Letters & Conversations
In my experience while earning an M.A. in Bible Studies in a seminary setting, the use of commentaries, which have tended to be colored by church doctrines, was not encouraged. Students were taught to first work with the text itself (those studying Greek or Hebrew translating the text from the language in which it was written), then to work out their own exegesis before consulting any reputable outside resources. The results were critiqued by the professors, a process of kindly challenge and humble refinement that was often missing in independent Bible scholarship (such as mine, pre-seminary).
Mary Baker Eddy made a number of statements explaining the important, tight connection between a spiritual text and its meaning, such as: “Whosoever learns the letter of Christian Science but possesses not its spirit, is unable to demonstrate this Science; or whosoever hath the spirit without the letter, is held back by reason of the lack of understanding. Both the spirit and the letter are requisite; and having these, every one can prove, in some degree, the validity of those words of the great Master, ‘For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost’ ” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 195).
Sara Barnacle, Dover, New Hampshire, US
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