In the Christian Science Bible Lesson November 12, 2012 Issue

Identity revealed

For the Lesson titled "Soul and Body" from November 12 - 18, 2012

Kathleen Collins—Godfrey, Illinois

Consider the title of this week’s Bible Lesson, “Soul and Body.” Notice that it is not titled “Soul in Body”! Here is an important distinction in Christian Science that is highlighted in this statement from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy: “Science reveals Spirit, Soul, as not in the body, and God as not in man but as reflected by man” (p. 467, citation 25).

The Lesson builds on Mrs. Eddy’s answer to the question “What are body and Soul?” in Science and Health, which states: “Identity is the reflection of Spirit, the reflection in multifarious forms of the living Principle, Love. Soul is the substance, Life, and intelligence of man, which is individualized, but not in matter. Soul can never reflect anything inferior to Spirit” (p. 477, cit. 1). Each section looks at this answer in more depth—illustrating how our true identity (Section II), substance (Section III), life (Section IV), and intelligence (Section V) are not in a material body but are expressions of Soul, God. And Section VI crowns the Lesson with further inspiration about man as the reflection of Soul.

Interestingly, the question’s answer contrasts body with identity. Dictionaries define identity as both oneness and individuality—we are both at one with God and yet individual ideas! In Genesis, the future patriarch Jacob learns something about his true identity. His name means “supplanter,” and previously, with the help of his mother, Rebekah, Jacob had indeed supplanted his elder brother Esau’s right as firstborn in that ancient society. The narrator, however, leaves no doubt that Esau did not have the right to carry forward God’s promises—he’s earthy, and furthermore, God had revealed to Rebekah while the twins were in her womb that “the elder shall serve the younger” (see Genesis 25:23). But Esau reacted to the events with rage and gave Jacob reason to fear for his life. Thus we find Jacob in Genesis 32 (cit. 3) praying mightily until an angel messenger tells him, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel” (verse 28), a name which means “God prevails.” With this glimpse into his spiritual identity, Jacob realizes with awe, “I have seen God face to face” (verse 30).