St. John in one of his epistles says, 'Perfect love drives out fear' (I Jn. 4:18). What does the holy man signify to us by this? What sort of love and fear is he talking about? The psalmist says, 'Fear the Lord all you who love Him' (Ps. 34:9), and we find many similar sayings in Holy Scripture. If, therefore, the saints who so love Him feared Him, how can he say, 'Love casts out fear'? St. John wishes to show us that there are two kinds of fear: One preliminary, the other perfect; the one found in beginners ? as someone called it 'of the devout'; the other in those perfected in holiness, of those having arrived at true love. One forms a desire of God through fear of condemnation; this is the starting point. His starting point is not 'what is good' but the fear of torments. Another forms desire for God because he loves God Himself, loves Him and knows what is acceptable to God. Such a man is goodness itself, knowing what it is to be with God. See! This is the man who has true love, which St. John calls perfect love, and that love leads a man on to perfect fear. Such a man fears and keeps to God's will, not for fear of punishment, not to avoid condemnation, but because he has tasted the sweetness of being with God; he fears he may fall away from it; he fears to be turned away from it. This is perfect fear which is generated from perfect love and throws out preliminary fear.
From St. Dorotheos of Gaza (Discourses and Sayings; Cistercian Publications pgs. 109-110)
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