Bible Lens—August 1–7, 2016
Subject: Spirit
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Exploring Bible Verses
An exploration of Bible citations from the Christian Science Quarterly® Bible Lessons
“. . . a lesson on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends."—Mary Baker Eddy
from the Golden Text
Job 33:4
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
—New King James Version®
An example of Hebrew poetry, this citation repeats an idea, using the same number of elements but different words. Three elements are restated. First, an aspect of God: “The Spirit of” and “the breath of.” Second, a name for Deity: “God” (Hebrew, el)and “Almighty” (Hebrew, Shadday). And third, an action of God: “has made me” and “gives me life.”
Spirit and breath are often translated from the same Hebrew word, ruach. Here, however, breath comes from the noun neshamah, which can signify inspiration. It’s the term used earlier in Job: “There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration [neshamah] of the Almighty giveth them understanding” (32:8).
from the Responsive Reading
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Although the book of Ephesians is believed to have been written by someone other than Paul, this verse illustrates the pattern of his introductions in letters to churches—his name, an identification of his recipients, and a greeting of “grace and peace” from God and Christ Jesus. Words similar to this appear a dozen times in epistles from or attributed to Paul. Many of these introductions also include thanks to God for the work of those they address.
from Section 2
7 | II Kings 4:1
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
As this woman noted, Elisha would have known her husband as one of the “sons of the prophets,” the group of disciples of Elijah and Elisha.
Taking debtors as bondmen was a common legal practice, although mitigated in Leviticus 25:39, 40: “If thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: but as an hired servant.”
8 | Numbers 11:29
Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!
Moses spoke these words in response to Joshua’s objection to two men who were prophesying privately, without the apparent authority or consent of Moses (see verses 26–28). He assures Joshua that he welcomes all who are moved to prophesy by the spirit of God, and desires that everyone share in this gift.
A similar event takes place during Jesus’ ministry. The Apostle John tells Jesus about a man who was casting out devils in Christ’s name, reporting that the disciples had “forbad him, because he followeth not us.” Jesus answers, “Forbid him not: … For he that is not against us is on our part” (see Mark 9:38–40).
After the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter confirms the availability of the spirit of God to all, citing Joel 2:28: “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17).
from Section 4
16 | Luke 4:14
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.
The Greek word for power (dunamis) means strength and might, but is most often used in the New Testament to characterize spiritual power. It is the word Jesus employed when the woman in the crowd touched his garment’s hem: “I perceive that virtue [dunamis] is gone out of me” (Luke 8:46).
Dunamis also translates as marvelous works and miracles, as in the people’s question about the Master, “Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works [dunamis]?” (Matthew 13:54). The English words dynamic and dynamo are taken from this Greek term.
from Section 5
21 | Acts 3:7
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
“Received strength” comes from the Greek word stereóo. Interestingly, this term also appears in a description of growth in the early Christian churches: “And so were the churches established [stereóo] in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).
Resources quoted in this issue
GT: New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Related Healing Ideas
‘Such as I have’
Am I standing watch
At the temple gate,
Where the hurrying crowds pass by?
When the lame man there
Seeks familiar alms,
Do I answer his unvoiced cry?
With uplifted thought,
At the hour of prayer,
Am I climbing the temple road?
Do I come prepared
With cherished proof
That will lighten some brother’s load?
May I be so sure
Of the priceless Truth,
Ever present to hear each call,
That the lame will walk,
And my joy shall be
Giving “such as I have” to all.
Peggy Young Clark
From the January 4, 1947, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel
© 2016 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The Cross and Crown seal is a trademark of the Christian Science Board of Directors, registered in the US, the EU, and other countries, and is used by permission. Bible Lens is a trademark of The Christian Science Publishing Society.
