Bible Notes
[The Biblical citations given in the Christian Science Quarterly are from the Authorized King James Version. The Bible Notes in this column can be used, if deemed necessary, to elucidate some of the words or passages contained in the Bible Lessons.]
"Talk ye of all his wondrous works" (I Chron. 16:9)—The verb which is here rendered "talk" is also used in the sense of "meditate upon, study, or consider." Consequently, Moffatt renders: "Go over all the wonders he has done;" while another suggested translation is: "Ponder over all his wonders."
"All the gods of the people are idols" (I Chron. 16:26)—The word rendered "idols" is "elilim," which means literally "nothingnesses" or "things of nought" (Margin of the American Standard Version). Scholars contend that there is a play upon words in the original: "All the gods (elohim) of the people are things of nought (elilim)."
"Glory and honour are in his presence" (I Chron. 16:27)—The term "hod," here translated "glory," may also be rendered "splendor, majesty, vigor"; while alternative renderings of "hadar" (honour) are "ornament, splendor." Thus we find that Moffatt translates: "Grandeur and majesty attend him;" while Smith and the American Standard Version have: "Honor and majesty are before him."
"In the beginning" (Gen. 1:1)—In the Aramaic paraphrases of the Old Testament we find interesting suggestions as to the significance and translation of the phrase usually rendered "in the beginning." Thus the Targum of Jerusalem renders it: "in wisdom"; and that of Palestine: "at the beginning"; while the Targum of Onkelos sets down a word which can be translated "in eternity."
"Ye heavens of heavens" (Ps. 148:4)—This phrase, not seldom found in the Old Testament, is virtually equivalent in meaning to "the highest heaven," in accord with a well-known Hebrew idiom.
"They that dwell therein shall die in like manner" (Isa. 51:6)—The Hebrew words translated "in like manner" can also be rendered "like gnats," and this would seem to carry on very naturally the sequence of similes found in this verse: "like smoke, ... like a garment." As a consequence, Moffatt renders: "The world itself shall crumble, and its dwellers die like gnats."
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world?" (I Cor. 1:20)—Weymouth (Fifth Edition) suggests: "Where is your wise man? Where is your scholar? Where your disputant of this present age?" Goodspeed prefers: "Where now is your philosopher? Your scribe? Your reasoner of today?"
"For ye see your calling, brethren" (I Cor. 1:26)—The Greek word "blepsete" can be rendered either as an indicative ("Ye see") or as an imperative ("See!" "Behold!"). Hence Goodspeed has: "For consider, brothers, what happened when God called you;" while Moffatt renders: "Why, look at your own ranks, my brothers;" and continues, "not many wise men (that is, judged by human standards), not many leading men, not many of good birth, have been called!"
"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (I Cor. 2:5)—The Greek which is here rendered "should ... stand" means more literally "should ... be" (compare the Margin of the American Standard Version). Goodspeed suggests: "so that your faith might rest, not on human philosophy, but on the power of God."
"Them that are perfect" (I Cor. 2:6)—The Greek word "teleios," here rendered "perfect," can also mean "complete," as well as "full-grown" or "mature." Thus, while the Margin of the Revised Version has: "the fullgrown," The Twentieth Century New Testament prefers: "those whose faith is matured."
"The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:14)—The term which is translated "natural" is "psuchikos"; that is, pertaining to the "psuche," which Dr. Thayer defines as "the sensuous nature with its subjection to appetite and passion." Weymouth renders: "The unspiritual man rejects the teachings of the Spirit of God;" and Goodspeed: "A material man will not accept what the Spirit of God offers."
"There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts" (II Pet. 3:3)—In the earliest manuscripts of the New Testament we find the words "en empaigmone" (literally, "in—or with—scoffing") in addition to the word for "scoffers." This virtual duplication, familiar in the Old Testament, is taken by many as implying emphasis. Moffatt suggests: "Mockers will come with their mockeries in the last days, men who go by their own passions."
"Where is the promise of his coming?" (II Pet. 3:4)—While the Greek term "parousia" can, and often does, mean "coming," its more literal meaning is "presence." Hence one could render: "Where is the promise of his presence"—in short, "What signs are there of its reality (or fulfillment)?" Just such a promise with regard to the ever-presence of the Christ is found in Matthew 28:20: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
"The elements" (II Pet. 3:10)—The Greek "stoicheia," which is thus translated, is taken by some as signifying the alleged material bases of the universe; though the word sometimes has reference to "heavenly bodies" (Goodspeed); or, as Moffatt renders it, "stars."
