A DIFFICULTY which presents itself to many people in approaching the study of Christian Science is disbelief in the Bible. The inevitable reaction from the theory of "verbal inspiration," so called, arising from the freedom of research which characterizes this period, has resulted in a tendency to think of the Bible as a collection of interesting folklore, Oriental drama, and poetry, admirable as literature, but of no practical import to the present generation.
When, therefore, the student of Christian Science is confronted with the necessity of accepting the Bible as the very foundation of his study, his thoughts are apt to revert to many of the incidents recorded there, especially in the Old Testament, which have hitherto been looked upon as akin to the legends found in every religion, and as unworthy of credence. The story of the brazen serpent, for instance, as told in the twenty-first chapter of Numbers, may seem on the surface to have more relationship to the idolatry of the golden calf than to the spiritual means by which the children of Israel were to be led through the varied experiences of the wilderness. Since, however, it was referred to by Jesus as symbolic of his mission, there can be no doubt that it had its rightful place in the education of the Israelites, and that it has, therefore, some special meaning in regard to mankind's advance out of materiality to-day.
A valuable consideration at this point is the fact that the writers of the apostolic and post-apostolic period interpreted the Old Testament histories almost entirely in their symbolic and spiritual meaning, and paid little attention to their historical value; and indeed, this is the only method whereby to appreciate their beauty and their utility. On page 170 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy is quoted as follows: "The material record of the Bible ... is no more important to our well-being than the history of Europe and America; but the spiritual application bears upon our eternal life."
