RELATED TO THE LESSON-SERMONS FOR
November 1997
Each Lesson-Sermon published in the Christian Science Quarterly — Bible Lessons is designed to be complete in itself. Its Bible references (King James Version) are corroborated and explained by passages from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. These notes and commentary are offered by The Christian Science Journal as indications of the possibilities for individual research.
Abbreviations
GW = God's Word: Today's Bible translation by God's Word to the
Nations Bible Society
IB = The Interpreter's Bible
JFB = Commentary on the
Old and New Testaments by
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
LXX = Septuagint Version of the
Old Testament
NT = New Testament
OT = Old Testament
RSV = Revised Standard Version
WBC = Word Biblical Commentary
© 1997 The Christian Science Publishing Society. All rights reserved.
November 2
EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT
He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (Gal. 6:8)
IB comments: "In the culture of the soil men were never so foolish as to expect grapes from thorns or figs from thistles. ... But in the culture of the soul they had still to learn that ... [a]ll the 'flesh-works' ... bore the spores of their own 'decay' (... corruption), and were doomed to die even as they grew." WBC adds: "What Paul seems to have in mind here in speaking about sowing to the flesh are the libertine tendencies of his Galatian converts that he has alluded to earlier in this section: quarrelsomeness (5:15, 26), conceit (5:26), envy (5:26), living aloof from the needs of others (6:1-2; perhaps also 6:6), and pride (6:3)."
Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me (Luke 15:12)
Much could be said of the disrespect of a son who would initiate such a request, especially in Bible times, but this is not enlarged upon in the story. According to Jewish custom, the firstborn was to receive a double portion of his father's estate (see Deut. 21:17), and so presumably the prodigal would have had the remaining third of the possessions. Although here the father "divided unto them his living," he would continue to "enjoy a life interest in that portion" designated for the older brother (IB).
November 9
ADAM AND FALLEN MAN
Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word (James 1:21)
WBC thinks that here James is "defining ... the nature of true piety." This involves "renunciation of all moral evil" (WBC), expressed here by a verb ("lay apart") that in the Greek often was used to describe the removal of soiled garments (compare Zech. 3:3, 4). Further, it involves a receptivity to the word that is not just "a formal acceptance of the message" (WBC), but acting "responsively and responsibly" to the word of truth —being "doers of the word, and not hearers only" (verse 22).
This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Gen. 2:23)
In English, we denote kinship by the phrase "blood relationships," but as WBC points out, Hebrew would use a variation on "flesh and bone"—perhaps because of this story. (For examples, see Gen. 29:14; Judg. 9:2; II Sam. 5:1 and 19:12,13.)
When the fulness of the time was come (Gal. 4:4)
IB finds in this expression "a whole philosophy of history." The Biblical writers believed that human experience unfolded according to God's plan: "He had a time for everything, and everything happened exactly on time" (IB). The appearing of the Messiah (which is the particular "happening" under discussion in this verse) had been prophesied by OT writers for centuries, and Paul reaffirms here that the timing was precisely ordained of God. Compare Acts 1:6, 7.
November 16
MORTALS AND IMMORTALS Give diligence to make your calling and election sure (II Peter 1.10)
The phrase "give diligence" (RSV has "be the more zealous," and GW offers "use more effort") renders a single word in the Greek. It is, according to WBC, "a natural word for moral effort," and is found in two other NT passages, Ephesians 4:3 ("endeavouring") and Hebrews 4:11 ("labour"). As stated, the purpose of this diligent effort is to "confirm your call and election" (RSV). WBC does not see any great distinction between the two terms call and election. They both refer to God's "initiative and power" (IB) in effecting salvation. IB notes, "Divine power, in other words, supports men in their effort to achieve their true destiny, to 'become partakers of the divine nature' (vs. 4)." This is not in conflict with Paul's emphasis on salvation by faith or grace alone. The focus here is on the results of that faith, the fruits which confirm moral progress (compare Matt. 7:17-20; Gal. 5:22, 23). WBC summarizes: "The knowledge of Christ received in Christian conversion should have these ethical consequences, and such fruits of faith are actually necessary if Christ's choice and call of Christians is to be made good. ... The Christian whose life does not exhibit these qualities is in fact living as though he or she had not been converted and baptized a Christian."
November 23
SOUL AND BODY
In him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring (Acts 17:28)
The first clause means "that God is the living, immanent Principle of all these [things] in men," according to JFB. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself (Dan. 1:8)
The point here is not one of defending against persecution, but rather apostasy. In the midst of a culture alien to one's spiritual values, how shall one work out a "viable life-style" (WBC) that is nurturing of those values? The Jewish dietary laws are used here as a vehicle for this point. In refusing the food provided by the court, Daniel is making a statement about his values. The story illustrates the fact that in remaining true to basic spiritual values, through expressions of obedience to God, one experiences the tangible blessings of protection and prosperity promised to the faithful throughout the Scriptures. Behind this illustration, as WBC notes, "is the assumption that there are objects and activities that are proper to some groups but not to others. ... The distinctiveness of the smaller group is preserved by its avoiding the objects and activities in question. Expressed thus, holiness/cleanness/defilement are wholly theological ... categories. ... [W]hat we eat and drink, like what we wear and how we speak, generally constitutes an outward expression of our self-identity and commitments. ... Daniel's abstinence thus symbolizes his avoiding assimilation" and makes a strong statement about the practical reason for faithfulness to the one true God.
November 30
ANCIENT AND MODERN NECROMANCY, alias MESMERISM AND HYPNOTISM, DENOUNCED
Them that have familiar spirits, ... wizards that peep, and that mutter (Isa. 8:19)
These "mediums" and "fortune-tellers" (GW) were related to "the cult of the dead" and "practices of necromancy such as were common in the area," according to WBC. "Peep," JFB explains, means "to chirp faintly, as young birds do; this sound was generally ascribed to departed spirits; by ventriloquism the soothsayers caused a low sound to proceed as from a grave, or dead person. Hence the LXX. render the Hebrew for necromancers here 'ventriloquists' ...." Compare also Isaiah 29:4.
lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims (II Kings 19-15)
We learn from First Kings 6:23-35 that Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem was decorated with a number of these winged, nonhuman creatures. Symbolically, the Temple represented God's dwelling place on earth, especially the inner sanctuary or "oracle." See also Exodus 25:18-22; Psalms 80:1.
