Article January 4, 1969 ISSUE

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 January 12, 1969.

What dost thou work? (John 6:30)

Weymouth brings out the thought of the words in more modern idiom by translating, "What can you do?" although The Twentieth Century New Testament suggests a different meaning by rendering, "What is the work that you are doing?"

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert (John 6:31)

In our common version the first reference to "manna" is found in Exodus 16:15 in the account of how the Israelites received food in the wilderness; but in that context manna represents the two Hebrew words man hu, which can be rendered, "What is it?" as in Moffatt's translation and that of the American Standard Version. However, many scholars feel that this man hu (What is it?) represents the popular etymology of the Hebrew man (i.e. manna) mentioned in Exodus 16:31 and elsewhere.

The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven (John 6:33)

The Greek text indicates "that which" rather than "he which," leading Goodspeed to translate, "It is God's bread that comes down out of heaven."

In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein (Num. 28:18)

Moffatt translates, "On the first day of the festival a sacred gathering is to be held; no field work is to be done."

Bring forth ... fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8)

One might render, "Produce ... fruit corresponding to (or in proportion to) your repentance"; while it may be added that the Greek word metanoia (repentance) literally means "change of mind" or "change of thinking."

The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat (Matt. 23:2)

These men were, in fact, the chief Jewish students and interpreters of the Mosaic law, and so, in a sense, they "sat in Moses' seat." The Pharisees (literally "separatists") separated themselves from those who were less strict in their obedience to the Mosaic law, and were the most influential party, as the scribes (lawyers) belonged to the most outstanding profession of the day.

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