Article January 11, 1941 Issue

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.]

"The Word of life" (I John 1:1)—The Greek term which is here translated "Word" is "Logos" (compare John 1:1), which has a wide variety of meanings, including "reason, message, instruction," besides "word." Thus we find various alternative renderings, such as that of Moffatt: "the Logos of Life;" and Goodspeed: "the very message of life."

"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full" (I John 1:4)—The Sinaitic and Vatican manuscripts, and several early versions, read "our joy" instead of "your joy" at this point; while the term rendered "be full" can also mean "be completed, realized, perfected or fulfilled." The American Standard Version has: "These things we write, that our joy may be made full;" and The Twentieth Century New Testament: "We are writing all this to you that our joy may be complete."

"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house" (Ps. 36:8)—Dr. Kirkpatrick, in his Commentary on the book of Psalms, contends that "the metaphor is derived from the sacrificial meal, in which God receives the worshipper at his table (Lev. 7:15; Jer. 31:14)." Kent renders: "They are fully satisfied with the rich things of thy house."

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