Queries & Comments

Are There Any God-Fearers Today?

Thank you for the interesting articles on “The God-Fearers—Did They Exist?” BAR 12:05. I commend you on your practice of presenting both sides of an issue in this and in previous issues. This is one of the things that makes BAR such a well-balanced magazine.

Many times, history serves as a mirror and even gives us insights into our present-day lives. As I read the articles about the God-Fearers, I wondered whether in 2,000 years, if the “great and terrible Day of the Lord” has not yet arrived, archaeologists will sift through the evidence of our present-day civilization and debate whether or not there were any “God-fearers”?

Breathing Life into the Biblical Work

BAR is great! I’ve subscribed to it from its inception and look forward to reading each issue because it breathes life into the Biblical world for me through words and pictures. I don’t agree with everything I read in BAR, but you don’t really expect me to. As I see it, you’re helping me be aware of the steps being taken toward discovering the world of my spiritual roots. Some of these “steps” are tentative, some may be wrong, some are controversial, some are unorthodox (in approach as well as theology), but all are open to reevaluation; and I like that, because you do it with style and iconoclastic frankness.