Under stress, what student of the Bible has not sometimes found his faith in its validity threatened or even absent? Has he not been faced with the suggestion that because of the centuries intervening since Bible times, he has no personal proof of Biblical authority? Such a suggestion is erroneous, and its falsity may be proved.
The revelation of Christian Science gives the true meaning of the Scriptures. It brings about healings similar to those recorded in the Bible and explains the Principle of spiritual healing. Is this not authority for the truth of the Bible? One who has found Bible passages to be demonstrable knows they are true. He is not dependent on time or history for this knowledge, though history supports the fact. On this basis his faith in the Bible is restored, and this has been accomplished through revelation. History alone is not sufficient.
Bible scholars and translators, over the centuries, have accomplished a work which is monumental, although it sometimes resulted in their persecution and martyrdom. Their place in history is unquestionable, and we owe them unending gratitude. They did not, however, heal the sick to any extent or reveal the Science of Christianity.
The Bible was our Leader's only textbook, but the spiritual light which enabled her to understand and practice the truths of the Bible was from God. It was the same light glimpsed by prophets and apostles and demonstrated by Christ Jesus. Spiritual light is another word for revelation.
Though dimmed to human thought through centuries of spiritual darkness, revelation has reappeared in the teachings of Christian Science and is recorded in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. The truths Science reveals are being proved in the experience of thousands. Is not such proof evidence of Scriptural authority for the textbook?
The extent of Bible sales today is arresting attention. Science and Health was published in 1875. Mrs. Eddy tells us in her Message to The Mother Church for 1900 (p. 7), "In 1895 it was estimated that during the past three years there had been more Bibles sold than in all the other 1893 years." For multitudes of people Science and Health is literally a key to the Scriptures.
An eminent Bible scholar of today has stated: "Each Bible reader creates his own canon of scripture. Whether he has ever attempted to reason it out or not, he reads his Bible and judges it in the light of his own experience." This scholar also states, "The books in both collections circulated widely and independently through many years prior to the time they appeared in their respective Testaments; they came to be called scripture by the slow process of popular acceptance followed after many years by some form of official sanction."
Then is it not apparent that Bible canon or authority came from spiritual understanding made practical in the lives of the people? Official sanction followed such authority. There is evidence in today's religious world of a growing interest as to the possibility of spiritual healing. The medical world is to a startling degree investigating mental elements in healing. Material science is dealing with the mental nature of matter. This enlightenment will increase until the truth of being stated in the Bible and revealed in the Christian Science textbook will be known to all mankind.
One who found Christian Science in childhood accepted its truth without question. However, after some years of study there came a period of doubt and confusion. She was faced with this argument: Christian Science is in accord with the Bible, but what actual proof do you have of the authority of the Bible?
The answer came simply: Could she not accept what she could understand and prove, and neither accept nor reject what was not yet understood?
The natural result was a growing interest in the proving, an interest which replaced confusion and doubt. Her activity in Christian Science has continued for many years, with the Bible and Science and Health as unfailing companions.
In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," Mrs. Eddy recounts an incident that occurred in one of her classes. The Reverend James Henry Wiggin, who was attending it, became so perturbed as the teaching proceeded that finally he burst out with the question (p. 318), "How do you know that there ever was such a man as Christ Jesus?" The minister's very ample fund of historical knowledge had not apparently dispelled his doubt.
But Mrs. Eddy's reply was made from another basis. She said, "I do not find my authority for Christian Science in history, but in revelation."
Mrs. Eddy was a tireless Bible scholar, and her reply did not indicate that she had a small estimate of the sacred writings. It did, however, confirm her statement in Science and Health (p. 241), "Take away the spiritual signification of Scripture, and that compilation can do no more for mortals than can moonbeams to melt a river of ice." Her reply was confirmation of all that she taught on the subject of understanding the Bible.
Paul said (I Thess. 5:21), "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." Spiritual understanding and the dispelling of doubt are attained through practice and proving. In and by this way alone do those who love the Bible find its unquestionable authority in revelation rather than in history.
