Answer
A healthy fear of the Lord and His future judgment motivated the apostle Paul and his companions in their ministry of spreading the gospel: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:10–11, NKJV).
The apostle Paul drew on an Old Testament expression when he wrote of “the terror of the Lord” (KJV, NKJV), or “the fear of the Lord” (ESV). For him, the judgment seat of Christ would be filled with the terror of the Lord if he neglected his calling (see Job 23:15; 31:23; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 14:2; Ecclesiastes 3:14; 12:13). Paul and his fellow servants worked hard to persuade others to believe the gospel and receive Jesus Christ as Savior because they understood the weight of their responsibility before the Lord.
Paul sincerely believed that Jesus Christ “is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment” (1 Thessalonians 1:10, NLT). Therefore, he labored with all his strength to bring as many people as possible to Christ so they could be saved from God’s coming wrath (Romans 5:9). He told the Colossians, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism” (Colossians 3:23–25). Every follower of Christ is called to share the gospel and make disciples from all nations (Matthew 28:16–20). Paul’s “terror of the Lord” compelled him to go (1 Corinthians 9:16).
The Greek word translated as “fear” or “terror” in 2 Corinthians 5:11 means “reverence; a feeling of profound respect for someone or something, often a deity.” Paul’s “terror of the Lord” was not dread or horror of punishment from God but a reverential fear of disappointing Him through disobedience and disrespect. Paul knew His Savior loved Him (Romans 8:31–39). He longed to see Him (Philippians 1:21–24). But Paul would not minimize or consider too lightly the price Jesus had paid for him on the cross. He said, “God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too” (2 Corinthians 5:11, NLT). Respectful, reverent “terror of the Lord” and His judgment produced an unrelenting devotion to God’s calling on Paul’s life.
Fear or terror of the Lord can be understood as continual mindfulness of the Lord’s loving presence in our lives, knowing He is always attentive, watching and weighing everything we think, say, and do (Matthew 12:36; Psalm 139:2; Jeremiah 12:3). We understand that nothing escapes the Lord’s attention (Jeremiah 16:17; Psalm 44:20–21; 139:1–2; Hebrews 4:12–13; Revelation 2:19). We try to stay on the right path and keep others from stumbling, too (Leviticus 19:14; Matthew 18:6; Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 6:3).
Fear or terror of the Lord is the believer’s awe-filled response to God’s holiness (Exodus 3:5–6; Isaiah 8:13), greatness (Deuteronomy 7:21; Psalm 99:3), and glory (Exodus 15:11). The person who fears God proves it through obedience to His commands (Genesis 22:12; Deuteronomy 5:29; 10:12–13) and through loyalty and faithfulness (Joshua 24:14–15; 2 Kings 17:35–39). The prophet Isaiah linked the fear and terror of the Lord with honoring and trusting God: “Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble” (Isaiah 8:13, NLT; see also Isaiah Isaiah 50:10).
Paul knew humans were judging his ministry, but that was not his concern. He only cared about God and what He thought of Paul’s work (1 Corinthians 3:15; 4:1–5). Paul also knew that unsaved sinners would one day face God’s judgment if they did not accept Christ’s gift of salvation and be reconciled with God. So, whether Paul was thinking of himself, other servants of Christ, or the unredeemed, the terror of the Lord inspired him to preach and persuade people to come to God through Jesus Christ.
Having “the terror of the Lord” means living with the utmost respect and reverence for God, constantly aware of the reality that one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (Matthew 16:27; 1 Corinthians 4:5). Everything we think, say, and do is for His honor, glory, and pleasure. We obey and trust Him as we work diligently to keep others from experiencing God’s wrath and condemnation.
