Article January 1, 1972 ISSUE

Words of Current Interest

Related to the Lesson-Sermon for January 9, 1972, in the CHRISTIAN SCIENCE QUARTERLY Subject: Sacrament

They that shall be of thee shall build the waste places (Isa. 58:12)

This passage suggests the period of Nehemiah. Moffatt translates the verse, "Your sons shall build once more the ancient ruins, and old foundations you shall raise again; you shall be called the repairer of ruins, the restorer of wrecked homes."

Publicans and sinners (Matt. 9:10)

"This term [publican] is a transliteration of a Latin word (used in the Vulgate) which meant a member of one of the great Roman financial companies, which farmed the taxes of the Roman Empire" (Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible). Extortion and abuse under this system were frequent, and the fact that in the Gospels they were habitually coupled with "sinners" shows the deep contempt in which publicans were held by the Jews.

Break up your fallow ground (Hos. 10:12)

The term "fallow" as used in this context has reference to ground untilled or unsown after plowing, and so uncultivated; it can also imply having large potential value or utility that is unused. Moffatt translates this verse, "Sow justice for yourselves, and reap a harvest of God's love; break up your fallow ground, by seeking knowledge of the Eternal."

This do in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19)

Farrar understands the emphasis as falling on the last two words, and comments, "The Christian Passover was no more to be in remembrance of the deliverance from Egypt, but of that far greater deliverance wrought by Christ."

When he ... was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping (Luke 22:45)

The three disciples were Peter, James, and John (see Matt. 26:37), who formed the inner circle of the twelve. These three were also present at the transfiguration. According to Luke 9:32, they yielded to sleep on this occasion also.

El Dorado (Science and Health 9:21)

(el do-ra' do—e as end, first o as in obey, second as in old, a as in arm). Any place or realm of fabulous richness.

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