Tuesday, July 7, 2009

"As adherents of Truth . . . ."

"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God [Heb 10:31]; but a blessed thing it is, and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the end, when God speaketh unto us, to hearken; when He setteth His Word before us, to read it; when He stretcheth out His hand and calleth, to answer, Here am I; here we are to do thy will, O God.
The Lord work a care and conscience in us to know Him and serve Him . . . ."

For this quote I am indebted to James Moffatt, who directed me to its source, the "Preface of the Translators to the Reader" of the King James (Authorized) Version, 1611, of the Bible, in his magesterial and eloquent "Introduction" to his own inspired translation of the Bible. Though fairly lengthy, this Preface should be a part of every KJV/AV Bible, but, shamefully, almost never is. Instead we get without fail the short, somewhat fawning, and largely irrelevant (today) "Epistle Dedicatory".

To attempt to comment or elaborate on the above passage would be impertinent. The humility, dedication, and scholarship of those translators shines throughout their Preface and their glorious translation and attests to their selfless dedication and diligence. Given the enormous sacrifices so many have made over the centuries to bless mankind with translations of this priceless book, any Christian Scientist who gives or has given the Bible short shrift should be mortified at his apostasy. A good annotated version of the Preface is available on the internet and is well worth perusing at least once.

The indelible importance of the King James Version (AV) of the Bible to Christian Scientists and the glow the Preface puts upon it make a felicitous topic for The Broken Net's 100th posting. "As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life." (S&H 497: 3-4)

23 comments:

California regular said...

Congratulations on your l00th blog post! The high quality of your offerings, the scholarship, the love for God, for Christ Jesus, and for Christian Science shine through all you write, and I am the better for having read your website.
This one excellent!

Worcester said...

Such an inspiring entry today! Really like this one. Of course, I'm a fan of everything you post. And let me say, God certainly led you to start your blog.
All the best to you,

Betty Gillingham (TN) said...

Oh, this is something special. So very inspiring. I would say, sublime, and I thank you for sharing this with the Field. You are such a blessing to us!
Love to you,

Helen (Hartford) said...

And let me send you a bouquet of roses, blogger. Not only have you given us high-level blog posts, but you have called a spade just what it is on so many occasions, and not let deterring thought (!) stop your blogging. I rejoice with you that you are still doing God's work.

Anonymous said...

One of these days I shall leave my name, but for the nonce, let me say I am very impressed with this posting. Holding those who made the Bible available to us in the English language in eternally high regard, I am going to look up that Preface.
Thanks!

Dallas. TX said...

Love this entry. And that quotation you start off with is sublime. Thank you for what you are doing, and look forward to your 101st!

C.S. Practitioner (FL) said...

Very uplifting blog post, one that will bless many of your readers I just know. I feel better for reading this. How can we ever thank our loving Father enough for all He has given us in the Holy Bible!

L. R. said...

Keep up your wonderful blogging. Haven't read all 100 of your posts, but have so many and find them all thought provoking and of course, very well written.

Janice said...

That Preface to the Bible has obviously inspired you, and your posting inspires me to look it up on-line. Thanks for all the many, wonderful things you've shared with the CS Field.

Anonymous said...

The way I feel about the inspired Word of the Bible is that when we're talking about it, it's almost as though we're standing on holy ground. Don't you feel that way, blogger? I think from the tone of this particular entry, that you have the greatest reverence for God's Word.
Thanks for an excellent topic.

With gratitude said...

Dear Blogger,
I commented months ago to this effect, that your reminding us to get into Prose Works by our Leader gave me enormous help, and I thanked you then. I say thanks again for all your inspired blogging. And my congratulations to you on reaching your 100th!

Betty, Virginia said...

Best wishes to you for many more excellent blog posts. As Paul says in Romans, you have certainly been bringing forth fruit unto God.

Portland said...

Love this website you have, and I wish you continued success in your outreach to thinking Christian Scientists!
"As adherents of Truth..." very uplifting to me.

Canadian CS said...

Let me offer my congratulations on your 100th posting. Have enjoyed so many of the things you've written over the months, and I look forward to many, many more.
Best,

From the Church Center said...

Thanks for upholding the high standards our Leader left us through your blog. Have appreciated your willingness to tell it like it is with respect to Boston's wrongdoing. We need more like you!

Bill S. said...

Really found this entry uplifting, and I appreciate all you are sharing with serious students of Christian Science. Where would we be without it?!

Anonymous said...

A most inspiring topic you've chosen to blog on, and I found it extremely helpful to me right now.
I do thank you for sharing this.

New York City said...

Thanks so much for this posting. I found it quite uplifting, as I do most of what you've shared with us.
I wish for you God's continued blessing on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Always appreciate the high quality of your blog posts, and I extend to you my congratulations on reaching the 100 post mark!

Best from Ohio said...

Dear Professor,
Not only have I found inspiration from your website, but I've looked up who knows how many words! Thanks for the education.

C.S. Practitioner - AZ said...

As someone who has read many of your entries through the months, I can say you are a student of our Leader's teachings who has not neglected your duty to God, to your Leader, and to mankind!
Keep up the good work,

Anonymous said...

How right you are that no decent student of Christian Science should give the King James Bible "short shrift"!
So glad you are blogging.

Washington, D.C. said...

All the best to you on your next 100 blog posts. We sure do need someone like you--thinking deeply about CS issues, and most important, having the talent to write clearly about them.