BIBLE CHARACTERS AND PERIODICAL SUPPORT TO THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE BIBLE LESSON* December 30, 2012 Lt Gen C.

Norman Wood, USAF (Ret.), 214 Lower Field Road, Dunnsville, VA 22454 703-898-8818, woodcn@aol.com SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN SCIENCE WAGERS, RALPH E. (CSB, Lecturer, Associate Editor, Normal Class Teacher, and President), The Theory and Practice of Christian Science, EDITORIAL, Journal, Vol. 78 (November 1960), p. 599. --THE theory and practice of Christian Science are, of course, inseparable. The theory includes an understanding of the nature of God as primal cause and of the continuing, uninterrupted relationship that exists between God and man. The practice is the effective application of this understanding to the needs of mankind. --It is impossible to apply what one does not understand. That is why Christian Scientists turn their thoughts to God, Spirit, with ever-increasing consistency, that they may acquaint themselves with the spiritual facts of being. ---Then they reason from the basis of these facts to the human situation, keeping in mind at all times the perfect control that God exercises over His creation. SECTION I: Timothy is to continue in the Word of God (II Tim 3: 14-17 continue) RELATED SCRIPTURE: I Tim 6: 3-16; II Tim 1: 5, 13 TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: Paul wrote II Timothy, the last of his inspired letters, from prison in Rome, shortly before his martyrdom c. 67 AD. There are some who believe II Timothy was written in Pauls name by a later disciple, reinterpreting Pauls message to the Pauline churches of Asia Minor. (Peoples NT Commentary) To further encourage Timothy to stand firm, Paul reminds him of his godly heritage [of whom thou hast learned, v. 14]. (MacArthur Bible Commentary) I Tim 6:3-16 countered an initial description of false teachers with Timothy, the man of God, as a soldier ready to do battle for the faith. This section marks a similar transition from the false teachers to Timothy, man of God, as [perfect, thoroughly furnished] (3:17). (Eerdmans Commentary) WAGERS, RALPH E. (CSB, Lecturer, Associate Editor, Normal Class Teacher, and President), The Word of God Is with Authority, EDITORIAL, Sentinel, Vol. 65 (17 August 1963), p. 1431. -When Mrs. Eddy presented to humanity her discovery of Christian Science and its mode of application, she did it with supreme authority. --[She] writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 14): "Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual,neither in nor of matter,and the

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body will then utter no complaints. If suffering from a belief in sickness, you will find yourself suddenly well." Here is a statement of Truth itself! ---As such, it points the way to immediate healing. --To try to understand only the letter of those writings which convey vital spiritual truths to human thought leads inevitably to confusion, disappointment, frustration. Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy (3:16,17), "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ---We must gain spiritual inspiration in order to understand Scriptural teachings. We must also gain this spiritual inspiration to understand Science and Health. SECTION II: The birth of Jesus and the announcement to the shepherds (Luke 2: 1, 3-14) RELATED SCRIPTURE: Acts 26: 26; Rom 5: 1; Rev 5: 11 PARALLEL GOSPEL: Matt 1: 25 TIME LINE: 5 AD traveling from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea. As at the beginning of chs. 1 and 3, Luke is anxious to set the events of Gods salvation through Jesus within the context of secular history. (Oxford Commentary) Luke thus sets the story in the context of political struggle, taxation, and the imperial and religious claims of Rome. (Peoples NT Commentary) "Luke's primary aim is to place the birth in the city of David, because Jesus' continuity with the royal house of David was important for Luke's Christology, his depiction of Jesus' identity." (HarperCollins Commentary) His own city, v.3 is the place of tribal origin. (MacArthur Bible Commentary) Jesus is born in Bethlehem. According to Luke this event occurred in the Judean city because of an imperial census. Augustus, Roman emperor from 27BC to AD14, decreed that the entire empire should be enrolled. (Interpreters One-volume Commentary) "Fixing a precise date for this census is problematic." (MacArthur Commentary) Betrothal was almost equivalent to marriage, and could not be broken off without a formal divorce: cp. on John 8:3 and Deut 22:23,24. Both here and in Luke 1:35 the miracle of the conception is ascribed emphatically to the Holy Spirit, to mark the fact that Jesus was conceived sinless, and in a manner the most sacred imaginable. (Dummelow Commentary) With no midwife to help, Mary wrapped baby Jesus in long bands of cloth [swaddling clothes, v.7] such as were used in wrapping the bodies of the dead. (King James Bible Commentary) As Jesus was born in a stable, so [his] birth was first announced to peasants [vv. 8-20], in token that the gospel was meant for the poor and ignorant, as well as for the rich and learned. (Dummelow Commentary) "The story that follows is of humble shepherds, a despised occupation, typical of Luke, a contrast to Matthew's intellectual magi." (Eerdmans Commentary) "Bethlehem was near Jerusalem, and many of the sheep used in the temple sacrifices came from there. The surrounding hills were prime grazing land, and shepherds [v.8] worked in the area day and night, all year round." (MacArthur Bible Commentary) "David himself had been a shepherd at Bethlehem (1 S 16:11)." (Dummelow Commentary)

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The traditional peace on earth, good will among men [v. 14] of the KJV is more correctly peace on earth among those whom he favors, as found in the best ancient manuscripts of Luke, which were unavailable to the King James translators. (Peoples NT Commentary) Caesar Augustus (See 6.10.12 notes) Joseph (See 2.26.12 notes) Mary (See 2.26.12 notes) shepherds This is the designation of that type of life in which the main source and means of support is the raising of herds of cattle or flocks of sheep and goats. (Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary) "Shepherds as a group were not considered to be simple, gentle people in the first century Palestine. Rather, shepherds had a certain reputation for dishonesty and breaking the law, such as letting their flocks graze on land belonging to others." (Mysteries of the Bible) In a nomadic state of society every man, from the sheikh down to the slave, is more or less a shepherd. The progenitors of the Jews in the patriarchal age were nomads, and their history is rich in scenes of pastoral life. (Peloubets Dictionary) "Abel was a keeper of sheep (Gen 4:2). The occupation of the patriarchs from Abraham to Jacob and his sons was pastoral (ch. 13:1-6)." (Westminster Dictionary) The shepherds officerequired great watchfulness, particularly by night. It also required tenderness toward the young and feeble, particularly in driving them to and from the pasturage. (Peloubets Dictionary) The New Testament mentions shepherds 16 times. They were among the first to visit Jesus at [his] birth (Luke 2:8-20). (Holman Bible Dictionary) The only literal reference to shepherds in the NT is found in Luke 2:8-20; elsewhere they appear in parables and figures of speech, most often in the Gospels. (Mysteries of the Bible) the angel of the Lord (See 1.27.12 notes) WAGERS, RALPH E. (CSB, Lecturer, Associate Editor, Normal Class Teacher, and President), The babe we are to cherish," EDITORIAL, Sentinel, Vol. 65 (21 December 1963), p. 2225. --Much that occupies thought during the Christmas season does not even touch the true significance of the occasion. The devotional festivities through which the birth of the Saviour is commemorated tend to keep alive the remembrance of a highly important historical event. But after the ornaments have been put away and the gifts have been evaluated and acknowledged, there is a tendency for one to assume that Christ has been glorified, and now men can get back into the routine of daily living. --In a short article entitled "The Cry of Christmas-tide," Mrs. Eddy states (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 370): "In different ages the divine idea assumes different forms, according to
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humanity's needs. In this age it assumes, more intelligently than ever before, the form of Christian healing. This is the babe we are to cherish." --In the exercise of this dominion, Christmas takes on new meaning and extends beyond a given season. The Christ, which Jesus so fully expressed, becomes to us the liberating action of Truth, freeing us from error. Our moral fiber is strengthened. We become aware of the realities of being, and spiritual values become exalted. Our lives take on nobler purposes, and our true nature as a child of God begins to appear. __________, Preparing for a Lecture, EDITORIAL, Journal, Vol. 82 (October 1964), p. 546. --The day of Spirit is even now replacing the night of materialism. As this is understood, spiritual healing will supersede material methods of healing. ---Mrs. Eddy writes in the Preface of Science and Health (p. vii), "The wakeful shepherd beholds the first faint morning beams, ere cometh the full radiance of a risen day." --The unfolding of Christ, the spiritual idea of God, in human consciousness can no more be resisted than the dawning of a new day. And as the day of spiritual understanding appears, dispelling the darkness of materialism, it will be seen that Christian Science preserves every bit of truth and good that the human consciousness has ever perceived. ---Science is never critical of good, but always appreciative of it; the only thing Science is critical of is error. --In Science and Health we read (p. 546): "Christian Science is dawning upon a material age. The great spiritual facts of being, like rays of light, shine in the darkness, though the darkness, comprehending them not, may deny their reality." Christ, Truth, has its own ways of quickening human thought, one of which is the healing it brings to men's minds and bodies, and healing is not only possible but inevitable as thought becomes spiritually enlightened. __________, Looking and Seeing, EDITORIAL, Sentinel, Vol. 62 (20 February 1960), p. 327. --If we would see, we must look. But when we look, we see only what we are prepared to comprehend. ---What we see, then, is not so important as how we see it. --What do we know of the things we see and take for granted? How much do we understand passages of the Bible with which we are familiar? --One who accepts a physiological or a mere theological concept of himself may not be able, for the moment at least, to accept the Science that reveals man's unchanging spiritual nature. --Mary Baker Eddy writes in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (Pref., p vii), "The wakeful shepherd beholds the first faint morning beams, ere cometh the full radiance of a risen day." --This spiritual light so illumined the consciousness of Mrs. Eddy that she was able to understand the sayings and the healing works of the Master in their spiritual import. The spiritual void that had previously kept her from experiencing the fulfillment of the many Scriptural promises was dissipated in the light of the Christ, Truth, God's infinite ideal. ---She then comprehended as never before the meaning of the spiritual messages contained in the Bible, and through divine grace she made them understandable and demonstrable to the whole world in the inspired textbook. --It is possible in Science, then, to look where a mortal appears to be and see a son of God.

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__________, The Theology of Christian Science, EDITORIAL, Sentinel, Vol. 62 (2 July 1960), p. 1161. --The Master's theology as restated in Christian Science distinguishes clearly between what really is and what seems to be but is not. It identifies the real with Truth, and the unreal with error. --Christian Science is both religion and Science. Its premises are supplied wholly by the revelation of Truth, revealing itself as reality and relegating that which seems to be but is not to unreality. ---God not only is true, that is, a true God, but is divine Truth itself. Christian Science interprets God as the creative divine Principle and man as the divine idea, embodying or expressing all the divine qualities that emanate from and reveal the nature of God. SECTION III: Jesus preaches a sermon in Nazareth, and the healing of Simons wifes mother (Luke 4: 14-21 Jesus, 38-40 And Simons) PARALLEL GOSPELS: Matt 8: 14,15; Mark 1: 29-31 TIME LINE: The Year of Popularity and Fundamental Principles (Jesus 2nd year of ministry), Spring of 28 AD, in Capernaum. "From JudeaMark along with Matthew and Luke, passes directly from the temptation to the beginning of the Galilean ministry [Mark 1:14], skipping Jesus' intervening ministry in Judea." (MacArthur Bible Commentary) However, John recorded a fairly extensive ministry in Jerusalem and Judea (John 2:12-4:1). Because of this, news of Him quickly spread [v. 14]." (Ibid) The infancy narratives have already hinted at the divisions Jesus ministry would cause in Israel and, by the time Luke wrote, the people of Israel as a whole had rejected not only Jesus , but also the proclamation of the gospel. (Oxford Bible Commentary) For Luke, the ministry of Jesus is the bridge between Judaism [he taught in their synagogues, v. 15] and the universal church. (Peoples NT Commentary) "Luke pictures Jesus attending ("as was his custom") the synagogue (v. 16) and reading scripture: "The Spirithas anointed me to bring good news to the poor" (quoting Isa 61:1-2)." (Eerdmans Commentary) "Jesus' pronouncement is a fulfillment of prophecy." (Ibid) His references to the Old Testament prophets, using the Greek names of the New Testament, illustrate this fulfillment. The text Luke pictures Jesus as reading [the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, v. 18] is a combination of Isa. 61:1-2 and 58:6, omitting Isaiahs announcement of the coming day of vengeance. The reading is from the Septuagint version (the LXX), the Greek translation used in Lukes church, which differs from the Hebrew text of Isaiah translated in our English Bibles. (Peoples NT Commentary) the acceptable year of the Lord [v. 19], or, the year of the Lords favor. The passage [Jesus] read was Isaiah 61:1,2, [he] stopped in the middle of verse 2. The rest of the verse prophesies judgment in the day of Gods vengeance. Since that part of the verse pertains to the Second Advent, [he] did not read it. (MacArthur Bible Commentary) "Peter was married (cf. I Cor 9:5), though no details about his wife are given anywhere in the Scripture." (MacArthur Commentary) According to Luke, Matthew, and Mark "the healing of Peter's mother-in-law follows and leads into a general ministry of healing and casting out of demons. Luke once more emphasizes
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that the demons recognize his divine Sonship and acknowledge his power." (Oxford Bible Commentary) After Simons mother was healed of the fever, she immediately waited on them testifying to the fact that the fever did not leave her in a weakened state. The healing([Matt] 14-15; Mk 1:29-31) is given in short sentences. (Peakes Commentary) Lukes version of Jesus healing of the mother-in-law of Simon is closer to Marks narrative than is Matthews. (Women in Scripture) Matthew sees in the healing ministry of Jesus a striking fulfillment of Isa. 53:4, one of his happiest OT quotations. (Abingdon Commentary) Luke: And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. Matthew: And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. Mark: But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. This [rebuked, v. 39] is same word as 4:35 with reference to the demon. (Peoples NT Commentary) In the Jewish calendar, Sabbath begins and ends at sundown [when the sun was setting, Luke v. 40]. (Ibid) Esaias/Isaiah (See 3.18.12 notes) "Simon's wife's mother" "Here we have the story of an unnamed woman who is identified in the customary way in relation to a man: she is the mother-in-law of Simon. Perhaps she had no sons, since we would expect her to be named in relation to males in her own family." (Women in the New Testament) "In the references to Peter's nameless wife attention is focused upon her equally nameless mother.From Paul we learn that Peters wife accompanied her husband on some of his missionary journeys, caring for his many needs (I Corinthians 9:5)." (The Women of the Bible) "The gospels do not say whether Andrew, Peter's brother was married, but evidently the brothers had a house in Bethsaida or Capernaum, probably their father's legacy, and that this was the home the mother of Peter's wife shared after the death of her husband." (All the Women of the Bible) "The remarkable thing about Simon's wife's mother is that after she was healed 'she ministered unto them.' All three Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, report the fact. Because she owed her health and life to Christ, she could express her gratitude only in service in His ministry." (All of the Women of the Bible) WAGERS, RALPH E. (CSB, Lecturer, Associate Editor, Normal Class Teacher, and President), Prophecy and History, TESTIMONY, Sentinel, Vol. 66 (28 March 1964), p. 545. --The true significance of Christianity can best be grasped when it is considered from the standpoint of prophecy. --The Bible typifies mankind's experience with the material concept of existence as well as with the spiritual concept.
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When interpreted spiritually, this great Book assures us that we are destined to separate ourselves gradually from all that is material and to identify ourselves with the sinless and undying realities of Spirit until our human sense of existence yields completely to the divine, and our true selfhood is seen and demonstrated. In this perfect selfhood there is no sin, disease, or death. --On several occasions our Lord reminded the people that the prophecies of the Old Testament were being fulfilled in him. Luke records that after his triumphant wilderness experience Jesus stood up in the synagogue and read these words from the book of the prophet Esaias: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set an liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18). Closing the book, Jesus said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." __________, True Innocence, EDITORIAL, Journal, Vol. 81 (October 1963), p. 546. --As human consciousness yields to the leavening of divine Science, mankind are able to reject the false belief that man is a sinning mortal and to accept the spiritual fact that man is now the perfect son of God, spiritual, sinless. This does not mean, however, that a sinning mortal is either perfect or a son of God. ---Christian Science must awaken the individual who believes himself to be a sinning mortal to know that in reality he forever manifests purity and innocence. --The Master's pure consciousness enabled him to see what others could not see and to unsee what they were seeing. Mrs. Eddy writes of him in Science and Health (pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick." --What we know in Science determines what we see and how we see it. __________, Whom Satan hath bound," EDITORIAL, Sentinel, Vol. 64 (27 October 1962), p. 1871. --Why do many followers of Christ Jesus balk at following his command to heal sin and disease as he did? It is not by choice. ---Every one of them would gladly heal through spiritual means if he knew how. But they feel unequal to the task because they consider the work of the Master to be miraculous, and they will continue to feel so as long as they believe that he had supernatural power which they do not and cannot possess. --Here is what Mrs. Eddy has to say about the naturalness of spiritual healing (Science and Health, Pref., p. xi): "The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus' time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural." --One way that we attest our fidelity to Truth is by disassociating disease from nature or natural processes. We see disease as a presentation of animal magnetism, or mortal mind. Then we are able to heal it through Truth, and healings brought about by the power of immortal Mind are seen to be divinely natural, not supernatural. SECTION IV: Jesus speaks about the coming of the Comforter (John 14: 12, 16, 17) RELATED SCRIPTURE: Ex 33: 18-23; Acts 1: 8, 18; 2; 10: 30; I Cor 12
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TIME LINE: Thursday of Passion Week, 30 AD, at Jerusalem This discourse [John 14] explains what it means for Jesus to go away and come again. His return is understood in several ways.In a senseJesus returns in the ongoing lives of the disciples themselves, who do his works and more. (Theological Bible Commentary) In verse 12, Jesus did not mean greater works in power, but in extent. They would become gospel witnesses to all the world through the power of the indwelling and infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and would bring many people to salvation because of the Comforter dwelling in them. (MacArthur Bible Commentary) Comforter, v. 16 is the one called alongside to help. [Jesus] would pray the Father, and they would receive a Helper. (King James Bible Commentary) As in Acts 2 and I Cor 12, the expression [with youin you, v. 17] refers primarily to the presence of Gods Spirit in the community; individuals participate in the life of the Spirit not only on an individualistic basis, but by belonging to the community of faith animated and guided by Gods Spirit. (Peoples NT Commentary) WAGERS, RALPH E. (CSB, Lecturer, Associate Editor, Normal Class Teacher, and President), Christian Scientists and the Bible, EDITORIAL, Sentinel, Vol. 67 (17 April 1965), p. 679. --From early childhood Mrs. Eddy read the Bible as a normal part of her daily activity, and her abiding interest in this great Book is evidenced throughout her writings. --When the Master foretold the appearing of the Comforter (see John 14:16,17), he indicated the next and final step in the unfolding of the spiritual idea of God's infinite presence and power and man's inseparability from God. This final step was to reveal the uninterrupted harmony and order of man and the universe. ---It was to bring to fruition all the hopes planted in the human heart by God's progressive revelation of Himself. God is omniscient Spirit. ---And the spiritual Science that Mrs. Eddy found in the Bible holds the key to mankind's complete victory over the claim of a power opposed to God. SECTION V: Gods lawsweet and nourishing (Ps 119: 97, 103, 104 [to :]) TIME LINE AND AUTHOR: "This psalm, the most comprehensive of all the psalms, is a particularly artificial product of religious poetry." (The Psalms) The author is probably David, written in the 7th century BC. This [119] is the longest and most elaborate of the alphabetic psalms. (King James Bible Commentary) Verses 97-104 exhibit a stronger sense of unity than is found in most other stanzas. The main theme here is the significant of abundance of wisdom or discernment that follows the study of the law, which is understood to mean the Torah, the first five books of the OT. The poet expresses his feelings about his enemies in strong language. He hates all those who do not obey the torah (vv. 104,113,128,163). (Eerdmans Commentary)

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WAGERS, RALPH E. (CSB, Lecturer, Associate Editor, Normal Class Teacher, and President), Its a miracle!, EDITORIAL, Sentinel, Vol. 66 (29 August 1964), p. 1521. --When something unusual occurssomeone is suddenly healed of what was supposed to be an incurable disease, a calamity is averted, an event which is difficult to explain takes place people are apt to declare, "It's a miracle!" But what do they mean? --Mrs. Eddy defines "miracle" as, "That which is divinely natural, but must be learned humanly; a phenomenon of Science" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 591). The difference between a phenomenon of Science and a phenomenon of material sense is that one is divinely natural, while the other is accepted as being supernatural. --On page 134 of Science and Health we find this statement: "A miracle fulfills God's law, but does not violate that law." And on the next page we read, "The miracle introduces no disorder, but unfolds the primal order, establishing the Science of God's unchangeable law." --Accepting this concept of miracles, we find miracles taking place every day. As "the Science of God's unchangeable law" is established in our consciousness, disorders are eradicated, and our lives blend naturally with the divine order, or kingdom of heaven. Realizing that "a miracle fulfils God's law, but does not violate that law, we join with the Psalmist in declaring (Ps. 119: 97), "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." --30--

*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.