BIBLE CHARACTERS AND PERIODICAL SUPPORT TO THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON* November 18, 2012 C.

Norman Wood, 214 Lower Field Road, Dunnsville, VA 22454 703-898-8818, woodcn@aol.com SUBJECT: SOUL AND BODY Dove, Miss Jeannie (CSB), A Glimpse of Soul and Body, Journal, Vol. 94 (September 1976), p. 500. --Christian Science, discovered and founded by Mrs. Eddy, teaches that the body and all matter are mental concepts in mortal mind. The real man, created in the image of Spirit, God, is forever reflecting God's omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience, and omniaction. ---The unreal or counterfeit passes away as a fleeting shadow, and this passing away takes place in individual human consciousness when thought is spiritualized daily through communing with God. Mrs. Eddy writes, "Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man's dominion over the whole earth." [S&H p. 14] --The destruction of matter's conditions can be swift and sure because matter is nothing; but its nothingness must be proved, and can be, through the understanding of the Christ, Truth, active in human consciousness. GOLDEN TEXT: We are the temples of the living God (II Cor 6: 16 ye [to 1st ;]) RELATED SCRIPTURE: Lev 26: 12; I Sam 46; II Kings 21: 1-15; Ezek 8; 37: 27; I Cor 3: 16, 17; 6: 19, 20; II Cor 5: 1; Eph 2: 22 TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: Paul wrote this second letter to the church at Corinth late 55 AD or early 56 AD after he left Ephesus. "The chain of quotations in 6:16-18 refers to OT texts not elsewhere cited by Paul." (Eerdmans Commentary) "The temple of God (true Christianity) and idols (idolatrous, demonic, false religions are utterly incompatible. Believers individually are spiritual houses [ye are the temple of the living God, v. 16] in which the Spirit of Christ dwells." (MacArthur Bible Commentary) Bridge, W. Cyprian, "'The temple of the living God,'" Journal, Vol. 35 (April 1917),p. 5. --Among the many precepts intended to further the progress of the student of Christian Science in his passage from sense to Soul, few are more practically helpful to him than St. Paul's statement in his first epistle to the Corinthians, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God." It is followed by a solemn warning against doing ought which would defile this temple. In the second epistle to the Corinthians we read, "Ye are the temple of the living God." ---Each must therefore cleanse his own consciousness by casting out of it with truth all sense of fear, hate, envy, malice; and a brief analysis of the significance of this behest will suffice to make clear how necessary it is to pay heed to this.

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--Thus it is plain that he who prosecutes the cleansing process to a successful termination has fulfilled a task of the most practical nature, and can truthfully say in the words of the psalmist, I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. SECTION I: Moses promises that the Lord will bless the Israelites and make them prosperous (Deut 30: 9, 10) TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: Written by Moses just prior to his death in 1405 BC. The material of chapters 29-30 has its origin in preaching that was undertaken in the postexilic community, including the use and interpretation of written or oral stories. (Eerdmans Commentary) With a new heart under the New Covenant, Israel would obey all the commandments of the Lord. This would result in the Lords blessing [v.9], which would bring greater prosperity than Israel had ever previously experienced. (MacArthur Bible Commentary) Robinson, Lynne Pace, Listening, as never before, Sentinel, Vol. 102 (10 July 2000), p. 10. --I WAS IN ONE of those transition times. I wanted a more challenging job but hadn't a clue what it would be or where to find it. --The Bible promises in Deuteronomy, "And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand: if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul" (30:9, 10). --As God's children, we are not separate from God. And God constantly communicates with each one of us. ---We can always receive God's direction when we humbly, earnestly put Him first. --Now, my whole focus was on listening for what God had in store. Science and Health explains the "how" of moving forward: "Through the wholesome chastisements of Love, we are helped onward in the march towards righteousness, peace, and purity, which are the landmarks of Science. Beholding the infinite tasks of truth, we pause,wait on God. Then we push onward, until boundless thought walks enraptured, and conception unconfined is winged to reach the divine glory" (p. 323). --God has a clear-cut direction for each of us. If the way seems unclear, listen with every inch of your being, because God is revealing His plan to you. SECTION II: Jacob is blessed by a man he wrestled with who announces that his name has been changed to Israel (Gen 32: 7 Jacob [to :], 9, 10 [to 1st ;], 11, 24-28, 30) TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: Written by Moses 1445-1405 BC; the event occurred c. 1739 BC at Peniel. Jacob (See 1.1.12 notes) Esau (See 7.29.12 notes) Key, Lt Col Robert Ellis, RA (Ret) (CSB, Editor, and Normal Class Teacher), The Patriarchs and the Christ, Sentinel, Vol. 52 (25 February 1950), p. 329.
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--A study of the lives of the patriarchs reveals a variety of ways in which redemption came. --Jacob caught a glimpse of the Christ at Peniel when he struggled with the angel and was granted dominion in the assurance given by God (Gen 32: 28), As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Those of us who feel we have a great struggle with sin or disease should remember Jacob, who tenaciously clung to the angel until he had received the blessing. ---In the midst of our seeming struggle we may say concerning the angel, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me (Gen 32: 26). --Many today who are struggling to overcome disease or sin will find it necessary to take to heart the lessons learned from the various ways by which the Christ was manifested to the patriarchs. Rynd, Edith, No more Jacob, but Israel," Sentinel, Vol 24 (8 April 1922), p. 533. --What was it that brought about the change of name in the great Biblical character, Jacob? Name and nature being inseparable, must we not seek here for some deeper change than in the mere name? ---It was a change of consciousness, an unfolding glimpse of the infinite, which marked a turning-point in Jacob's life, from which he could never go back to the old standpoint. This landmark was to him a vision of the Christ, of the truth that man is not material, but spiritual, and that this truth demonstrated is Immanuel,"God with us." ---It reached Jacob after his night of agony by the brook Jabbok, separated from all he loved on earth, for his wives and children had passed over before him; and with Esau and his four hundred men pressing on behind him, he entered upon his great mental struggle alone and fought out the question, in his own thinking, between the power of good and evil. Knott, Annie Macmillan (CSB, Assistant Editor, Associate Editor, Trustee, Bible Lesson Committee, and Director), Spiritual Wrestlings, Sentinel, Vol. 11 (16 January 1908), p. 390. --As we begin to recognize spiritual facts, wesee material conditions which have seemed very threatening to human sense, disappear before a dawning apprehension of Truth and Love. --Such is the story of Jacob's experience at Peniel, when he wrestled with the angel and communed with God "face to face." Jacob had left his father's house many years before, because of the fierce anger of his brother Esau, but the time came when he was bidden to leave the idolatrous surroundings of Padanaram and return to the land of his kindred. We read that he was pursued by Laban, his father-in-law and business partner, and that a treaty of peace was made between them after their differences had been settled. ---Then we are told that, as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him, and helped to prepare him for another peaceful victory. SECTION IV: Jesus resurrects the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7: 11-16 he) RELATED SCRIPTURE: Ex 22: 22; I Kings 17: 17-24; II Kings 4: 32-37; 13: 20, 21; Jer 7: 6; Matt 23; I Tim 5: 3; James 1: 27 TIME LINE: The Year of Popularity and Fundamental Principles (Jesus 2nd year of ministry), 28 AD at Nain [5mi SSE of Nazareth, Israel] in Galilee a widow (3rd use in 2012; see 1.29.12) "Needed for discipleshipmodesty and affection," Monitor (6 December 1988), p. 19.
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--There was a time when the Master and his disciples had traveled to Nain and saw a funeral procession leaving the village. [Luke 7:11-16] A widow's only son had died. ---As Jesus approached the group, he touched the bier. The procession came to a stop. Then the master immediately restored the young man to life. --Naturally the people were struck with awe at this dramatic act, and they accounted Jesus "a great prophet." Yet there must have been something else about Jesus' characterincluding his spiritually based humilitythat caused the people to see that this was, after all, God's power at work. --We can each prayand we can work at itto be genuinely modest in our character, our claims, and our own perspective on what we ourselves have understood and demonstrated of Gods truth. Swett, Sadie Hyman, Weep not!, Sentinel, Vol. 33 (4 April 1931), p. 604. --The Master, Christ Jesus, said, Weep not; and we should obey this injunction. Sorrow is never welcome. It has seemed to come to most of us, and sometimes we have been a long while getting rid of it. ---How grateful we can be to God, then, for having sent us a remedy for sorrow, as well as for every other ill! --In her "Communion Hymn" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 399; Poems, p. 75) Mrs. Eddy writes of the Christ, Truth, "Mourner, it calls you, 'Come to my bosom, Love wipes your tears all away, And will lift the shade of gloom, And for you make radiant room Midst the glories of one endless day.'" --Weep not! Tears are needless; they do not decrease, but rather increase, our own dejection, and make those around us unhappy. Sorrow may well be regarded as a form of selfishness. ---We should remember that as Gods children, reflecting Him, we cannot do less than the beams of light, which do not under any circumstances cease giving out brightness and light. Then shall we, knowing that man is the image and likeness of God, cease reflecting spiritual joy? SECTION VI: Reflecting Gods glory (II Cor 3: 18 we) TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: Paul wrote this second letter to the church at Corinth late 55 AD or early 56 AD after he had left Ephesus In the first century, the belief was widespread that human encounters with divinity inevitably changed the humans who experienced them. We all, v.18: Not just Moses, or prophets, apostles, and preachers, but all believers. With open face: Believers in the New Covenant have nothing obstructing their vision of Christ and [his] glory as revealed in the Scripture. (MacArthur Bible Commentary) Dissolving intransigence, Monitor (31 October 1985), p. 21. --Itsimportant to realize in prayer that man is the very offspring of God, not an intransigent mortal. Knowing this to be the truth of everyones being, we can expect to see a greater measure of humility, gentleness, justice, and mercy expressed.
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---Although these qualities are not always apparentand very far from apparent in some casestheyre natural manifestations of mans true selfhood. --Paul pointed to this true identity when he said, We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. [II Cor 3:18] --Ultimately were honoring God by striving to discern mans spiritual goodness. The more we love Deity, the quicker well turn to Him when faced with evidence of stubborn will. ---Christian prayer will help us discern the kingdom of God at hand. BIBLIOGRAPHY: The Bibliography is provided only in the first Sundays Lesson each month. *The weekly Bible Lessons are made up of selections from the King James Version of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science.