Article September 16, 1922 Issue

"Rightly dividing the word of truth"

ISRAEL PICKENS

It will be recalled that at the time of his second epistle to Timonthy, Paul, whose words and works were always so wonderfully expressive of the teachings of Christ Jesus, had become an experienced exponent and practitioner of Christianity. Writing from Rome, where he had been brought before Nero, he was especially desirous that Timothy should carry on his Christian ministry with discretion and wisdom; for at that time there was much persecution of the followers of the Christ. After giving many explicit instruction, as found in these epistles, he likens him to a "workman." He wrote, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." As the carpenter's or workman's "dividers" express accuracy, so was he being enjoined to rightly divide,—that is, to carefully test or measure his understanding of the word of Truth in the work he had set out to perform.

The tenor of those epistles was such as to bring to the attention of this young student the imperative necessity for the demonstration of Truth, which it were impossible to bring about except through that Christliness and consecration—even that "Spirit of truth"—which must bear witness to like demonstration. Paul did not ignore the letter, but he did emphasize the need of the spirit of love and compassion as being essential to the fulfillment of all requirements of the true Christian. Whether intended for presenting more clearly and forcefully through the spoken word the fundamentals of Christian teaching, or for the practical application of wisdom and discretion and a greater love, he gave Timothy a complete definition of the coordinate nature of these two distinctive elements,—the letter and the spirit.

Those individuals to-day who have learned the way of Life through Christian Science are doubly blessed, in that the letter and the spirit of Christianity are both presented in such a way that the truths of the teachings of Christ Jesus are in this age, as well as in the time of Paul and Timothy, rendered available for all human needs. Christian Science has brought a full blessing for all mankind, giving a right understanding of God and man. Its mission is to declare and demonstrate the Christ, Truth,—so to evangelize the human consciousness, that all error, mortal sense, and sin will be cast out, that the universe will be seen in its real light, and that the true man will be revealed as standing forth in God's image. This significant teaching, that the understanding of the letter of Christian Science must be accompanied by the spirit or Christliness of Christian Science before the truths it sets forth can be clearly demonstrated, pervades the entire writings of Mrs. Eddy. She whose work as author of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," would alone have been a wonderful achievement did not stop at that point; but, through the inspiration given to her of God, she founded the Christian Science movement that has made it possible for the whole world to be taught of Truth, through the many and complete channels that have been thus provided.

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