Editorial July 13, 1918 Issue

The English Bible

William P. McKenzie

Vastly increasing in the world is the number of those who understand the English language. To a great multitude it is their mother tongue. To many it is the language of convenience, acquired in order to be a medium for their commerce. To many it is their language of thought, a tongue either inherited or acquired, wherein and whereby their deepest thoughts find expression. And always central to their thinking is the English Bible with its revelation of divine law, spiritual, prophetic insight, and gospel teaching and healing.

Furthermore, this age has seen the appearance of Christian Science, which has proven its ability to deliver the student of the Bible from the babel of divisive theories promulgated about it by reestablishing the method of healing which it records. "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy gives the unfolding of Scriptural truth whereby all Christians can become as united as mathematicians are and as mentally satisfied because of proof given. The author of the Christian Science textbook, when arranging for its translation, stipulated that opposite the text which would be the translation should appear "the divinely inspired English version which shall be the standard." This was in a letter to her publisher under date of March 31, 1910, which is quoted in the Preface to the German translation, and this rule was, of course, regarded when the French translation was published. By means of these two translations many more students will be able to come to an appreciation of "the divinely inspired English version."

In the translation of the Old Testament Scriptures from Hebrew or Chaldee into Greek, it is to be noted that where the first translators blundered, the translators into other tongues, following them, repeated the mistakes; therefore dogmas based on Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and also English translations are sometimes quite insecurely founded, and, with whatever reluctance, must be given up. Mrs. Eddy's teachings bring us back to the spiritual intuition of the original writers, making us understand their message and able to prove it true, for she gave us an example by her own demonstration. She says (Science and Health, p. 24): "Acquaintance with the original texts, and willingness to give up human beliefs (established by hierarchies, and instigated sometimes by the worst passions of men), open the way for Christian Science to be understood, and make the Bible the chart of life, where the buoys and healing currents of Truth are pointed out."

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