IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON April 7, 2008 Issue

A weekly column in which writers discuss Bible passages that appear in the Christian Science Bible Lessons.

A CHALLENGING QUESTION—WITH A REAL ANSWER

BENJAMIN F. GLADDEN

"ARE SIN, DISEASE, AND DEATH REAL?" Most people would respond to that question, which is posed in this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson, with an emphatic, Yes! However, after a closer look at the first three commandments in the Bible (see Ex. 20:3—5), which are prominent in Section I of this week's Lesson (citation 4), and examined through the excellent example of Christ Jesus' life work (see Sections II, IV, V), the unreality of this unholy trinity of terror might seem a little easier to comprehend.

Taken as a whole, the Ten Commandments are extraordinary. For the ancient Hebrews to whom they were first revealed, however, the first three in particular would have been more that a little shocking because of the polytheism that was so widespread at the time.

The First Commandment challenged the Hebrews to acknowledge and obey only one God—nothing "before him"—and not many gods, as most were doing. The Hebrew words translated "before me" can also mean "above," "beside," or "against" God's presence.