Biblical Answer

The Bible says "fear not" so many times because the concept of fear is multifaceted. In the Old Testament, the term "fear of the Lord" is common, and it means to be overwhelmed with wonder before the greatness of God. This fear is not about being afraid of God's power, but rather about being in awe of it. The Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7). When we keep the Lord's commandments, we demonstrate our fear of Him.

In the New Testament, the concept of fear is also present. Jesus teaches his followers to fear not, but rather to trust in Him. The fear that Jesus' followers should not have is the fear of God's judgment. They should not fear that God will punish them, but rather that God will judge the world and bring justice to those who have oppressed the poor and the vulnerable. The Bible teaches that God is a God of justice, and that He will judge the world according to His righteousness (Psalm 96:13, Revelation 20:12-15).

The Bible says "fear not" so many times because it wants to emphasize the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness. When we fear not, we are able to trust in God's plan for our lives, even in the midst of uncertainty and difficulty. We are able to trust that God is working everything out for our good, and that He will bring us to a place of peace and rest (Romans 8:28, Psalm 23:4). The Bible wants us to know that we can trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, and that we should not be afraid of the future. When we fear not, we are able to live with courage and confidence, knowing that God is with us and that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). The Bible says "fear not" so many times because it wants to encourage us to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, and to live with courage and confidence in the midst of uncertainty and difficulty.