And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. The double fear command: do not fear those with limited power (human persecutors who can kill only the body) and do fear the one with ultimate power (God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell). The soul that survives the body's death is the part that human persecution cannot reach — the limits of human power become the basis for courage in the face of persecution. The fear of God that produces courage before human opponents is not the terror of condemnation but the reverence for the one whose judgment encompasses the whole person. Hebrews 10:31 says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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