when the Lord commands us to fear evil, He does not replace one evil with another. Instead, He removes what is opposite by using its opposite. Now evil is the opposite of good, just as what is just is the opposite of what is unjust. If, then, the freedom from fear that the fear of the Lord produces is called the beginning of what is good, then fear is a good thing. And the fear that comes from the law is not only just, but also good, because it takes away evil. By bringing freedom from fear through fear, it does not produce apathy through mental disturbance, but self-control of feeling through discipline. When, then, we hear, "Honor the Lord, and be strong; but do not fear anyone besides Him," Proverbs 7:2, we understand this to mean fearing to sin, and following the commandments given by God. This is the honor that comes from God. For the fear of God is Δέος in Greek. But if fear is mental disturbance, as some insist, still not every kind of fear is mental disturbance. Superstition really is mental disturbance, because it is the fear of demons, which both cause and are subject to the stirring up of passion.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

...ike time, is twofold, we will find that the virtues also come in pairs and live together. Memory is related to past time, and hope to future time. We believe that what is past did happen, and that what is future will happen. In the same way, we love. By faith, we are persuaded that the past was as it was, and by hope, we expect the future. For in everything, love accompanies the Gnostic, who knows one God. And look, he both knows and admires that all things which God created were very good, as Genesis 1:31 says. Godliness adds length of life, and the fear of the Lord adds days. Then, just as days are a part of life as it moves forward, so also fear is the beginning of love. As it grows, it becomes faith, and then love. But I do not fear the Father in the same way that I fear and hate a wild beast, since fear is twofold. Rather, I fear the Father, whom I both fear and love at the same time. Again, when I fear that I may be punished, I am loving myself by taking on fear. The one who fears offending his father loves himself. Blessed, then, is the one who is found to have faith, since faith is made up of love and fear. And faith is power for salvation, and strength for eternal life.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

When, then, we hear, Honour the Lord, and be strong: but fear not another besides Him, Proverbs 7:2 we understand it to be meant fearing to sin, and following the commandments given by God, which is the honour that comes from God.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Background

Proverbs 3:7 And the fear of the Lord is instruction and wisdom. Sirach 1:27

Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness

Jeremiah 5:8-9 He everywhere interweaves fear, because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of sense.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness

But before all let faith and the fear of God have rule in your heart, and then shall you understand these things.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

...e I was sitting in my house and praising the Lord for all that I had seen, I was thinking about the commandments: that they are excellent, powerful, glorious, and able to save a person's soul. I said to myself, "I will be blessed if I walk in these commandments, and everyone who walks in them will be blessed." While I was saying these things to myself, I suddenly saw him sitting beside me, and I heard him say this: "Why are you doubtful about the commandments that I gave you? They are excellent. Do not doubt them at all. Instead, put on faith in the Lord, and you will walk in them, for I will strengthen you in them. These commandments are useful for those who intend to repent. For if they do not walk in them, their repentance is in vain. Therefore, you who repent, throw away the wickedness of this world that wears you out. And by putting on all the virtues of a holy life, you will be able to keep these commandments, and you will no longer add to the number of your sins. Walk, therefore, in these commandments of mine, and you will live to God. All these things have been spoken to you by me." After he had said these words, he said to me, "Let us go into the fields, and I will show

Proverbs 1:7 Background

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 15:33 Background

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility.

Wisdom of Sirach 23:27 Background

And they that remain shall know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, And that there is nothing sweeter than to take heed unto the commandments of the Lord.

Daniel 1:7 Background

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; And there is good understanding to all that practice it: And piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; But the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.

Wisdom of Sirach 21:11 Background

He that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof: And the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

... "not that you were made sorry, but that you showed readiness for repentance. For you sorrowed in a godly way, so that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world works death. For see what earnestness this very thing produced in you, that you sorrowed in a godly way; yes, what clearing of yourselves; yes, what compunction; yes, what fear; yes, what desire; yes, what zeal; yes, what revenge! In all things you have shown yourselves clear in the matter." 2 Corinthians 7:1-11. Such are the preparatory exercises of gnostic discipline. And since the almighty God Himself gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; we must therefore strive to reach manhood, as is fitting for the Gnostic, and to be as perfect as we can while still living in the flesh. We must make it our aim, in perfect ha

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

...ace. Although they had a good conscience, and had often pleased the Lord through obedient faith and fear, they still did not stop keeping their humility and making atonement to the Lord, even in the glorious martyrdom of their virtues. Holy Scripture speaks and says, “Azarias stood up and prayed, and opening his mouth made confession before God together with his companions in the middle of the fire.” Daniel also, after the many evidences of his faith and innocence, after the Lord’s condescension shown so often because of his virtues and praises, still strives by fasting to please God more fully. He clothes himself in sackcloth and ashes, sorrowfully making confession and saying, “O Lord God, great, strong, and dreadful, keeping Your covenant and mercy for those who love You and keep Your commandments, we have sinned, we have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly. We have transgressed and departed from Your precepts and from Your judgments. Neither have we listened to the words of Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, and to all the nations, and to all the earth. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us confusion.” Daniel 9:4

Tertullian, On Prescription Against Heretics Direct teaching

Where the fear of God is, there is seriousness, an honourable and yet thoughtful diligence, as well as an anxious carefulness and a well-considered admission (to the sacred ministry) and a safely-guarded communion, and promotion after good service, and a scrupulous submission (to authority), and a devout attendance, and a modest gait, and a united church, and God in all things.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

XXXVI. Have before your eyes the fear of God, and always remember the ten commandments of God — to love the one and only Lord God with all your strength;

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

then the children; and then all the people in order, with reverence and godly fear, without tumult.

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

Let us stand reverently, let us stand in the fear of God, and with contrition: let us attend to the holy communion service, to offer peace to God.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...o has shut up the deep and sealed it by Your terrible and glorious name, before whose power all men fear and tremble; for the majesty of Your glory cannot be endured, and Your angry threatening toward sinners cannot be borne. But Your merciful promise is beyond measure and beyond searching out; for You are the Most High Lord, of great compassion, longsuffering, very merciful, and You turn from the evils of men. You, O Lord, according to Your great goodness, have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in Your infinite mercy have appointed repentance to sinners, that they may be saved. You therefore, O Lord, the God of the just, have not appointed repentance for the just, as for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who have not sinned against You; but You have appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner. For I have sinned beyond the number of the sands of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied; my transgressions are multiplied, and I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquity. I am bowed down with many iron bands, for I have provoked Your wrath and done evil before You, setting up abomin

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

...er glory for yourself and will be more honored by God than you would otherwise be. Therefore, if in keeping the commandments of God you also do these acts of service, you will have joy if you keep them according to my command." I said to him, "Sir, whatever you command me, I will keep, for I know that you are with me." He replied, "I will be with you, because you have such a desire to do good. And I will be with all those," he added, "who have such a desire." He continued, "This fasting is very good, provided that the commandments of the Lord are kept. Then this is how you must keep the fast you intend to keep. First of all, be on guard against every evil word and every evil desire, and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you guard against these things, your fasting will be complete. And you must also do the following. After you have done what is written, on the day when you fast you must eat nothing except bread and water. Then calculate the cost of the food for that day which you intended to eat, and give that amount to a widow, or an orphan, or to some person in need. In this way you will show humility, so that the one who has received help from your hum

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

..., understand that God made these things and the human race out of nothing. Therefore, O son, do not fear that executioner. But being made worthy of your brothers, receive death, so that in the same mercy I may receive you with your brothers." The mother's praise was great in her urging to virtue, but greater in the fear of God and in the truth of faith. For she promised nothing to herself or to her son from the honor of the six martyrs. Nor did she believe that the prayer of the brothers would avail for the salvation of one who would deny. Rather, she persuaded him to become a sharer in their suffering, so that on the day of judgment he might be found with his brothers. After this another also dies with her children. For nothing else was fitting, except that she who had borne and made martyrs should be joined with them in the fellowship of glory, and that she herself should follow those whom she had sent before to God. And so that no one, when the chance of a certificate or anything like it is offered to him, by which he may deceive, should choose the wicked part of deceivers, let us also not be silent about Eleazar. When an opportunity was offered to him by the king's servants,

Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness

that is, with the simple and peaceable — with those who fear God and keep God's commandments.

Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians Supporting witness

...he Holy Spirit was upon you all. Full of holy designs, you did, with true earnestness of mind and a godly confidence, stretch forth your hands to God Almighty, beseeching Him to be merciful unto you, if you had been guilty of any involuntary transgression. Day and night you were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience. You were sincere and uncorrupted, and forgetful of injuries between one another. Every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight. You mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors: their deficiencies you considered your own. You never grudged any act of kindness, being “ready to every good work.” Adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life, you did all things in the fear of God. The commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts.

Wisdom of Sirach 35:14 Background

Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; And they that seek him early shall find favor.

Tertullian, Scorpiace Direct teaching

... and Master. And while preparing them for enduring these things, He reminds them that they must not fear those who kill the body only, but are not able to destroy the soul. Rather, they must give fear to Him who has such power that He can kill both body and soul, and destroy them in hell. Who, I ask, are these killers of the body only, except the governors and kings mentioned before, that is, men? And who is ruler of the soul also, except God alone? Who is this except the one who threatens the fires to come, He without whose will not even one of two sparrows falls to the ground. That is, not even one of the two substances of man, flesh or spirit, because even the number of our hairs has been recorded before Him. "Do not fear, therefore." When He adds, "You are worth more than many sparrows," He promises that we will not fall to the ground in vain, that is, not without profit, if we choose to be killed by men rather than by God. "Whoever therefore will confess in me before men, in him I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven. And whoever will deny me before men, him I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Clear, as I think, are the words used in making t

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Direct teaching

...ho walk in the commandments of the devil, in harsh and bitter and savage licentiousness, and do not fear the devil. For he has no power against you, because I will be with you, the angel of repentance, who am lord over him. The devil has only fear, but his fear has no strength. So do not fear him, and he will flee from you."

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

For such individuals, through fear of the punishments that are threatened, which arouses and exhorts them to refrain from those actions which are followed by punishments, strive to yield themselves up to the Christian religion, being influenced by the power of the word to such a degree, that through fear of what are called in the word everlasting punishments, they despise all the tortures which are devised against them among men — even death itself, with countless other evils — which no wise man would say is the act of persons of wicked mind.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

If a Christian ever flees away, it is not from fear, but in obedience to the command of his Master, that so he may preserve himself, and employ his strength for the benefit of others.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

For fears are of two kinds: for if you do not wish to do that which is evil, fear the Lord, and you will not do it;

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

For fear is necessary for those who want the motive to a virtuous life, that they who have forsaken reason may at least be moved by terror.

Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness

Fear, said he, the Lord, and keep His commandments.

Exodus 20:20 Background

Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”

Psalms 2:11 Background

Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.

Hebrews 10:31 Background

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.