Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Matter
Why make an idol or an image that can’t do a thing?
—Contemporary English Version
Warnings against idolatry appear throughout Hebrew Scripture (see examples in Exodus 20:3–6/Deuteronomy 5:7–10, citation 3; Leviticus 19:4; Psalms 115:1–8, citation 8; Isaiah 46:5–10; Jeremiah 10:1–6; Habakkuk 2:18–20). Here the author denounces an entire industry of metalsmiths and carpenters—those who make idols (see Isaiah 44:10–20). God’s people are to honor Him alone in both work and worship.
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Resources cited in this issue
GT: Contemporary English Version, copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
RR: New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Cit. 1: Dodd, C.H. The Interpretation of the Fourth Gospel. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1953.
Cit. 3: Mays, James L., Joseph Blenkinsopp, et al., eds. The HarperCollins Bible Commentary. Rev. ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2000.
Cits. 10, 12: Barker, Kenneth L., John R. Kohlenberger, Verlyn Verbrugge, and Richard Polcyn. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004.
Cit. 14: Mays, James Luther, et al., eds. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching. Vol. 34, Second Corinthians. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 1982–.
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 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 Common English Bible are taken from the Common English Bible, copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.
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 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 Century Version® are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked Amplified® Bible (AMP) are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
Scriptural quotations marked Amplified® Bible (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. lockman.org
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.
© 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.
