Article April 12, 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 April 20, 1941.]

"The ministry of reconciliation" (II Cor. 5:18)— It may be noted that the Greek word which is rendered "reconciliation" at this point is translated "atonement" in our Common Version of Romans 5:11. Moffatt's rendering is "God . . . has permitted me to be a minister of his reconciliation;" while Weymouth (Fifth Edition) has: "God . . . has appointed us ministers of this reconciliation."

"My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved" (Rom. 10:1)— The Greek word here rendered "desire" can mean also "good pleasure, delight, happiness, satisfaction." Goodspeed renders: "My heart is full of good will toward them; my prayer to God is that they may be saved." While the actual word "Israel" is not, as the latter rendering shows, represented in the Greek, it is clear from the context that it was indeed the Israelites whom Paul had in mind.

"They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge" (Rom. 10:2)— The meaning of the latter phrase would seem to be clarified by translating: "But it is not in accord with knowledge," that is, "it does not measure up to the standard required by knowledge."

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