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Objection 1: It seems that fear is not a sin. For fear is a
passion, as stated above (FS, Question 23, Article 4;
Question 42). Now we are neither praised nor blamed for passions,
as stated in Ethic. ii. Since then every sin is blameworthy, it
seems that fear is not a sin.
Objection 2: Further, nothing that is commanded in the Divine Law
is a sin: since the "law of the Lord is unspotted" (Ps.
18:8). Yet fear is commanded in God's law, for it is written
(Eph. 6:5): "Servants, be obedient to them that are your
lords according to the flesh, with fear and trembling." Therefore
fear is not a sin.
Objection 3: Further, nothing that is naturally in man is a sin,
for sin is contrary to nature according to Damascene (De Fide
Orth. iii). Now fear is natural to man: wherefore the Philosopher
says (Ethic. iii, 7) that "a man would be insane or insensible to
pain, if nothing, not even earthquakes nor deluges, inspired him with
fear." Therefore fear is not a sin. .
On the contrary, our Lord said (Mt. 10:28): "Fear ye not
them that kill the body," and it is written (Ezech. 2:6):
"Fear not, neither be thou afraid of their words."
I answer that, A human act is said to be a sin on account of its
being inordinate, because the good of a human act consists in order,
as stated above (Question 109, Article 2; Question 114,
Article 1). Now this due order requires that the appetite be
subject to the ruling of reason. And reason dictates that certain
things should be shunned and some sought after. Among things to be
shunned, it dictates that some are to be shunned more than others; and
among things to be sought after, that some are to be sought after more
than others. Moreover, the more a good is to be sought after, the
more is the opposite evil to be shunned. The result is that reason
dictates that certain goods are to be sought after more than certain
evils are to be avoided. Accordingly when the appetite shuns what the
reason dictates that we should endure rather than forfeit others that we
should rather seek for, fear is inordinate and sinful. On the other
hand, when the appetite fears so as to shun what reason requires to be
shunned, the appetite is neither inordinate nor sinful.
Reply to Objection 1: Fear in its generic acceptation denotes
avoidance in general. Hence in this way it does not include the notion
of good or evil: and the same applies to every other passion.
Wherefore the Philosopher says that passions call for neither praise
nor blame, because, to wit, we neither praise nor blame those who are
angry or afraid, but only those who behave thus in an ordinate or
inordinate manner.
Reply to Objection 2: The fear which the Apostle inculcates is in
accordance with reason, namely that servants should fear lest they be
lacking in the service they owe their masters.
Reply to Objection 3: Reason dictates that we should shun the evils
that we cannot withstand, and the endurance of which profits us
nothing. Hence there is no sin in fearing them.
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