Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Truth
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. . . . For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. . . . Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
“Stand fast” is a frequent charge in Paul’s letters (see also I Corinthians 16:13; Philippians 1:27; 4:1; I Thessalonians 3:8). Remaining firm and constant both safeguards the freedom and guarantees the fruitfulness of Christly life.
Paul’s rhetorical question “Who did hinder you?” is intended to alert Galatian Christians to false doctrine. His race image employs the Greek verb egkoptō (rendered hinder in this text), perhaps alluding to a runner blocking or cutting off a competitor. Just as no athlete would stand for this conduct, so believers should reject anything that impedes their spiritual growth.
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Resources cited in this issue
Cit. 2: Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997.
Cit. 5: Hindson, Edward E., and Dan Mitchell. Zondervan King James Version Commentary: New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010.
Cit. 9: Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary in Ten Volumes. Vol. 8, Luke, John. Nashville: Abingdon, 2015.
Cit. 16: Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of John, Vol. 2. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew, 1955. Revised and updated by Saint Andrew, 2001. Reprinted as The New Daily Study Bible: The Gospel of John, Vol. 2. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2001–04.
Cit. 18: Dummelow, John Roberts, ed. A Commentary on the Holy Bible by Various Writers. New York: MacMillan, 1936; Barker, Kenneth L., John H. Stek, Walter W. Wessel, and Ronald F. Youngblood. NIV Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2002.
COPYRIGHT
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 Century Version® are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 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 Living Translation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked GOD’S WORD® Translation are taken from GOD’S WORD®. © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. Used by permission.
© 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.
