Article December 13, 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 Notes in this issue are related to the Lesson-Sermon designated to be read in Christian Science churches on December 21, 1941.]

"God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this" (Ps. 62:11)—As so often in Hebrew idiom, the repetition suggests emphasis. The great fact that "power belongeth unto God" has been doubly emphasized in the Psalmist's experience.

"Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains" (Ps. 104:6)—The concept is of the primeval deep—called in Hebrew "tehom," both here and in Genesis 1:2—as so enveloping the earth that even the peaks of the highest mountains were covered.

"In the beginning" (Gen. 1:1)—What are known as the "Targums"—that is, Aramaic paraphrases of the Old Testament—provide certain interesting suggestions as to the translation and the significance of the familiar phrase rendered in our Common Version, "in the beginning." Thus the Targum of Jerusalem has: "In (or 'by') wisdom God created ... "; while that of Onkelos suggests: "in eternity...." On the other hand, the Targum of Palestine prefers: "at the beginning...."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Testimony of Healing

It is a great happiness to me to have the opportunity of...