Ask Gramps.org

The scriptures tell us to both love God and fear Him. How can we do both?

Hello Gramps,

I’m hoping you can give me some insight on why we need to both “Love God and Fear God”. Shouldn’t our actions have to do with the desire to please our Heavenly Father and to want to be with Him again, rather than being afraid of Him?

Jennifer, from Henderson, Nevada

Dear Jennifer,

Those two qualities, when applied to Deity, are not mutually exclusive. The idea of fearing God is not to be afraid of Him. The word, fear, in the New Testament, is translated from the Greek phobeo, that has several definitions of fear, including to flee and to be afraid. But to reverence, venerate or to treat with deference or reverential obedience is also among the definitions of that word, which undoubtedly is the context used in the Bible. So it is perfectly in order and logical to love God and also to reverence or the venerate Him.

Gramps

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