Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Soul and Body
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.
Addressing the vital need for unity among believers, this text presents the author’s rationale with seven “one” phrases (see also vv. 5, 6). The three in this verse emphasize the oneness Christians share—in the church body, the enlivening spirit of God, and the hope for the fruitfulness of their work.
A scholar explains: “Hope here is not the object but the principle of hope. The phrase hope of your calling signifies hope which is characteristic of God’s call to salvation, and is engendered by it.” Another writer points out: “Christianity is a shared faith. No separate or merely individual faith exists, nor is there a different salvation.”
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Resources cited in this issue
GT: Vincent, Marvin R. Word Studies in the New Testament. 4 vols. New York: Scribner, 1887. Also available at biblehub.com/commentaries; Wilkins, Michael J. NIV Application Commentary: From Biblical Text . . . to Contemporary Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.
Cit. 1: Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 3, Introduction to Hebrew Poetry, Job, Psalms, Introduction to Wisdom Literature, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Nashville: Abingdon, 2015.
Cit. 4: Eiselen, Frederick Carl, Edwin Lewis, and David G. Downey, eds. The Abingdon Bible Commentary. New York: Abingdon Press, 1929.
Cit. 6: Abraham, A. Kenneth, ed. The Matthew Henry Study Bible: King James Version. Westlake, OH: World Bible Publishers, 1994.
Cit. 8: Green, Joel B., et al., eds. The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Common English Bible, 2013.
COPYRIGHT
Scriptural quotations marked Good News Translation are taken from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition, copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked International Children’s Bible® are taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked Contemporary English Version are taken from the Contemporary English Version, copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked New International Reader’s Version™ are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version™, NIrV™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scriptural quotations marked New Century Version® are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 2023 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
