Anxiety and the Bible consist of how the Bible can help overcome anxiety, which afflicts most Americans and billions of people worldwide. Anxiety disorders affect more than 40 million American adults -- nearly 20% of the population -- and constitute the most common type of mental illness. An estimated 30% of Americans encounter a severe bout of anxiety at some point in their lifetime.
The King James Bible has the two-word combo "fear not" 71 times.[1]
The Gospel of John and its unique concept of eternal life, here and now, contain many powerful verses for overcoming anxiety. See, e.g., Combatting anxiety.
Modern English translations of the New Testament range from merely 3 (ESV, and the NASB is similar) to only 7 uses of the word "anxiety" (or "anxieties"), none of which directly offer ways to overcome it. The Book of Proverbs offers this:
| “ | Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad.[2] | ” |
| “ | fear not, for I am with you;
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” |
References
- ↑ Does the Bible really say “FEAR NOT” 365 times? by Pastor Brett Maragni
- ↑ Proverbs 12:25 . Quotes in this entry are from the ESV.