{
  "id": "supplemental_000001",
  "term": "Fear of Man",
  "slug": "fear-of-man",
  "letter": "F",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "practical_theology",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Fear of man is the sinful fear of human opinion, approval, rejection, or harm that leads a person to compromise obedience to God.",
  "simple_one_line": "Fear of man is fearing people more than God and letting their approval control obedience.",
  "tooltip_text": "A sinful fear of human approval or rejection that can trap the heart and lead to compromise.",
  "aliases": [
    "people-pleasing",
    "man-fearing"
  ],
  "scripture_references": [
    "Proverbs 29:25",
    "Matthew 10:28",
    "John 12:42-43",
    "Galatians 1:10"
  ],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Fear",
    "Fear of the Lord",
    "Courage",
    "Persecution",
    "Discipleship"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Fear",
    "Fear of the Lord",
    "Courage",
    "Pride",
    "Persecution"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Fear of man describes the misplaced fear of human approval, rejection, reputation, pressure, or harm. Scripture contrasts this snare with fearing the Lord, trusting God, and obeying him even when people oppose the truth.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A sinful fear of human opinion, rejection, or power that competes with the fear of the Lord.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Proverbs 29:25 calls the fear of man a snare.",
    "It can appear as cowardice, people-pleasing, silence, compromise, or craving approval.",
    "The biblical answer is not harshness toward people but greater trust in God.",
    "Christ teaches his disciples to fear God more than those who can harm the body."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Fear of man is a moral and spiritual disorder in which human approval or threat becomes functionally greater than God’s authority. It is not ordinary prudence or wise concern for others, but a controlling fear that draws the heart away from faithful obedience.",
  "description_academic_full": "Fear of man is the misplaced fear of human opinion, social standing, rejection, persecution, or earthly power. Scripture does not condemn all concern for people, reputation, or danger; believers should act wisely and lovingly. But when the desire to be accepted or the dread of being opposed rules the conscience, fear of man becomes a snare. Proverbs 29:25 contrasts this trap with safety in trusting the Lord. Jesus likewise teaches that disciples must fear God more than those who can kill the body but cannot destroy the soul. The term therefore names a common spiritual temptation: allowing people to become the practical lord of one’s decisions.",
  "background_biblical_context": "The theme appears in wisdom, prophecy, the Gospels, and the epistles. Leaders may hide their faith because they love human praise. Disciples may be tempted to deny Christ under pressure. Paul rejects people-pleasing as incompatible with being a servant of Christ.",
  "background_historical_context": "In biblical societies shaped by family, honor, public reputation, and communal pressure, fear of people could be a strong social force. Scripture recognizes that pressure but does not excuse compromise before God.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Old Testament wisdom places the fear of the Lord at the beginning of wisdom. Fear of man is the opposite orientation: people become the controlling audience instead of God.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Proverbs 29:25",
    "Matthew 10:28",
    "John 12:42-43",
    "Galatians 1:10"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Isaiah 51:12-13",
    "Acts 4:19-20",
    "1 Peter 3:14-16"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The phrase is an English theological summary rather than a single technical biblical term. The idea is built from passages about fearing people, loving human praise, and seeking to please man rather than God.",
  "theological_significance": "Fear of man exposes how easily the heart can treat human approval as more ultimate than God. It calls believers to repent of people-pleasing and to live before God’s face.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "Fear of man concerns the question of ultimate audience. The human heart acts before someone; Scripture calls believers to live coram Deo—before God—rather than before the tribunal of human approval.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not confuse fear of man with proper respect, humility, prudence, or love for others. The sin is allowing people to rule the conscience where God must rule.",
  "major_views_note": "Most interpreters agree that Scripture warns against fearing people more than God. Differences arise mainly in pastoral application, especially where prudence and courage must be balanced.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "The remedy is not self-confidence but trust in the Lord. Fear of God, love for neighbor, and obedience to Christ must govern the conscience.",
  "practical_significance": "This entry helps believers identify pressure to please people at the cost of obedience. It calls for courage, humility, and trust in God’s protection and approval.",
  "meta_description": "Fear of man is the sinful fear of human opinion, approval, rejection, or harm that leads a person to compromise obedience to God.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/fear-of-man/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/fear-of-man.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL",
  "source_note": "Supplemental static patch added after final workbook publication to resolve missing linked dictionary pages."
}