Chapter 7 (129): 1. That Servile And Initial Fear Are Called The Beginning Of Wis-
Distinction XXXIV | 143 is the initial fear, which he does not deny exists in charity, unless the charity be perfect.
Chapter 7 (129)
1. THAT SERVILE AND INITIAL FEAR ARE CALLED THE BEGINNING OF WIS-
DOM, BUT DIFFERENTLY. Yet it ought to be known that each of these fears, namely the servile or the initial, in several places in Scripture is called the beginning of wisdom;' and you will ascertain this to be the case, if you diligently note the places in Scripture in which mention is made of fear of the Lord.
2. And yet servile fear is called the beginning of wisdom for one reason and a different cause, and initial fear for another. For the servile one is called the beginning of wisdom because it prepares a place for wisdom and leads to wisdom; but it does not remain with it, but goes out [at its coming].' But the initial one is called the beginning of wisdom because it exists in initial wisdom, and as one begins to have this fear, he begins to have wisdom and charity. And so it is that each of these fears is called initial, which you will be able to find in several places in Scripture. Each of these fears is also at times called servile,' because even the initial one, which exists in charity begun, has something of the servile, namely the anguish of punishment; it also has something of the chaste one, namely that it fears to offend and be separated.
Chapter 8 (130)
1. ON AUGUSTINE'S ASSERTION THAT CHASTE FEAR IS ETERNAL. It should
also be diligently noted that Augustine, in what was quoted earlier,' says that chaste fear is eternal. This is confirmation of the earlier statement," namely that the spirit of fear will exist in the future, just like the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, but it will not have every use which it has now, for then it will make us revere God, but not fear to be separated from or to lack him.
2. And so that fear was also in Christ,' but according to the use which it will have in the future in the saints. For Christ did not fear to be separated from, or to offend, God, but he revered him before all things.'
1C£ Ps. 110,10; Eccli: 1, 16; Prov. 9, 10.
See the words of Bede, above, c3 n2.
3See above, c4 n2, c6 n3.
In c5 n3.
*Above, cc2 and 3.
3As to which, see above, c3 n4.
4Cf. Hebr. 5, 7.