Philoxenus of Mabbug

In his own words on 1 John

• 1 John 4:18

  It is necessary that whosoever occupieth the position of a servant should fear, for fear should follow after service in every form; but there is in the love which is not perfect, fear, for the Holy Book saith, "In perfect love there is no fear." So then after the man who beginneth with love and is not yet perfect, fear followeth. One man feareth lest he be struck, and this is the fear of slaves; another man feareth lest he suffer loss, and this is the fear of hirelings; another man feareth lest he cause distress, and this is the fear of friends; and another man feareth lest his name be not handed down to posterity, and this is the fear [of lack] of children. Now although the name of fear is one, yet many different kinds [of fear] are found therein. There is the fear of God which the holy Prophets had, [and there is the fear] which the nation of the Jews had from time to time, but the forms of that fear were different; the Prophets, like friends, feared to cause distress to God, Whom they loved, but the Jews, like slaves, were afraid of the rod of His chastisement.

  13 Ascetic Discourses, Discourse 7 -- Second Discourse on the Fear of God