Spiritual Meaning of the Scriptures

WILLIAM KENNETH PRIMROSE

In searching for that which will make the world better and happier, more and more people are today turning away from preconceived notions and are finding security and happiness in understanding the truth of Mary Baker Eddy's statement in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 547) that "the true theory of the universe, including man, is not in material history but in spiritual development."

In the early part of the book of Genesis there are clear evidences of two distinct documents, one giving the spiritually scientific account of creation, and the other a material or pantheistic view of creation; and the opposite states of thought expressed in these two documents can be traced throughout the Bible.

The teachings of Christian Science throw a new light upon the Bible. In her textbook Mrs. Eddy has given us the "key" to the Scriptures, and when interpreted in the light of spiritual understanding the Bible becomes a new book, alive with scientific meaning. Thus interpreted, it not only explains the enigma of material existence, but reveals the way of scientific salvation and healing. In this new light the Bible, it is also seen, points out the rocks and shallows to be avoided in the working out of one's salvation, and shows clearly and unmistakably how this work is to be done.

On page 279 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy, referring to "Joshua and his band before the walls of Jericho," states that they "went seven times around these walls, the seven times corresponding to the seven days of creation: the six days are to find out the nothingness of matter; the seventh is the day of rest, when it is found that evil is naught and good is all." This passage has been found especially helpful in awakening the thought of the beginner in Christian Science to the scientific meaning of the Bible, showing that the record of creation, as contained in the first chapter of Genesis, cannot be regarded as an account of the creation of a material universe, but must be looked upon as a description of the unfolding of the truth about creation in human consciousness.

The spiritually scientific meaning of the Scriptures unfolds to anyone studying them in this light. For example, the fall of the walls of Jericho, as recorded in the book of Joshua, is followed by the failure of the Israelites before Ai. As he prayed, Joshua discerned the reason for this failure, namely, "They have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled."

May not this narrative and other narratives of important events typify the experiences of every Christian Scientist? Have not all Christian Scientists, for instance, after overcoming some difficulty or after taking some progressive step, found it necessary at one time or another to retrace their steps because they were still clinging to some erroneous habit or worldly desire which hindered their advancement? And have they not also frequently refrained from eradicating or utterly destroying some erroneous trait of character which was the seeming cause of the evil suggestions that came to them? From such illustrations can be seen the importance to the individual of searching for and finding the treasures stored in the Bible, which are there for those who will study it and learn its spiritual significance.

In the chapter on Genesis in the Christian Science textbook, in her interpretation of the text, "And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters," Mrs. Eddy writes as follows (p. 505): "Spiritual understanding, by which human conception, material sense, is separated from Truth, is the firmament." This inspired interpretation is of enormous importance to every student of Christian Science, since it shows clearly and distinctly that the firmament must be established in one's own consciousness by accepting the spiritual ideas which unfold to him and rejecting the suggestions of material sense, in proportion as he sees "evil is naught and good is all."

Mrs. Eddy gives a divinely inspired rendition of the twenty-third Psalm, the last verse of which reads as follows (Science and Health, p. 578): "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of [LOVE] for ever." The cultivation of spiritual understanding leads to "the house of the Lord," in which the beliefs of material existence have no place, and all that exists is that which is real, the immutably beautiful and harmonious, the good and the true.

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