[_petronius]

Nothing linkbaity about it. "Dread" as in "fear of God" is a common theme in western Christianity, especially around Bach's time (and still is in some cases today, cf. the Rastafarian dreadlocks being a symbol of respect for the power of God). And in this sense, "fear" is meant less as "scary haunted house" kind of fear, and more as respect and obedience to the divine power.

Also of interest: the etymology of the word "dread"[0]; Fear-God Barebone, the brother of the more famous Praise-God Barebone, for whom the "Barbone's Parliament" during the English Commonwealth takes its name[1][2]; and the theological theory behind the idea of the fear of God[3].

[0]: http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&searc...

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praise-God_Barebone

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barebone's_Parliament

[3]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_God

[pvg]

The phrase itself is well known and has been kicking around for ages. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous drug trip:

"And close your eyes with holy dread"

But also Wycliffe's Bible, from the late 1300s:

"The hooli drede of the Lord dwellith in to world of world"

[defen]

Puritans had the best names. Praise-God's son was named "Nicholas If-Jesus-Christ-Had-Not-Died-For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barebone"

[_petronius]

Ah, fantastic. Some cultures still do names like that: I once met a woman from Zimbabwe whose name translated as "Merciful Lord", which I thought was pretty cool.