Jesus Christ — "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear hi…"
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Get This Quote & Author's Image Illustrated On:
Click any product to generate a realistic preview. Up to 3 at a time.
* Initial load can take up to 90 seconds — revising the preview in another color is nearly instant.
Kitchen
Apparel
Other
More from Jesus Christ
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
"Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil."
"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."
"For all who draw the sword will die by the sword."
Verification
Confirmed
Found in 2 providers: gemini,grok
2 sources checked
Understanding this quote
What it means
Don't let fear of physical harm or death control your decisions. People can only hurt your body, which is temporary anyway. The real concern should be your ultimate spiritual fate, which is determined by a higher power. In other words, keep your priorities straight: short-term physical threats matter far less than long-term spiritual consequences, so act on your convictions without being paralyzed by what others can do to you physically.
Relevance to Jesus Christ
Jesus said this while sending his disciples out knowing they would face persecution, arrest, and execution for preaching his message. He himself would be crucified within a few years, modeling the principle by choosing death rather than abandoning his mission. His core teaching consistently placed eternal stakes above worldly ones, and he framed God, not Rome or religious authorities, as the ultimate judge that actually mattered.
The era
First-century Judea sat under Roman occupation, where crucifixion, flogging, and execution were routine tools for silencing dissent. Jewish religious authorities could also expel people from synagogues, destroying their social and economic life. Early followers of Jesus faced very real threats from both powers. Teachings about an afterlife and final judgment were actively debated between Pharisees and Sadducees, so framing God as the one who controls eternal destiny was a pointed theological stance, not abstract philosophy.
AI-generated insights based on extensive research and information for context. Factual errors? Email [email protected].