Article September 27, 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 October 5, 1941.]

"The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes" (I John 2:16)—Rendering this passage in rather more modern English, the Twentieth Century New Testament translates: "the gratification of the earthly nature, the gratification of the eye;" while the Riverside New Testament has: "the passions of the flesh and the lust of the eyes."

"The pride of life" (I John 2:16)—The Greek word "alazonia," which is rendered "pride" in this passage, is usually employed in the sense of "empty, braggart talk"; while Dr. Thayer describes it as denoting "an impious and empty presumption which trusts in the stability of earthly things." In I John 2:16, Weymouth (Fifth Edition) translates as follows: "the show and pride of life;" while the Twentieth Century New Testament has: "the pretentious life."

"While men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares" (Matt. 13:25)—The word translated "men" is a word constantly used by Matthew to mean "men in general, people." Thus there is no implied rebuke of the servants for not watching over the field in the midnight hours. The Greek simply suggests that it was at night, the normal time for sleep, when the "enemy" came and sowed weeds among the grain.

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