What does it mean when the Bible tells believers not to be afraid, yet also commands them to fear the Lord? That apparent contradiction is at the heart of a new book that argues the answer depends entirely on one’s relationship with God.
Michael Tropiano’s new Scripture study explores the Hebrew word yare’, the fear of the LORD, and how one’s relationship with God changes the meaning of fear.
In his newly released book, Terror or Trust: One Hebrew Word, Two Postures, and the Christ Who Carries You Across, author Michael Tropiano takes on a theological puzzle that has long puzzled readers of Scripture: Why does the same text that commands “fear not” also insist that believers fear God? Rather than treating these as opposing instructions, Tropiano argues they are two sides of the same Hebrew coin.
The study zeroes in on the Hebrew word yare’, a term that can mean either terror or reverence depending on context. Tropiano does not dismiss these as separate meanings or relegate them to different biblical eras. Instead, he contends that a person’s relationship with God determines which posture of fear they inhabit—whether they approach the divine with trembling dread or trusting awe.
Drawing examples from both the Old and New Testaments, Tropiano walks readers through how the fear of the LORD appears in themes of covenant, obedience, and the pressures of daily life. The book links reverence for God with wisdom, confidence, and a fuller experience of life, while also examining what happens when believers find themselves facing uncertainty, opposition, and competing fears that pull them in different directions.
At the core of the book’s message is the role of Christ as mediator. Tropiano presents Jesus as the one who carries believers from the terror associated with divine judgment into the security of adoption, effectively bridging the biblical commands to fear God with the equally clear commands not to be afraid.
“The Old and New Testaments are one unified story pointing to Christ,” Tropiano said.
Terror or Trust is part of The 45-Minute Theologian: A Deeper Scripture Study for the Busy Believer™, a series specifically designed to deliver focused biblical teaching in an accessible format that can be read in a single sitting—a nod to the reality that many Christians want deeper study but lack the time for dense textbooks.
Michael Tropiano is the author of Terror or Trust and the creator of The 45-Minute Theologian. His work is tailored for Christians who seek a richer understanding of Scripture without being overwhelmed by academic jargon or lengthy volumes.
Learn more:
https://www.the45minutetheologian.com/
Available now on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HM3KJTC3
For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:
Michael Tropiano
BrightKey PR
michaeltropiano@gmail.com
Why it matters: For believers wrestling with what it truly means to “fear the Lord,” Tropiano’s study offers a framework that resolves an ancient tension without erasing either side. By grounding the concept in relationship rather than rule, the book suggests that the same word—yare’—can lead to radically different postures depending on whether one stands before God as a judge or a Father. That distinction has implications not just for theology, but for how Christians navigate fear in their everyday lives.
