Words of Current Interest

The words in this issue are related to the Lesson-Sermon in the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE QUARTERLY designated to be read in Christian Science churches on April 2, 1967.

The fashion of this world passeth away (I Cor. 7:31)

The Greek word schema (fashion) is the root of our English word "scheme," and can also be rendered "form." Moffatt suggests, "The present phase of things is passing away"; and Weymouth, "For the form of this world is passing away."

My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom (I Cor. 2:4)

The Revised Standard Version has, "My speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom"; and Phillips, "What I said and preached had none of the attractiveness of the clever mind."

Comparing spiritual things with spiritual (I Cor. 2:13)

The Revised Standard Version has, "Interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit."

The coasts of Magdala (Matt. 15:39)

(mag' da-la—first a as in add, second and third as in sofa). Magdala stood on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus visited the place, and tradition has it that it was the home of Mary Magdalene; while by way of contrast, Mary of Bethany lived with her sister Martha and her brother Lazarus, in one of the suburbs of Jerusalem. Magdala's "coasts," mentioned in the King James Version, would refer to its region or neighborhood, rather than to coasts in the sense of "sea coasts."

Avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called (I Tim. 6:20)

Moffatt represents Paul's advice to Timothy as: "Avoid the profane jargon and contradictions of what is falsely called 'Knowledge.' "

Fossils

(fos'ils—o as in odd, i as in is) . Originally any rocks, minerals, or other objects dug out of the earth. Any remains, impression, or trace of an animal or plant of past geological ages that has been preserved in the earth's crust. Persons whose views are outmoded, whose interests are in the past; something that has become rigidly fixed.

Divers (Hebr. 13:9)

Bridges and Weigle note that Divers and Diverse were originally two spellings of the same word. Since about 1700 each has had its own pronunciation and meaning— "diverse" meaning "different in character or quality," while "divers" means "various, sundry, several, more than one" without stating how many.

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