Editorial August 7, 1948 Issue

GOD AS DEFINED IN CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

Robert Ellis Key

A very important chapter in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," is the one entitled "Glossary," containing the metaphysical interpretation of Bible terms. Referring to this chapter, Mary Baker Eddy writes (ibid., p. 579): "In Christian Science we learn that the substitution of the spiritual for the material definition of a Scriptural word often elucidates the meaning of the inspired writer. On this account this chapter is added. It contains the metaphysical interpretation of Bible terms, giving their spiritual sense, which is also their original meaning."

The student of Christian Science constantly refers to the Glossary when studying the Bible, and especially in connection with the study of the weekly Lesson-Sermon from the Christian Science Quarterly. Familiarity with the Glossary enables him to read the Bible with more spiritual understanding and so elucidates the deeper meaning of the Scriptural texts. As an illustration of this we might consider, for instance, the definition of the word "God" as given on page 587 of Science and Health: "God. The great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence."

The term "God" may convey to some readers of the Bible only an abstract sense of Deity. Uninstructed in the wider range of thought concerning God presented by the Glossary definition above, we may fail to gain the deep significance of the one cause. We may even be led to think of God in general terms without particularizing His nature or considering the immeasurable range of His power. If this is so, the Glossary definition comes to our rescue. It sheds light on the infinite range of deific power, law, love, and activity. It presents God as the living God, the loving God, the active, all-knowing Mind, the divine Love whose presence is felt, and whose power is manifested by man, His image and likeness.

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