Faith in the Face of Fear and Doubt
Faith is generally understood as the mind's persuasion that a statement is true, with its primary idea being trust [5]. This trust can range in degree up to a "full assurance of faith," which leaves no room for doubt [6]. The biblical concept of faith is often presented as a confidence in things hoped for and a conviction concerning matters not seen [1].
Fear and doubt are frequently addressed in scripture as challenges to this trust. The Psalms note that "There they have feared a fear, For God is in the generation of the righteous" [3]. Jeremiah describes "a thing of wonder and fear" occurring in the land [4]. The "fear of the Lord" in the Old Testament is not a slavish dread, but a filial reverence combined with love and hope, serving as a designation of true piety [9]. This holy fear is also enjoined in the New Testament to prevent carelessness and encourage penitence [9].
Faith is presented as a means to overcome fear. For instance, the prophet Moses, when faced with the Israelites' incredulity and fear of the Egyptians, encouraged them with promises of deliverance [8]. The apostle Peter, when confronted with challenging statements from Jesus, affirmed his belief, possibly to strengthen himself and others against doubt [14]. The New Testament also connects boldness with faith, stating that boldness is achieved through faith in Christ [7]. This boldness is a characteristic of saints and is produced by trust in God, the fear of God, and faithfulness to God [7].
The development of faith is often linked to knowledge and teaching. Easton's Bible Dictionary states that faith is the result of teaching and that knowledge is an essential element, sometimes even equated with faith [5]. However, faith also includes assent, which is an act of the will [5]. The "full assurance of understanding" is described as an unwavering conviction of the truth of Scripture's declarations [6].
Confessing Christ is presented as an act of faith, requiring the influence of the Holy Spirit [10]. It serves as a test for saints and an evidence of union with God, being necessary for salvation [10]. The fear of man can prevent this confession, but persecution should not deter it [10].
The relationship between faith and works is also explored. The "work of faith" is described as the active reality of one's faith, demonstrating itself through its fruits rather than being a passive assent [11]. This "work of faith" implies its complete development [11]. The effect of righteousness is peace [13].
The early Christians, particularly Jewish Christians, are described as those "who have before hoped in the Christ," looking forward to His coming and waiting for the consolation of Israel [12]. This hope is a foundational aspect of their faith [12]. The mystery of Christ and the church is considered great [2].
Sources
- Hebrews “Hebrews 11:1 (YLT) — And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction,”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:32 (LITV) — The mystery is great, but I speak as to Christ and as to the church.”
- Psalms “Psalms 14:5 (YLT) — There they have feared a fear, For God <FI>is<Fi> in the generation of the righteous.”
- Jeremiah “Jeremiah 5:30 (BBE) — A thing of wonder and fear has come about in the land;”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Faith — Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests. Faith is the result of teaching (Rom. 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Boldness, Holy — Christ set an example of -- Joh 7:26. Is through faith in Christ -- Eph 3:12; Heb 10:19. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 28:1. Produced by Trust in God. -- Isa 50:7. The fear of God. -- Ac 4:19; 5:29. Faithfulness to God. -- 1Ti 3:13. Express your trust in God with -- Heb 13:6. Have, in prayer -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16. Saints shall have, in judgment -- 1Jo 4:17. Exhortations to -- Jos 1:7; 2Ch 19:11; Jer 1:8; Eze 3:9. Pray for -- Ac 4:29; Eph 6:19,20. Ministers should exhibit, in Faithfulness to their people. -- 2Co 7:4; 10:1. Preaching. -- Ac 4:31; Ph”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 15, section 3: of their freedom; and this so far, that their incredulity prompted them to throw stones at the prophet, while he encouraged them and promised them deliverance; and they resolved that they would deliver themselves up to the Egyptians. So there was sorrow and lamentation among the women and children, who had nothing but destruction before their eyes, while they were encompassed with mountains, the sea, and their enemies, and discerned no way of flying from them. 5. But Moses, though the multitude looked fiercely at him, did not, h”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Fear of the Lord the — Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deut. 32:6; Hos. 11:1; Isa. 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Gen. 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared. A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matt. 10:28; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 5:21; Heb. 12:28, 29).”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Confessing Christ — Influences of the Holy Spirit necessary to -- 1Co 12:3; 1Jo 4:2. A test of being saints -- 1Jo 2:23; 4:2,3. An evidence of union with God -- 1Jo 4:15. Necessary to salvation -- Ro 10:9,10. Ensures his confessing us -- Mt 10:32. The fear of man prevents -- Joh 7:13; 12:42,43. Persecution should not prevent us from -- Mr 8:35; 2Ti 2:12. Must be connected with faith -- Ro 10:9. Consequences of not -- Mt 10:33. Exemplified Nathanael. -- Joh 1:49. Peter. -- Joh 6:68,69; Ac 2:22-36. Man born blind. -- Joh 9:25,33. Martha. -- Joh 11:27. Peter and John. -”
- 1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:3: work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works), Th1 1:5-10; Jam 2:22. So "the work of faith" in Th2 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare Jam 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the ”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:12: (Eph 1:6, Eph 1:14). who first trusted in Christ--rather (we Jewish Christians), "who have before hoped in the Christ": who before the Christ came, looked forward to His coming, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Compare Act 26:6-7, "I am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: unto which our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come." Act 28:20, "the hope of Israel" [ALFORD]. Compare Eph 1:18; Eph 2:12; Eph 4:4.”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 32:17: work--the effect (Pro 14:34; Jam 3:18). peace--internal and external.”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 6:69: And we believe,--(See on Mat 16:16). Peter seems to have added this not merely--probably not so much--as an assurance to his Lord of his heart's belief in Him, as for the purpose of fortifying himself and his faithful brethren against that recoil from his Lord's harsh statements which he was probably struggling against with difficulty at that moment. Note.--There are seasons when one's faith is tried to the utmost, particularly by speculative difficulties; the spiritual eye then swims, and all truth seems ready to depart from us. At such seasons, a clear”