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 September 3, 1967.

He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (James 1:6)

Phillips offers the interesting rendering: "The man who trusts God, but with inward reservations, is like a wave of the sea, carried forward by the wind one moment and driven back the next."

Every good gift and every perfect gift (James 1:17)

Two different Greek words for "gift" are to be found in this verse. The first, dosis, refers strictly to the act of giving; while the second, dorema, properly describes the gift itself, granted as a result of the giving. The New English Bible marks the distinction thus: "All good giving and every perfect gift."

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14)

The Hebrew at this point is difficult to understand; hence the verious renderings offered by translators. Smith has: "I praise thee because thou art fearfully wonderful"; the Revised Standard Version: "I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful"; although Moffatt has: "I praise thee for the awful wonder of my birth."

Lord, I am not worthy (Matt. 8:8)

Commenting on the centurion's words to the Master, Dummelow notes that "both the centurion and the elders judged Jesus by Jewish standards. That Jesus should heal a Gentile at all, except for some very special reason, was thought impossible. Still more unlikely was it that He would enter a Gentile house, which was regarded as defiled, and defilling those who entered it (John 18:28)."

Thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise (Isa. 60:18)

Whitehouse observes that "significant names are to be given to the newly-built walls of the city, Victory and Praise." In Moffatt's rendering we find "your ramparts you shall name Protection, and your gates Renown."

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus
(Gal. 3:28)

"Such distinctions," writes Dummelow, "do not separate true believers. There is a unity in Christ which is deeper than differences of nationality, condition, or sex." The New English Bible translates the verse: "There is no such thing as Jew and Greek, slave and freeman, male and female; for you are all one person in Christ Jesus."

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