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 June 18, 1967.

The firmament of his power (Ps. 150:1)

In the Biblical record of creation found in the first chapter of Genesis, the "firmament" is described as dividing the waters under it from those above it and is called "Heaven" (Gen. 1:7, 8)—often viewed by the early Hebrews as the apparently solid vault of the sky. Moffatt renders the passage in question as "his heaven of power"; although Smith prefers "his mighty firmament."

Forasmuch as there is none (Jer. 10:6)

Streane observes that the literal meaning of the phrase is "None at all is"; adding that at this point the Hebrew had a double negative, thus emphasizing the denial. "The English version has misunderstood one of the negatives, and so rendered it 'forasmuch as'"

Every man is brutish in his knowledge (Jer. 10:14)

A literal rendering would be: "Every man is stupid from (or, 'on account of') knowledge"; but the Hebrew preposition translated "from" can also mean "apart from" or "without." Hence Smith suggests, "Every man is stupid and senseless"; and Moffatt,". . .dumb and senseless."

Every founder is confounded by the graven image (Jer. 10:14)

The word rendered "founder" is more literally "smelter or goldsmith," while a more strict rendering of the verb would be "is ashamed." Hence Moffatt suggests the following, "The goldsmith is ashamed of his carved image."

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Rom. 13:1)

Moffatt appears to clarify the sense of the verse by translating it in this way: "Every subject must obey the government authorities, for no authority exists apart from God; the existing authorities have been constituted by God."

God hath not given us the spirit spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (II Tim. 1:7)

Thayer notes that the Greek word sophronismos (a sound mind) can refer either to "an admonition or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self-control" or simply to "selfcontrol, moderation." Goodspeed has, "self-discipline"; and The Riverside New Testament, "self-control."

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