The Old Testament begins with one of the most profound and comprehensive statements ever made to mankind: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." From a scientific standpoint, the word "beginning" can be applied to God Himself, for God is Principle, one definition of which is "beginning." Affirmation of this is made by Mary Baker Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in her exegesis of the first verse of the Bible. She declares (p. 502), "The creative Principle— Life, Truth, and Love — is God." She also states here that "this word beginning is employed to signify the only, — that is, the eternal verity and unity of God and man, including the universe."
This first verse of the Bible, scientifically understood, gives the answer to the great question asked by all mankind about origin and being. Instinctively, mankind is aware that being is irrevocably bound to Deity, and through the ages, consciously or unconsciously, its goal has been to comprehend that relationship. The individual who wishes to progress along any line of human endeavor must have a definite aim. This is especially true of the Christian Scientist, whose constant aim should be to gain an understanding of divine Principle and its operation. The reason for this is found on page 90 of Science and Health, where Mrs. Eddy makes a prophecy, states a conclusion drawn from it, and explains how it can be fulfilled: "The understanding and recognition of Spirit must finally come, and we may as well improve our time in solving the mysteries of being through an apprehension of divine Principle."
To apprehend is to become conscious of. The word "principle" is derived from the Latin principium, which means "beginning or foundation." Thus "an apprehension of divine Principle" would be a consciousness of the divine beginning or foundation of all, through which the mysteries of being are to be solved.
