Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
God
God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
With this simple but comprehensive statement, the book of Genesis summarizes its grand distinction from the ancient view of creation. Multiple deities, believed to capriciously wield forces of both evil and good, are not to be seen as powers to fear or appease. A Bible authority concludes, “The concept of a single directing Mind . . . emancipated Israel from thraldom to the vicious cycle of time. . . . History has become purposeful and society has achieved direction.”
Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. . . . Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. . . . Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment. . . . Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. . . . Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments. . . . Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness. . . . Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. . . . Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.
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Resources cited in this issue
GT: Sarna, Nahum. Understanding Genesis: The World of the Bible in the Light of History. New York: Schocken Books, Inc., 1966.
RR: Harrelson, Walter J., ed. The New Interpreter’s Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon, 2003.
Cit. 5: Pfeiffer, Charles F., and Everett Falconer Harrison. Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody P., 1962.
Cit. 15: Osborne, Grant R., et al., eds. The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. 20 vols. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic, 1990–. Also available at biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries.
Cit. 16: Barclay, William. New Testament Words. London: SCM Press LTD, 1974.
Cit. 22: Albright, William Foxwell, David Noel Freedman, et al., eds. The Anchor Bible. Vol. 20, Second Isaiah. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1964–2006.
COPYRIGHT
Scriptural quotations marked Holman Christian Standard Bible® are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. 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 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 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 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 Common English Bible are taken from the Common English Bible, copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.
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 New Century Version® are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 2024 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.
