[The Biblical citations given in the Christian Science Quarterly are from the Authorized King James Version. The Bible Notes in these columns 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 January 17, 1943.]

"Good Master, what good thing shall I do ...? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God" (Matt. 19:16, 17)—The word rendered "Master" means literally "Teacher." Several important and early manuscripts omit the word "good" before "Master" and substitute for "Why callest thou me good?" etc., words which may be literally rendered: "Why do you ask me concerning the good? There is but One that is good." Goodspeed suggests: "Master, what good deed must I do? ... But he said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.' "

"All these things have I kept from my youth up" (Matt. 19:20)—The words "from my youth up" are not represented in the most ancient and authoritative manuscripts of this passage now extant, and are therefore omitted by most modern translators. The American Standard Version has simply: "All these things have I observed;" and Weymouth (Fifth Edition): " 'All of these,' said the young man, 'I have carefully obeyed.' " In a footnote Weymouth reminds us that the verb rendered "kept" in this verse means literally "guarded," and is "a stronger word than in verse 17."

"Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?" (Matt. 19:27)—The impulsive bluntness of Peter's question, so clearly apparent in the original Greek, is well represented by Moffatt: "Well, we have left our all and followed you. Now what are we to get?" Goodspeed has: "Here we have left all we had and followed you. What are we to have?"

"In the regeneration" (Matt. 19:28)—The unusual Greek term which is here rendered "regeneration" means literally "rebirth" or "renewal." Weymouth offers the interesting rendering: "in the New Creation;" while the Twentieth Century New Testament has: "at the New Creation."

"Though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident" (Ps. 27:3)—While the Hebrew phrase "bezoth" can indeed mean "in this," it can also mean "in spite of this," a rendering which would appear to clarify the sense at this point. Thus we find that the Revised Version renders: "even then ...," while Moffatt has: "Still would I be confident."

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Ps. 27:13)—The words "I had fainted" are not represented in the Hebrew, while a number of early authorities suggest that the term rendered "unless" was not found in the earliest manuscripts. Thus the Septaugint Version had: "I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living;" while Moffatt renders: "I do believe I shall yet see the Eternal good to me, in the land of the living."

"Lay up these my words ... and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes" (Deut. 11:18)—This verse, interpreted literally, was one of the passages appealed to by the Jews as justifying the custom of wearing phylacteries—small cases containing scrolls on which were written this passage and also certain verses from Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, and Exodus, Chapter 13. Phylacteries were worn on the left arm and on the forehead—between the eyes. It is still usual in many Jewish homes to attach such scrolls to the doorposts, in literal fulfillment of the words of Deuteronomy (11:20): "Thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house."

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6:24)—"Mammon" is really an Aramaic term which means "riches" or "wealth." Some authorities take it as being derived from the root "aman" (as is our word "Amen"), a root meaning "to be firm or steadfast, to trust, or put confidence in," and on this view, "mammon" would mean that in which many people place their trust. Wycliffe rendered it "riches"; while Goodspeed has, "money."

"Take no thought" (Matt. 6:25, 31)—Bearing in mind the fact that the root of the Greek verb rendered "take no thought" is a noun meaning "anxiety, care, worry," the Twentieth Century New Testament suggests: "Do not be anxious," a rendering which is preferred also by the scholar who prepared the Riverside New Testament.

"They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare" (I Tim. 6:9)—The "will" found in this verse is not, of course, that of the future tense, but rather that of desire or decision. Thus we find that Moulton renders: "They that desire to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare;" while Weymouth has: "People who want to be rich fall into temptation and a snare."

"Charge them that are rich ... that they be not highminded" (I Tim. 6:17)—The Greek term which is here rendered "to be highminded" means also "to be proud" or "to be haughty." Goodspeed suggests: "Charge the rich of this world not to be arrogant;" while Moffatt has: "Charge the rich ... not to be supercilious."

"Ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (I Tim. 6:18)—The word rendered "ready to distribute" means also "willingly sharing"; while that which is translated "willing to communicate" appears to mean practically the same thing—"willing to share." Weymouth renders: "openhanded, and liberal"; and the Riverside New Testament: "generous, ready to share."

"The day after" (Luke 7:11)—A number of the earliest and most authoritative manuscripts of the New Testament do not include the word for "day"; and, bearing this in mind, the Twentieth Century New Testament suggests: "shortly after"; while Goodspeed suggests: "soon afterward."

"I have not spoken of myself" (John 12:49)—Here, as elsewhere in the New Testament, the Greek preposition does not mean "of" in the sense of "about" or "concerning," but is employed in its more archaic sense of "out of" or "from." In modern idiom the Greek could be rendered: "I have not spoken on my own responsibility." The Twentieth Century New Testament suggests: "I have not delivered it on my own authority."