Everyday speech and the chart of life

Joel Chapter 2.

The Revised King James Version notes all the quotes from other books of the Bible made in Joel, and in return The Revelation of St. John quotes from Joel - as well as, it seems, most if not all, of the other books of the Bible.

It is all one story really, isn’t it?  And Mary Baker Eddy carries on that story in her work Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, either quoting exactly or referencing Bible words and phrases.  The discerning reader can find these on almost every page of Science and Health.

So, what is the story?  Let’s look at what S&H says about it –

Page vii.  The Bible was the sole teacher of the author of S&H.  viii:30.

Page 25: It is the chart of life.  “Acquaintance with the original texts, and willingness to give up human beliefs (established by hierarchies, and instigated sometimes by the worst passions of men) open the way for Christian Science to be understood, and make the Bible the chart of life, where the buoys and healing currents of Truth are pointed out.”  24:4

Page 58.  Guide in marriage.  “She that is married careth… how she may please her husband,” says the Bible; and this is the pleasantest thing to do.  58:31-1

Page 99.  Demands escape from sin.  “Human philosophy, ethics, and superstition afford no demonstrable divine Principle by which mortals can escape from sin; yet to escape from sin, is what the Bible demands.  99:2-5

Page 104.  The ultimate authority on scientific truth.  “Agassiz…said: ‘Every great scientific truth goes through three stages.  First, people say it conflicts with the Bible….”  104:8-10

Page 110.  Textbook for scientific revelation.  “In following these leadings of scientific revelation, the Bible was my only textbook.”  110:13-14

Page 126.  Authority and guide.  “The Bible has been my only authority.  I had had no other guide in ‘the straight and narrow way’ of Truth.”  126:29

Page 131.  Factual.  “The central fact of the Bible is the superiority of spiritual over physical power.”  131:10

Page 141.  Says all believers are ‘kings and priests unto God.’  “The Bible declares that all believers are made ‘kings and priests unto God.’” 141:20-21

Page 146.  Sanctions divine Science. “Divine Science derives its sanction from the Bible, and the divine origin of Science is demonstrated through the Holy influence of Truth in healing sickness and sin.”  146:23-26

Page 241.  Teaches the transformation of the body.  “The Bible teaches transformation of the body by the renewal of Spirit.  Take away the spiritual signification of Scripture, and that compilation can do no more for mortals than can moonbeams to melt a river of ice.”  241:13-17

Page 242:  Teaches that the facts of being are commonly misconstrued.  “According to the Bible, the facts of being are commonly misconstrued, for it is written” ;They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots.’”  242:21-24  NB. The ‘facts of being’ are set forth in the scientific statement of being in the Christian Science textbook.  468:9

Page 263.  Bible language has passed into every day speech.  “(Mortal man) might say in Bible language: ‘The good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.’” 263:17

Joyce Voysey

Joel and the Canon

Dummelow’s Bible Commentary says of the teaching of the book of Joel: The book of Joel addresses the Christian Church under the visitations of evil with a call for humility and intercession both through outward form and ceremony and through the inward motions of the heart, with the assurance that God hears and answers prayer, turning the day of calamity into one of prosperity.

 

This reference to the Christian Church surprises me, for the book was written long before the coming of Christ.  So, here is something for me to ponder.  Does it mean that the compilers of our Bible chose writings from the Old Testament with reference to the way they were relevant to the churches many years later? The Canon, I think it is called.

 

The Internet bogged me down somewhat when looking up ‘Canon’.  Until I came to this from the Christian Apologetics and Research site –

 

What is the Canon?

by Matt Slick

The word "canon" means "standard" or "rule."  It is the list of authoritative and inspired Scriptures.  Different religions have different canons.

In Judaism, the canon consists of the books of the Old Testament only.

In Protestant Christianity, the canon is the body of scripture comprised in theBible consisting of the 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.

In Roman Catholicism, additional books were added in 1546.  These books are known as the apocryphal books: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), and Baruch.  I need to add here that Roman Catholicism maintains that the apocrypha was always inspired along with the Eastern Orthodox, Coptic and Armenian churches.  The Protestant movement has not accepted the apocrypha.

In Mormonism, four additional books have been added to the Canon: The book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

In Christian Science an additional book has been added to the Canon.  This additional book is called "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" written by Mary Baker Eddy.

In Islam, their inspired book is called the Quran (Koran).

The Protestant Christian Canon
Old Testament	New Testament
Pentateuch - 5 books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Historical Books - 12 books Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Poetical - 5 books Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Prophetical - 17 books Major Prophets - Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel Minor Prophets - Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi	Historical Books -  5 books Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts Pauline Epistles - 13 books Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians. 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon Non-Pauline Epistles - 9 books Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude, Revelation   Note:  Some authors attribute Hebrews to Paul.

Joyce Voysey

SEEING SPIRITUALLY

 We know that Joel is identified as one of the minor prophets.  So I was interested to read the references to the prophets in this week's Bible Lesson. 

GLORIOUS GLIMPSES OF THE MESSIAH
In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures p. 333
"Throughout all generations both before and after the Christian era, the Christ, as the spiritual idea, - the reflection of God, - has come with some measure of power and grace to all prepared to receive Christ, Truth.  Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets caught glorious glimpses of the Messiah, or Christ, which baptized these seers in the divine nature, the essence of Love."

EXPECTATION OF GOOD AND CLEAR VISION OF IT
In Matt 12: 17 re Jesus healing of the man with the deformed hand -
"..that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased..."  (I note that we read similar words in Isa 41: 1 in the previous section of the Lesson.)

TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS SUM UP THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS
The Pharisees chided Jesus when his disciples picked corn on the Sabbath, and one of them who was a lawyer tried to catch him out by asking him directly about the commandments?  Jesus' response encompassed both the law and prophecy:  we must love God with all our heart, soul, and mind; and love our neighbour as ourselves.

SUMMIT EXPERIENCE: SONSHIP RATIFIED
Perceptions of history on a time line receded when both the law (Moses) and the prophets (Elias aka Elijah) were simultaneously present at that transformative, mountain-top experience where Peter, James, and John heard God's voice identifying Jesus as follows: "This is my beloved Son: hear him". 

Mary Baker Eddy gives us a lovely definition of the term prophet, in part: "a spiritual seer" (See S&H p. 593).  I ask myself: what am I seeing? 

Julie Swannell

Just three chapters in Joel, one of the minor prophets

Hi Fellow-readers,

This month we will read Mary Baker Eddy's Message to The Mother Church for 1900 and let's find out:

1. What questions are asked?
2. What questions are answered?
3. Who was Mary Baker Eddy writing this address for and what is the historical context?
4. What was the main thrust of her message?
5. What Bible passages does the author mention and why?
6. How does the author encourage students today?

Happy exploring!
Julie

So many young people

A friend was interested to read about Eddy's 1898 activities, which included her final class of seventy hand-picked students from around the globe.  What was remarkable was the very short notice they were given in which to respond to her invitation.  My friend notes that "A World More Bright" points out the fact that "those chosen were not just seasoned students, but also promising newcomers".  The narrative continues (p. 161) "When asked why she had included so many young people, she replied, "Because I want my teaching carried on."

That sounds like a lesson for us today.

Julie Swannell

In the Reading Room today

Today our "book club Monday" consists of three of us reading "A World More Bright" by Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick. We have just read chapter one - all about the young Mary growing up in the 1820's with her three brothers and two sisters.  Mary was the baby.

We read about her Mother's insistence on strict honesty.  We read about the enormous work load of mothers at that time: spinning, weaving, making their own butter and clothing while the menfolk had to tend to all the other farm duties.

We read about Mary's love for animals, her love of books - especially the Bible - and her brothers and sisters.  Furthermore we read about her love for her fellow-man when she instinctively gave away items of clothing - much to her mother's dismay!  We note how this generosity never left her, even when her material circumstances might have persuaded her to keep all she had to herself. 

This book gives us a fresh view of the circumstances of Mary's upbringing and is lovely to read aloud, as we have done this morning, while munching on some morning tea which was kindly provided by Ros.

Julie Swannell