Meaning of Fear of God in Romans 3:18
Romans 3:18 states, "The feare of God is not before their eies" (Geneva 1599) [1]. This verse concludes a lengthy indictment of human sinfulness, drawing from various Old Testament passages to demonstrate universal depravity. Paul's argument in Romans 3:10-18 is that both Jews and Gentiles are "under sin," establishing the need for God's righteousness revealed through faith [6]. The immediate context of verse 18 is a series of quotations describing the moral corruption of humanity, including their speech, actions, and lack of peace [6].
The phrase "fear of God" in biblical literature generally refers to a profound reverence and awe toward God, often conjoined with love and hope, rather than a servile dread [2, 5]. It is considered a designation of true piety in the Old Testament, as seen in Proverbs 1:7 and Job 28:28 [2]. This reverential fear is distinct from an unholy fear, which characterizes the wicked and can manifest as fear of idols, man, or judgment [4]. Godly fear is described as a hatred of evil and is equated with wisdom [3]. It is a "fountain of life" and a "treasure to saints" [3].
In Romans 3:18, the absence of this "fear of God" signifies a fundamental spiritual blindness and practical atheism [7]. John Gill explains that this fear is not a dread of God's wrath, but a "reverential affection for God" that stems from an awareness of divine goodness and is accompanied by holiness [5]. Without this awe, individuals lack a crucial moral compass, leading to the various transgressions detailed in the preceding verses [6]. Adam Clarke notes that this absence of fear means people do not dread God's judgments, even though God observes their evil deeds [7].
The concept of the fear of God is a significant theme throughout Scripture. It is commanded in Deuteronomy 13:4 and Ecclesiastes 12:13, and its motives include God's holiness, greatness, goodness, and forgiveness [3]. The patristic writer Augustine considered the "spirit of the fear of God" a great gift [9]. Clement of Alexandria also discussed how the fear of the Lord produces an absence of unholy fear, leading to moderation of feeling through discipline [11]. This reverential fear acknowledges God's ultimate authority and the reality of future judgment, serving as an incentive for penitence and carefulness in religious life [2, 8]. The Tyndale House commentary on Ecclesiastes 3:14 notes that recognizing God's finality in all things is a reason to fear Him, fostering trust and reverence [10].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 3:18 (Geneva1599) — The feare of God is not before their eies.”
- 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: Fear, Godly — God is the object of -- Isa 8:13. God is the author of -- Jer 32:39,40. Searching the Scriptures gives the understanding of -- Pr 2:3-5. Described as Hatred of evil. -- Pr 8:13. Wisdom. -- Job 28:28; Ps 111:10. A treasure to saints. -- Pr 15:16; Isa 33:6. A fountain of life. -- Pr 14:27. Sanctifying. -- Ps 19:9. Filial and reverential. -- Heb 12:9,28. Commanded -- De 13:4; Ps 22:23; Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Motives to The holiness of God. -- Re 15:4. The greatness of God. -- De 10:12,17. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The forgiveness of God. -- Ps 130:4.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fear, Unholy — A characteristic of the wicked -- Re 21:8. Is described as A fear of idols. -- 2Ki 17:38. A fear of man. -- 1Sa 15:24; Joh 9:22. A fear of judgments. -- Isa 2:19; Lu 21:26; Re 6:16,17. A fear of future punishment. -- Heb 10:27. Overwhelming. -- Ex 15:16; Job 15:21,24. Consuming. -- Ps 73:19. A guilty conscience leads to -- Ge 3:8,10; Ps 53:5; Pr 28:1. Seizes the wicked -- Job 15:24; 18:11. Surprises the hypocrite -- Isa 33:14,18. The wicked judicially filled with -- Le 26:16,17; De 28:65-67; Jer 49:5. Shall be realised -- Pr 1:27; 10:24. God mocks -- P”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 3:15: There is no fear of God before their eyes. The place referred to is Psa 36:1, by the "fear of God", is not meant a fear of God's wrath, of hell and damnation; nor a fearful distrust of his presence, power, providence, and grace; much less an hypocritical fear; but a reverential affection for God, and which is peculiar to the children of God, which springs from a sense of divine goodness, is attended with holiness of heart and life, is consistent with faith, even full assurance of it, and with spiritual joy in its highest degree; it stands opposed to pride and haughtin”
- Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 3:18: There is no fear of God before their eyes-- (Psa 36:1): that is, "Did the eyes but 'see Him who is invisible' (Heb 11:27), a reverential awe of Him with whom we have to do would chasten every joy and lift the soul out of its deepest depressions; but to all this the natural man is a stranger." How graphic is this picture of human depravity, finding its way through each several organ of the body into the life (Rom 3:13-17): but how small a part of the "desperate wickedness" that is within (Jer 17:9) "proceedeth out of the heart of man!" (Mar 7:21-23; Psa”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 3:18: There is no fear of God before their eyes - This completes their bad character; they are downright atheists, at least practically such. They fear not God's judgments, although his eye is upon them in their evil ways. There is not one article of what is charged against the Jews and Gentiles here that may not be found justified by the histories of both, in the most ample manner. And what was true of them in those primitive times is true of them still. With very little variation, these are the evils in which the vast mass of mankind delight and live. Look especially at”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 11:20: 11:20 fear what could happen: In Scripture, fear often means a reverential awe of God that includes the recognition that we must one day stand before him in judgment (see 2 Cor 5:11; 7:1, 11, 15; Phil 2:12; Col 3:22).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 39.--THE SPIRIT OF FEAR A GREAT GIFT: OF GOD. The apostle also says to Timothy, "For God hath not given to us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."[3] Now in respect of this passage of the apostle, we must be on our guard against supposing that we have not received the spirit of the fear of God, which is undoubtedly a great gift of God, and concerning which the prophet Isaiah says, "The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon thee, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of know”
- Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 3:14: 3:14 Knowing that whatever God does is final is a reason to fear him—to trust and revere God and respect all that he does.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 2: Hermas, Tatian, Theophilus, Athenagoras, Clement of Alexandria — CHAP. VIII.--THE VAGARIES OF BASILIDES AND VALENTINUS AS TO FEAR BEING THE CAUSE OF THINGS, (part 3): just is of what is unjust. If, then, that absence of fear, which the fear of the Lord produces, is called the beginning of what is good,[2] fear is a good thing. And the fear which proceeds from the law is not only just, but good, as it takes away evil. But introducing absence of fear by means of fear, it does not produce apathy by means of mental perturbation, but moderation of feeling by discipline. When, then, we he”