Word Nerd Wednesday - Punishment

My amazingly talented friend Kate DiZio returns to My Messy Desk this week to take on a heavy word. But read on, because I love how she unpacks the weight in light of God’s grace, mercy, and love.

Punishment: (Greek, kolasis – kol’-as-is) penal infliction: - punishment, torment.

1 John 4:18 says “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

This particular translation of punishment (kolasis) is not often used in the New Testament. In fact, it’s only used in the above scripture. The closest comparison we have is the Greek word kolazo which is used in Matthew 25:46 and translates to eternal punishment.

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary details that kolasis “describes a process, not merely an effect” (Vine, Unger and White, “Punishment”).

So…this isn’t just that detention your third grade teacher gave you. This isn’t the phone you took away from your teenager, or even the sentence brought upon your Aunt Kathy for stealing the neighbors lawn chairs. Or car. Whatever.

When we break down 1 John 4:18, we notice two repetitions: love and fear. This isn’t any old love, nor is it any old fear. The love described here is agape, the actual love of God towards the human race…the same love He had towards His Son, Jesus. The definition of fear here is not merely being scared – it’s a sense of terror. It’s the same fear that fallen humanity displays in Revelation 18:10:

“And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment…”

This is a fear that literally translates to “that which may cause flight.” It’s so scary, it makes you want to run away.

So why reserve this specific translation of ‘punishment’ for this specific verse? What these polar opposite definitions of love and fear describe in 1 John 4:18, is their complete inability to exist together.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains: “The idea that believers need not fear receives its most radical expression in 1 John. This Epistle, with its great emphasis on love and its fatherly tone, reassures its readers that on the day of judgment they need not fear, because fear has to do with punishment, and God’s perfect love for them has removed that threat” (Bromiley, “Fear”).

Oh how our Father in Heaven loves us…so much so that He would give us the power to completely erase the most intense fear known to creation simply by abiding in His love.

Take a moment (or two, or five), and give thanks.