O
o_mlly
Guest
How do we Catholics synthesize Paul’s words “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling” and John Paul II words “Be not afraid”?
Peace,
O’Malley
Peace,
O’Malley
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E
EphelDuath
Guest
They’re speaking of two different things.
“Be not afraid” refers to how we should live our faiths in the world openly, and not fear persecution or failure. Cf. the story of Pentecost in the Book of Acts, were the Holy Spirit imbued the apostles with a fiery courage to spread the Gospel.
What St. Paul is speaking of, is to not believe we can be assured of our own salvation: and to always carry with us a fear (awe, respect) of God as a way to remain humble.
“Be not afraid” refers to how we should live our faiths in the world openly, and not fear persecution or failure. Cf. the story of Pentecost in the Book of Acts, were the Holy Spirit imbued the apostles with a fiery courage to spread the Gospel.
What St. Paul is speaking of, is to not believe we can be assured of our own salvation: and to always carry with us a fear (awe, respect) of God as a way to remain humble.
O
o_mlly
Guest
Thank you for your reply. However, your response leaves me still wanting for a synthesis. Your take suggests, I think, a Christian kind of schizophrenia in witnessing our faith to others without fear while simultaneously realizing the terrible contingency of our own beatitude. In reading Paul, I don’t think he feared worldly persecution; his letters from prison to wit. But his fear centered on his own tendency to sin, “the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would that I practice” (Romans 7:19).They’re speaking of two different things.
“Be not afraid” refers to how we should live our faiths in the world openly, and not fear persecution or failure. Cf. the story of Pentecost in the Book of Acts, were the Holy Spirit imbued the apostles with a fiery courage to spread the Gospel.
What St. Paul is speaking of, is to not believe we can be assured of our own salvation: and to always carry with us a fear (awe, respect) of God as a way to remain humble.
Fear coupled with trembling does not suggest to me the fear of awe and respect but the fear of failure to succeed in reaching one’s own goal of salvation. If we follow St. Paul’s advice which, as you correctly suggest, implies the strong piety of humility before the Lord, ought we not witness our own fear as we spread the gospel to others, i.e. be afraid, God offers His beatitude but He does not give it without the correct response.
Peace,
O’Malley
O
o_mlly
Guest
I have found my synthesis: Matthew 10:28.
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