Statement about Bible translations from the Mother Church


The Christian Science Board of Directors and
Board of Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society

February 19, 2008

Dear Fellow Members,
We love each opportunity to be in touch with you. This e-mail is about the Bible Lesson, correcting some mistaken points that are circulating in the Field. It also responds to questions about plans for the occasional use of Bible translations other than the King James Version in the Golden Text and/or Responsive Reading.


You may have seen in an upcoming Christian Science Quarterly that another Bible translation is being used in the Golden Text and Responsive Reading of the May 18, 2008, Bible Lesson, "Mortals and Immortals." This is announced and explained in The Christian Science Journal for March 2008, in the article "Expanding use of Bible translations." As a help to members, we are sharing the following points on this and related questions we've been receiving about translations. Please feel free to share this e-mail with others.


Mary Baker Eddy loved the King James Version (KJV), but she never specified it be used in church services. The Bible and her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures are the Pastor of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and its branches. Yet, there is no letter or document by Mary Baker Eddy, or recollection in any reminiscence, which states a particular translation of the Scriptures is to be used in Church services.


Other Bible translations were used in the Christian Science Quarterly during Mary Baker Eddy's lifetime. The Revised Version was used in the Quarterly during its first year, 1890. After that, the Revised Version was used on occasion only in the Golden Text and/or Responsive Reading until about 1914. For example, the Bible Lesson on "God" for July 1900 used the Revised Version in the Responsive Reading.


On occasion, Mary Baker Eddy herself utilized other translations of the Bible in her writings. The KJV was Mrs. Eddy's personal favorite translation. In the writings she published, she used over 500 different verses from the King James text. In general, the Scriptural quotations and paraphrases in Science and Health conform to the King James Bible. She also quoted other translations eight times, including two references in Science and Health to George Noyes' translation of a Bible passage, as "clearer" (313: 20) and "excellent" (360: 22). Referring to Genesis 1:27, she wrote, "I commend the Icelandic translation" (Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, p. 97). For her trademark, Cross and Crown, used on the cover of the Quarterly, her religious magazines, and all her books, she chose a quote from the Revised Version. Also, The Christian Science Monitor's motto is from the American Standard Version of the Bible.


Mary Baker Eddy's 1898 Deed of Trust for The Christian Science Publishing Society gives guidance relating to the Quarterly. Paragraph #7 of the Deed states that the Trustees "may, in their discretion, change the name or style of such Quarterly publication as occasion may demand." Paragraph #8 begins: "Said Trustees shall have direction and supervision of the publication of said Quarterly ... ."

Only one change is taking place in connection with the Bible Lesson. We are simply returning to and following the pattern set during Mary Baker Eddy's lifetime of occasionally using a non-KJV Bible in the Golden Text and Responsive Reading.

The Trustees are not planning to use a non-KJV Bible in the main body of the English-language Bible Lesson.

Branch churches whose services are in languages other than English do not use the King James Version. German-speaking branches, for example, use a version of Martin Luther's translation of the Bible.
Use of the King James Version was widespread in the 19th century, but that is not as much the case today. Though other translations were also available, use of the 1611 King James Version among Protestant churches was standard during Mrs. Eddy's day. Other translations are more commonly used today.


No change is being made to the text of Science and Health, in the book itself or in the Quarterly, despite discussion in the Field about "modernized" English versions of the textbook. The Mother Church does not intend to authorize any modernized English versions of Science and Health, nor is the Publishing Society authorizing the exhibition or sale of such versions of Science and Health in Reading Rooms.


There are two helpful Journal articles you might like to read. One is Expanding use of Bible translations, March 2008. The other article is Christian Science Bible Lessons and the King James Version, printed in June 2005. These and additional related articles may be found on www.spirituality.com, by searching under the subject, "Bible translations."


We trust the prayers of members and branch church congregations as they open their thought to the occasional use of other Bible translations in the Golden Text and Responsive Reading, and as we all continue to follow the Church Manual in our lives and church services. Every one of us cherishes the Bible Lesson, and it will continue to bless and heal.


With warm regards,


The Christian Science Board of Directors and
Board of Trustees of The Christian Science Publishing Society


4/17/08

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