Synopsis "And God Said To Be Not Afraid (in English)"
Twenty-seven times in the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible the phrase "be not afraid" appears. Therefore, each of those cases will be discussed in this text. To better analyze them, they have been broken into eight categories. The first category, which is to "be not afraid" of the Lord, will be examined in chapters one, two, and three of this text. Those chapters will look closely at the ruler of the synagogue whose daughter had just died and also at the disciples when they had seen Jesus walking to them on the water. The second category, which is to "be not afraid" of the unexpected, will be considered in chapters four and five of this text. The two cases that will be examined are the disciples having been afraid during the Transfiguration and the women being afraid when they had come to the empty tomb of Jesus on the Sunday morning following His death. Chapters six and seven have been added to refute four of the theories that argue against the resurrection. The third category, which is to "be not afraid" to serve the Lord, will be discussed in chapters eight, nine, and ten of this text. The Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel and the Apostle Paul will be specific examples for that category. The fourth category, which is to "be not afraid" for lack of provision, will be discussed in chapters eleven and twelve of this text. The fifth category, which is to "be not afraid" of the enemy, will be discussed in chapters thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen of this text by looking at Joshua, King Jehoshaphat, King Hezekiah, the Jewish military leaders, and the Jewish remnant in combat or in captivity situations. As an addendum to those chapters, the chapters sixteen and seventeen will show how the Lord had dealt with Gentiles before the Incarnation and for what the Jewish people had been chosen. The sixth category, which is to "be not afraid" of ungodly authorities, will be discussed in chapters eighteen and nineteen of this text. In those chapters, the three Hebrew young men before King Nebuchadnezzar, the Apostles Peter and John before the Sanhedrin, the Deacon Stephen, the Apostle James, and the Apostle Paul being executed will be examined. The seventh category, which is to "be not afraid" of the unknown, will be discussed in chapter twenty of this text. In that discussion, the accounts of the Prophet Elijah with King Ahaziah and the Prophet Jeremiah with Judah concerning the idols of Babylon will be shared. The eighth category, which is to "be not afraid" of sudden fear, will be discussed in chapter twenty-one. Then the final chapter will discuss the importance of being not afraid of the Lord when it comes to getting saved and then when it comes to leaving this life for the next life. In short, nothing in this life is more important than knowing Jesus as one's personal savior. There is one note, however, to be made with respect to the organization of this text. Something that the reader might find useful is boxes throughout that show the different passages that are being referenced at the times and in the places where they are being referenced. That way, he or she will not have to jump all over the place or get into or out of the scriptures to locate a particular reference. Hopefully that inclusion will help the reader in trying to understand the various events and to also put them into their right context. So it is hoped that that will make this book easier to read and that the Lord will receive the praise, honor, and glory that He rightfully deserves.
