Table of contents
1	Introduction
2	Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
3	Examples of Mrs. Eddy's quoting or borrowing from other Bible versions
4	The Church of Christ, Scientists' use of the Revised Version throughout 1890
5	The continued use of the Revised Version / American Standard Version in the trademarked "Cross and Crown seal" of Christian Science and in the daily Christian Science Monitor
6	The use of several Bible versions in the Christian Science Quarterly up through 1914
7	The past, present, and future use of other Bible versions in The Church of Christ, Scientist
8	Conclusion

Many of today's students of the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson are unaware that, between 1890 and 1914, Bible versions other than the King James Version [KJV] in the Bible Lessons were officially used at times in the Quarterly and in the Sunday services of Mary Baker Eddy's church in Boston. It is also a surprise to many that nowhere in Mrs. Eddy's published writings did she specify the KJV as the version to be used for reading the Bible Lesson in Sunday or Wednesday services in branch churches or even in The Mother Church, or for privately studying the Bible Lesson at home, or for use in Christian Science Reading Rooms. (For a listing of Bible versions sold in Reading Rooms of Mrs. Eddy's day, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/workshops/7-bible-resources-in-early-csrr.htm.)

Mrs. Eddy does write (S&H 24:4):

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.

She also writes (S&H 139:15):

The decisions by vote of Church Councils as to what should and should not be considered Holy Writ; the manifest mistakes in the ancient versions; the thirty thousand different readings in the Old Testament, and the three hundred thousand in the New, --these facts show how a mortal and material sense stole into the divine record, with its own hue darkening to some extent the inspired pages. But mistakes could neither wholly obscure the divine Science of the Scriptures seen from Genesis to Revelation, mar the demonstration of Jesus, nor annul the healing by the prophets, who foresaw that "the stone which the builders rejected" would become "the head of the corner.

Though Mrs. Eddy overwhelmingly quoted most frequently from the King James Version (sometimes referred to as the Authorized Version [AV] or Common Version [CV]), throughout her writings and publications, she appreciatively quotes from, refers to, and/or uses wording from several other English-language translations. Some of those translations are the following (in chronological order): Wycliffe's Bible (1378-1388), the Revised Version [RV] (1881-1885), the American Standard Version [ASV] (1901), Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (completed 1902), and The Twentieth Century New Testament (completed 1902). In addition to the King James Version, Mrs. Eddy owned many other Bible versions. (See "The Bible Exhibit Historical Collection," published by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, MA, USA, and other sources.)

Some of the Bibles that Mrs. Eddy owned and used are listed below. They are arranged in chronological order according to the date of the first publication of the complete Bible, or alternatively according to the date of the first publication of the complete New Testament.

1. The New Testament in English, instigated by John Wycliffe (First translated and published in manuscript form between 1378-1388.)

Though named after Wycliffe, it is still uncertain whether or not Wycliffe himself actually took part in any of the translation. Wycliffe died in 1384.

2. The New Testament, translated by William Tyndale (First published in 1525.)

3. KJV - The King James Version (1611. Dr. Benjamin Blayney's 1769 revision of the KJV is the basis for almost all KJV editions today.)

The KJV was first published in 1611, but it has been changed many times over the centuries. The biblical wording in KJV Bibles printed today still differ somewhat. For example even the Reader's edition of the KJV, printed by both the Oxford University Press and the Cambridge University Press and sold through Christian Science Reading Rooms, have had slight differences in wording and punctuation between the Oxford edition and the Cambridge edition. The American Bible Society's edition is also slightly different from both the Oxford and the Cambridge editions. (To further explore this history, browse "The King James Version and its dependence on the Textus Receptus" at http://www.bibletexts.com/kjv-tr.htm.)

4. The English Version of the Polyglot Bible (Published in 1836.)

The 1522 Complutensian Polyglot Bible had parallel columns. The Old Testament had columns for Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. The New Testament had columns for Greek and Latin. As mentioned above, the Complutensian Polyglot Bible was begun years prior to -- but finished six years after -- Erasmus' hastily compiled Greek New Testament. Though the Complutensian text was much more thoroughly researched and represented a much larger number of ancient-language biblical texts, Erasmus' text beat the Complutensian text to the market (as Erasmus' publisher had intended), and Erasmus' Greek text became the primary basis for the King James Version's New Testament. (To further explore this history, browse "The King James Version and its dependence on the Textus Receptus" at http://www.bibletexts.com/kjv-tr.htm.)

5. The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments, Translated Literally from the Original Tongues , translated by Julia E. Smith (Published in 1876.)

This was the first and only translation done entirely by a woman.

6. RV - The Revised Version, translated by English and American scholars. (The New Testament was first published in 1881. The entire Bible was first published in 1885.)

This was the first authorized revision of the King James Version. This was the version that served as the basis of the Matthew 10:8 quotation used on "the Cross and Crown seal" of Christian Science. This was also the only version that was used for the Christian Science Bible Lessons, including both the "Golden Text" and "Lesson Text," for one entire year from April 1890 to March 1891. The Revised Version continued to be used periodically (until 1914) in the Golden Text of the Quarterly. (For more details on Mrs. Eddy's use of the Revised Version, see below, "4. The Church of Christ, Scientist's use of the Revised Version throughout 1890.)

7. ASV - The American Standard Version (First published in 1901.)

Though now known as the American Standard Version, the title page described it as, "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, translated out of the original tongues, being the version set forth A.D. 1611, compared with the most ancient authorities and revised A.D. 1881-1885, newly edited by the American Revision Committee A.D. 1901." This is the Bible translation that was used by Mrs. Eddy on the editorial page of The Christian Science Monitor, where she quoted Mark 4:28: "First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear." And that ASV quotation is still on the editorial page of today's Monitor.

8. The Emphasized Bible, translated by Joseph Bryant Rotherham (Published in parts from 1868 to 1902. The entire Bible was first published in 1902.)

Rotherham's translation was very popular among early Christian Scientists. It was advertised in The Christian Science Journal and sold in Christian Science Reading Rooms. You can read some of the early Journal articles commending the use of Rotherham's translation by browsing http://www.bibletexts.com/articles/j008p319.htm and http://www.bibletexts.com/articles/j008p461.htm.

9. The Holy Bible in Modern English, translated by Ferrar Fenton (Published in parts from 1882 to 1902. The entire Bible was first published 1903.)

This book was a gift from a student. Of the at least thirteen different Bible versions owned by Mrs. Eddy, the only one in which she made no hand-written notations or from which she did not quote was Fenton's Bible. Interestingly, Fenton's Bible was popular in Mrs. Eddy's day but later was found to be not very reliable. Sakae Kubo and Walter Specht (So Many Versions: Twentieth Century English Versions of the Bible, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1975, page 210) comment:

Farrar Fenton was a London businessman who devoted some twenty years of his life to fulfill a pledge of making the Scriptures intelligible "through the use of modern English." This work by an amateur was popular for a time, but "its erroneous and inaccurate renderings have rather damaged its earlier favor" (Price).

10. The New Testament in Modern English, translated by Richard Francis Weymouth (First published in 1903.)

11. TCNT - The Twentieth Century New Testament (Published in parts from 1898 to 1901. A revised one-volume edition of the New Testament was first published in 1904.)

12. Nave's Topical Bible, compiled by Orville J. Nave (Published in 1904.)

Mrs. Eddy owned at least three copies of Nave's Topical Bible -- all published in 1904. (My own copy of Nave's, published by Moody Press in 1974, does not tell when the first complete Nave's Topical Bible was published.)

13. The Modern Reader's Bible:.. with Three Books of the Apocrypha, translated by Richard G. Moulton (Published in parts from 1895. The entire Bible was first published in 1907.)

The following are just a few examples of Mary Baker Eddy's use of other Bible versions and/or her seeing the need to translate some KJV wording into more meaningful and/or more accurate language for modern readers. (The Strong's numbers for the original Hebrew and Greek words appear within the <brackets>. The red underlined words provide links to definitions or other explanations.)

1. Bible Verse: Gen 2:4

• KJV wording:
• "LORD God"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "LORD <03068> God <0430>"
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• ASV: "Jehovah God"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "Lord God [Jehovah God]" (S&H 543:31)
• Original Hebrew Old Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• Yahweh <03068> Elohim <0430>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "Lord God"
  • NRSV - "LORD God"
  • REB - "LORD God"

  • TEV: The Story of Creation - "1 And so the whole universe was completed. 2 By the seventh day God finished what he had been doing and stopped working. 3 He blessed the seventh day and set it apart as a special day, because by that day he had completed his creation and stopped working. 4a And that is how the universe was created." The Garden of Eden - 4b When the LORD God made the universe, 5 there were no plants on the earth and no seeds had sprouted, because he had not sent any rain, and there was no one to cultivate the land; 6 but water would come up from beneath the surface and water the ground.
    

2. Bible Verse: Gen 6:3

• KJV wording:
  • "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh"
• KJV wording <Strong's #> - needing clarification/correction in its translation:
  • "And the LORD <03068> said <0559>, My spirit <07307> shall not always <05769> strive <01777> with man <0120>, for that he also <07683> [is] flesh
    <01320>:"
• Clarified/corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
  • Smith's Bible Dictionary: "And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not forever rule [or be humbled] in men, seeing that they are [or, in their error they are] but flesh."
    • [See http://www.bibletexts.com/workshops/7-bible-resources-in-early-csrr.htm#sbd to read about Mrs. Eddy's appreciation of Smith's Bible Dictionary.]
  • Rotherham: "And Yahweh said -- My spirit shall not rule in man to times age-abiding, for that [[he also]] is flesh --..."
• The same clarified/corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
  • S&H: In Smith's Bible Dictionary it is said: "The spiritual interpretation of Scripture must rest upon both the literal and moral;" and in the learned article on Noah in the same work, the familiar text, Genesis vi. 3, "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh," is quoted as follows, from the original Hebrew: "And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not forever rule [or be humbled] in men, seeing that they are [or, in their error they are] but flesh." Here the original text declares plainly the spiritual fact of being, even man's eternal and harmonious existence as image, idea, instead of matter (however transcendental such a thought appears), and avers that this fact is not forever to be humbled by the belief that man is flesh and matter, for according to that error man is mortal. (S&H 320:8)
• Original Hebrew Old Testament word from which the KJV word "strive" is translated (upon which the above correction/clarification is based)
  • diyn <1777>
• Some modern versions
  • Anchor Bible - "Then Yahweh said, "My spirit shall not shield man forever, since he is but flesh..."
  • NAB - "Then the Lord said: "My spirit shall not remain in man forever, since he is but flesh..."
  • NRSV - "Then the Lord said, “My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh;..."
  • Old Testament Library - "Then the Lord said, "My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he is flesh..."
  • REB - "But the Lord said, 'My spirit will not remain in a human being for ever; because he is mortal flesh..."
  • TEV: The Wickedness of Mankind - Gen 6:1 When the human race had spread all over the world, and daughters were being born, 2 some of the heavenly beings saw that these young women were beautiful, so they took the ones they liked. 3 Then the Lord said, “I will not allow people to live for ever; they are mortal. From now on they will live no longer than a hundred and twenty years.” 4 In those days, and even later, there were giants on the earth who were descendants of human women and the heavenly beings. They were the great heroes and famous men of long ago.
    

 

3. Bible Verse: Psa 51:5

• KJV wording:
• "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "Behold <02005>, I was shapen <02342> in iniquity <05771>; and in sin <02399> did my mother <0517> conceive <03179> me."
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• ASV: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me."
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity" (S&H 476:15-17)
• [This includes a paraphrase of the American Standard Version [ASV] translation of Psa 51:5. See also S&H 540:28-30.]
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me."
  • NRSV - "Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me."
  • REB - "From my birth I have been evil, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."

  • TEV: A Prayer for Forgiveness - "3 I recognize my faults; I am always conscious of my sins. 4 I have sinned against you --only against you -- and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me. 5 I have been evil from the day I was born; from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful."
    

4. Bible Verse: Mat 5:26

• KJV wording:
  • "uttermost farthing"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "uttermost <2078> farthing <2835>"
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
  • RV, ASV, Fenton, Weymouth, Moulton: "last farthing"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
  • S&H: "last farthing" (S&H 390:17; S&H 405:15; note also "uttermost farthing" in S&H 5:11)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
  • eschatos <2078> kodrantes<2835>
• Some modern versions
  • ESV, NAB, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, RSV - "last penny"
  • NASB - "last cent"

 

5. Bible Verse: Mat 6:13

• KJV wording:
• "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: [For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.]"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "And lead <1533> us not into <1519> temptation <3986>, but deliver <4506> us from evil <4190>: [For thine <4675> is the kingdom <932>, and the power
    <1411>, and the glory <1391>, for ever <165>. Amen <281>."] - (based on the original text's correction of KJV's Greek text)
• Corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV, ASV, Moulton: "And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." []
• Rotherham, Weymouth: "And bring us not into temptation, But rescue us from the evil one." []
• The same corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "There is indeed some doubt among Bible scholars, whether the last line is not an addition to the prayer by a later copyist; but this does not affect the meaning of the prayer itself. In the phrase, "Deliver us from evil," the original properly reads, "Deliver us from the evil one." (S&H 16:11)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• kai <2532> me <3361> eisenegkes <1533> hemas <1473> eis <1519> peirasmon <3986>, alla <235> rusai <4506> hemas <1473> apo <575> tou <3588> ponerou <4190>
• Some modern versions
• NAB - "and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. []"
• NAB footnote - "Jewish apocalyptic writings speak of a period of severe trial before the end of the age, sometimes called the "messianic woes." This petition asks that the disciples be spared that final test.
• NRSV - "And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. []"
• REB - "And do not put us to the test, but save us from the evil one."

• TEV: Teaching about Prayer - 9 This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven: May your holy name be honored; 10 may your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need. 12 Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us. 13 Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.' []"
  

6. Bible Verse: Mat 10:8

• KJV wording:
• "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:"
• KJV wording: CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE DEAD - correct order of the wording: raise the dead, cleanse the lepers - (based on the original text's correction of KJV's Greek text)
• KJV wording: DEVILS - correct translation: demons
• To read a textual commentary that explains the correct word order and translation of this verse, and how Mrs. Eddy used the RV/ASV translation in the "Cross and Crown seal" of Christian Science," browse http://www.bibletexts.com/versecom/mat10v08.htm.
• To explore the distinction between devil and demon, see:
  • devil - http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/satan.htm
  • demon - http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/demon.htm
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "Heal <2323> the sick <770>, [raise <1453> the dead <3498>,] cleanse <2511> the lepers <3015>, raise <1453> the dead <3498>, cast <1544> out devils [demons] <1140>: "
• Corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils:"
• RV marginal note: ³Gr. demons
• RV "List of readings and renderings preferred by the American Committee": "VIII. Substitute for "devil" ("devils") the word "demon" ("demons") wherever the latter word is given in the margin (or represents the Greek words daimon, daimonion)."
• ASV: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons"
• The same corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• "Cross and Crown seal" of Christian Science: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons" (on the cover of S&H and all published writings of Mrs. Eddy)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• asthenouvntas <770> therapeuete <2323>, nekrous <3498> egeirete <1453>, leprous <3015> katharizete <2511>, daimonia <1140> ekballete <1544>:
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons."
  • NRSV - "Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons."
  • REB - "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons."
  • TEV: The Mission of the Twelve - "5 These twelve men were sent out by Jesus with the following instructions: "Do not go to any Gentile territory or any Samaritan towns. 6 Instead, you are to go to the lost sheep of the people of Israel. 7 Go and preach, "The Kingdom of heaven is near!' 8 Heal the sick, bring the dead back to life, heal those who suffer from dreaded skin diseases, and drive out demons. You have received without paying, so give without being paid. 9 Do not carry any gold, silver, or copper money in your pockets; 10 do not carry a beggar's bag for the trip or an extra shirt or shoes or a walking stick. A worker should be given what he needs."

• For a very intersting history of Mrs. Eddy's honest pursuit of "the original texts" behind this verse, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/bl-ver.htm#5.
  

7. Bible Verse: Mat 17:15

• KJV wording:
• "lunatick"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "lunatick <4583>"
• Clarified/corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV, ASV, Fenton, Weymouth, TCNT, Moulton: "epileptic"
• The same clarified/corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "Sometimes Jesus called a disease by name, as when he said to the epileptic boy,"'Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him." (S&H 398:1, Bible verse quoted from Mar 9:25.)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• Greek: seleniazetai <4583>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "lunatic"
  • NAB footnote - "A lunatic: this description of the boy is peculiar to Matthew. The word occurs in the New Testament only here and in 4, 24 and means one affected or struck by the moon. The symptoms of the boy's illness point to epilepsy, and attacks of this were thought to be caused by phases of the moon."
  • NRSV - "epileptic"
  • REB - "epileptic"

  • TEV: Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon - "14 When they returned to the crowd, a man came to Jesus, knelt before him, 15 and said, "Sir, have mercy on my son! He is an epileptic and has such terrible attacks that he often falls in the fire or into water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." 17 Jesus answered, "How unbelieving and wrong you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here to me!" 18 Jesus gave a command to the demon, and it went out of the boy, and at that very moment he was healed."
    

8. Bible Verse: Mat 17:20

• KJV wording:
• "Because of your unbelief"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "Because <1223> of your <5216> unbelief <570>"
• Clarified that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV, ASV, Rotherham, Moulton: "Because of your little faith"
• Fenton: "The reason was... your want of faith"
• Weymouth: "Because your faith is so small"
• TCNT: "Because you have so little faith"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• My: "Because of your unbelief' (lack of faith)" ( My 221:32)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• oligopistian <570>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "Because of your little faith."
  • NASB: "because of the littleness of your faith"
  • NIV: "because you have so little faith"
  • NJB: "because you have so little faith"
  • REB: "Your faith is too small."

  • TEV: Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon - "19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked him, "Why couldn't we drive the demon out?" 20 "It was because you do not have enough faith," answered Jesus. "I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, "Go from here to there!' and it will go. You could do anything!" 21 [Verse omitted in original text]."
    

9. Bible Verse: Mar 4:28

• KJV wording:
• "first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "first <4412> the blade <5528>, then <1534> the ear <4719>, after <1534> that the full <4134> corn <4621> in the ear <4719>."
• Clarified/corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• ASV: "first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear."
• The same clarified/corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• The Christian Science Monitor: "first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear." (wording that Mrs. Eddy selected for Monitor)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• proton <4412> chorton <5528> eita <1534> stachun <4719> eita<1534> plere <4134> siton <4621> en <1722> to <3588> stachui <4719>.
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear."
  • NRSV - "first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head."
  • REB - "first the blade, then the ear, then full grain in the ear."
  • TEV: The Parable of the Growing Seed - "26 Jesus went on to say, "The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed in his field. 27 He sleeps at night, is up and about during the day, and all the while the seeds are sprouting and growing. Yet he does not know how it happens. 28 The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears, then the head, and finally the head full of grain. 29 When the grain is ripe, the man starts cutting it with his sickle, because harvest time has come."

• For a very intersting history of Mrs. Eddy's honest pursuit of "the original texts" behind this verse, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/bl-ver.htm#5.
  

10. Bible Verse: Luk 3:22

• KJV wording:
• "the Holy Ghost"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>"
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• ASV, Rotherham, Fenton, Weymouth, TCNT: "the Holy Spirit"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• Mis: "the Holy Spirit" (Mis 161:1)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• to <3588> pneuma <4151> to <3588> hagion <40>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "the holy Spirit"
  • NRSV - "the Holy Spirit"
  • REB - "the Holy Spirit"

  • TEV: The Baptism of Jesus - "21 After all the people had been baptized, Jesus also was baptized. While he was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.""
    

11. Bible Verse: Luk 22:37

• KJV wording:
• "reckoned among the transgressors"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "reckoned <3049> among <3326> the transgressors <459>:"
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• TCNT: "counted among the godless"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "counted among sinners" (S&H 9:26)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• meta <3326> anomon <285> elogisthe <3049>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "counted among the wicked"
  • NAB footnote - Isa 53,12
  • NRSV - "counted among the lawless"
  • REB - "reckoned among transgressors"

  • TEV: Purse, Bag, and Sword - 35 Then Jesus asked his disciples, "When I sent you out that time without purse, bag, or shoes, did you lack anything?" "Not a thing," they answered. 36 "But now," Jesus said, "whoever has a purse or a bag must take it; and whoever does not have a sword must sell his coat and buy one. 37 For I tell you that the scripture which says, "He shared the fate of criminals,' must come true about me, because what was written about me is coming true." 38 The disciples said, "Look! Here are two swords, Lord!" "That is enough!" he replied."
    

12. Bible Verse: Joh 1:3

• KJV wording:
• "All things were made by him..."
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "All <3956> things were made <1096> by <1223> him;..."
• Corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• ASV, Moulton: "All things were made through him."
• Rotherham: "||All things|| through him' |came into existence|..."
• TCNT: "Through him all things came into being through Him..."
• Weymouth: "All things came into being through Him..."
• The same corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "In the Gospel of John, it is declared that all things were made through the Word of God, 'and that without Him [the logos, or word] was not anything made that was made." (S&H 525:17-20)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• panta <3956> di <1223> auto <846> egeneto <1096>
[Here the Greek word dia <1223> was shortened to di, because it preceded the Greek word auto, which begins with an a (alpha). It rolls off the tongue more smoothly to say di auto than to say dia auto. Many languages, ancient and modern, follow similar practices.]
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "All things came to be through him..."
  • NRSV - "All things came into being through him..."
  • REB - "through him all things came to be"

  • TEV: The Word of Life - "1 Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. 2 From the very beginning the Word was with God. 3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. 4 The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out."
    

13. Bible Verse: Joh 4:24

• KJV wording:
• "God is a Spirit"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "God <2316> [is] a Spirit <4151>:" - (The KJV's Greek text was correct in this verse. The strike-out of "a" is only a correction of the KJV translation.)
• Corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• Rotherham, Moulton: "God is spirit"
• Fenton, TCNT, Weymouth: "God is Spirit"
• The same corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "God is Spirit" (S&H 117:6; 207:2; 331:14; 335:2; Mis 556:26; 75:11; 113:4; 184:1; Un 31:2,5; 34:11; Rud 4:21; 13:16; '01 3:15; 22:5; Peo 7:30; My 221:16; 266:19; 270:31)
• Unity of Good: " ' God is a Spirit ' (or, more accurately translated, 'God is Spirit'), declares the Scripture (John iv. 24), 'and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.' " (Un 31:1)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• pneuma <4151> ho <3588> Theos <2316>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "God is Spirit"
  • NRSV - "God is spirit"
  • REB - "God is spirit"

  • TEV: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman - 21 Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, the time will come when people will not worship the Father either on this mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans do not really know whom you worship; but we Jews know whom we worship, because it is from the Jews that salvation comes. 23 But the time is coming and is already here, when by the power of God's Spirit people will worship the Father as he really is, offering him the true worship that he wants. 24 God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is."
    

14. Bible Verse: Joh 14:26

• KJV wording:
• "the Holy Ghost"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>"
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV, ASV, Rotherham, Weymouth, TCNT, Moulton : "the Holy Spirit"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "the Holy Spirit" (S&H 359:9. See also '01 9:22)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• Greek: to <3588> pneuma <4151> to <3588> hagion <40>
For more details on the use of the terms Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, browse: http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/comforter.htm.
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "holy Spirit"
  • NRSV - "the Holy Spirit"
  • REB - "the Holy Spirit "

  • TEV: The Promise of the Holy Spirit - "25 "I have told you this while I am still with you. 26 The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you."
    

15. Bible Verse: 1Co 2:13

• KJV wording:
• "the [Holy] Ghost"
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>" - (Though the Greek word hagiou, Strong's #40 and translated as "Holy," was in the Greek text from which the KJV was translated, it was not in the original text of the verse; thus, the strike-out is based on the original text's correction of KJV's Greek text.)
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV, ASV, Rotherham, Weymouth, TCNT, Moulton : "the Spirit"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• '01: "the Holy Spirit" ( '01 9:22. See also S&H 359:9 and S&H 598:1.)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• pneumatos <4151>
• For more details on the use of the terms Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, browse: http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/comforter.htm.
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "the Spirit"
  • NRSV - "the Spirit"
  • REB - "the Spirit "

  • TEV: God's Wisdom - "13 So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit. 14 Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them; they are nonsense to him, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis."
    

16. Bible Verse: 1Co 13:4,5

• KJV wording:
• "charity"
• To explore the distinction between charity and agape love, browse:
  • http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/agape-c.htm
  • http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/agape-v.htm
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "charity <26>"
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV, ASV, Rotherham, Weymouth, TCNT, Moulton : "love"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "Love" (S&H 537:29)
• My: "love" (Mis 210:29-30; My 260:21-23)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• agape <26>
• Some modern versions (as in virtually all modern Bible versions)
  • NAB - "love"
  • NRSV - "love"
  • REB - "love"

  • TEV: Love - "4 Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; 5 love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; 6 love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. 8 Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass. 9 For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial; 10 but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear."
    

17. Bible Verse: 1Co 13:13

• KJV wording:
• "charity"
• To explore the distinction between charity and agape love, browse:
  • http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/agape-c.htm
  • http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/agape-v.htm
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "charity <26>"
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• RV, ASV, Rotherham, Weymouth, TCNT, Moulton : "love"
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• '01: "Let it be left to such as see God -- to the pure in spirit, and the meek that inherit the earth; left to them of a sound faith and charity, the greatest of which is charity -- spiritual love." ('01 26:14-21. See also Mis 357:19-21)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• agape <26>
• Some modern versions (as in virtually all modern Bible versions)
  • NAB - "love"
  • NRSV - "love"
  • REB - "love"

  • TEV: Love - "11 When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am a man, I have no more use for childish ways. 12 What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face-to-face. What I know now is only partial; then it will be complete -- as complete as God's knowledge of me. 13 Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love."
    

18. Bible Verse: Col 3:4

• KJV wording:
• "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "When <3752> Christ <5547>, [who is] our life <2222>, shall appear <5319>, then <5119> shall ye also <2532> appear <5319> with him in glory <1391>."
• Clarified wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• Fenton: "So when Christ our life is manifested, then also you will be manifested in rectification with him."
• Rotherham: "As soon as ||the Christ|| shall be made manifest -- ||Our life||> ||Then|| ||ye also|| |together with him| shall be made manifest in glory;"
• RV, ASV, Weymouth: "When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory."
• The same clarified wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "In Colossians (iii. 4) Paul writes: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear [be manifested], then shall ye also appear [be manifested] with him in glory." " (S&H 325:10-12.)
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• phanerothe <5319> .. phanerothesesthe <5319>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory."
  • NRSV - "When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory."
  • REB - "When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you too will be revealed with him in glory."

  • TEV: Dying and Living with Christ - "1 You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. 2 Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!"
    

19. Bible Verse: Heb 1:3

• KJV wording:
• "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,..."
• KJV wording <Strong's #>:
  • "Who being the brightness <541> of [his] glory <1391>, and the express <5481> image <5481> of his person <5287>,"
• Clarified/corrected wording that appears in other Bible versions owned and used by Mary Baker Eddy
• Noyes: "Who, being a brightness from His glory, and an image of His being."
• The same clarified/corrected wording that appears in the writings of Mary Baker Eddy
• S&H: "The passage is made even clearer in the translation of the late George R. Noyes, D.D.: 'Who, being a brightness from His glory, and an image of His being.' " (S&H 313:19)
• To explore some of Mary Baker Eddy's other quotes and paraphrases from non-KJV translations of the Bible, see Section 3 of http://www.bibletexts.com/bl-ver.htm.
• Original Greek New Testament (upon which the above corrections are based)
• hos <3739> on <5607> apaugasma <541> tes <3588> doxes <1391> kai <2532> charakter <5481> tes <3588> hupostaseos <5287> auto <846>
• Some modern versions
  • NAB - "who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being,..."
  • NRSV - "He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being,..."
  • REB - "He is the radiance of God's glory, the stamp of God's very being..."

  • TEV: God's Word through His Son - "1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. 3 He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of mankind, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power."
    

Also noteworthy is Mrs. Eddy's commendation of others' use of various Bible translations to clarify -- or rightly understand -- particular Bible passages. To read an example of this, you can browse Hermann S. Hering's article at http://www.bibletexts.com/articles/s008p291.htm. Mrs. Eddy endorsed this article on the proper reading of 1 John 3:1-3, and she had Prof. Hering's article published in the Christian Science Sentinel.

Most people greatly underestimate Mrs. Eddy's studying of, paraphrasing from, and otherwise borrowing wording from non-KJV Bible versions. All of the Bible versions listed in the references above were owned and used by Mrs. Eddy in her home. For a listing of all of the Bibles known to have been owned by Mrs. Eddy in her home at Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, see The Bible Exhibit Historical Collection (Boston: The First Church of Christ, Scientist, pages 41-45).

It was not until the Old Testament and the New Testament of the RV were completed in 1885 that Mrs. Eddy and the Christian Science church even had available to them an English-language alternative to the KJV that was taken seriously by the Christian public. Prior to the RV's publication, the KJV was virtually the only complete version (with both Old and New Testaments) in common use in English-speaking countries.

When the RV was introduced in its 1881 New Testament edition, it aroused great indignation and outrage among many English-speaking Protestant theologians. Most church leaders considered it to be a scandalous and heretical sacrilege for anyone to use any version except their time-honored KJV. In 1885 the then complete RV, with both Old and New Testaments, was the first major English translation of the Bible in over three hundred years that did not base its New Testament on the Textus Receptus. (To further explore the relationship between the KJV and the Textus Receptus, browse "The King James Version and its dependence on the Textus Receptus" at http://www.bibletexts.com/kjv-tr.htm.) These issues resulted in a serious campaign of opposition to the RV from some very articulate, influential, and outspoken Christian theologians throughout the Protestant world, who were very critical of the RV.

Yet in 1890, only five years after the publication of the complete RV (Old Testament and New Testament), the RV had the distinction of being the first and only Bible version used in the place of the KJV for the "Bible Lessons" that were used in Sunday School and for the Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening church service. The RV was the only version that was used for the Christian Science Bible Lessons, including both the "Golden Text" and "Lesson Text," for one entire year.

The history of the Christian Science Sunday School: The first Christian Science Sunday School was conducted by Asa Gilbert Eddy in 1881. In 1883 plans for a formalized Sunday School were developed but never carried out. October 25, 1885, marked the formal beginning of the institution of a Christian Science Sunday School in the Church of Christ, Scientist. It originally taught both children and adults, and Sunday School was held at a different hour than the church service. Articles about the "children's service" and the changes thereto appeared in the May, 1898, and June, 1895, issues of The Christian Science Journal. The October, 1895, Journal announced the complete elimination of the children's service, since the Sunday School was reorganized to include just children as the only pupils. This reorganization fulfilled the original purposed of Mrs. Eddy's earlier provision for a "children's service." (It had been in December, 1894, that Mrs. Eddy had first introduced the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as the sole Pastor of the local Mother Church. Traditional preaching continued in the branch churches for several more years, until these two books were ordained the dual Pastor for all Churches of Christ, Scientist.)

For additional details see: Historical Sketches from the Life of Mary Baker Eddy and the History of Christian Science, by Clifford P. Smith (Boston: The Christian Science Publishing Society, 1934, pages 189-192, 202-204)

From 1888 to 1899 Christian Science Bible Lessons were "adapted to and taken from the International Sunday School Lessons in use in Protestant churches." (Norman Beasley, The Cross and the Crown, NY: Little, Brown, & Co, 1952, page 548.) Before 1890 the "Christian Science Bible Lessons -- International Series" were published in The Christian Science Journal, but in April of 1890 they began being published every three months in a new publication called the Christian Science Quarterly.

"The contents [of the Bible Lessons] consisted of introductory comments and expository notes, along with Bible references and,... 'copious references' to Science and Health." (Ibid., page 549) The references to Science and Health in the "Introductory" comments and in the "Expository Notes" were prepared by a committee of four Christian Scientists. Until 1895 the Sunday morning service in Boston and elsewhere consisted of a sermon prepared by and preached by a Christian Scientist pastor, but in 1895 Mrs. Eddy