DIFFERENT WORDS – SAME CONCEPTS
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Readers Representing the Pastor
December 30, 2024 – January 5, 2025
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“God” is the subject of this week’s Christian Science Bible Lesson Sermon.? In it, we find the following two sentences from page 330:13-15 of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy:
“Eye hath neither seen God nor His image and likeness.? Neither God nor the perfect man can be discerned by the material senses.”
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PROBLEM
Because these sentences contain different words that mean the same thing, Readers are prone to emphasize those words without recognizing their sameness.? This prevents the important new concept from coming to light.
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SYNONYMOUS OR SIMILAR WORDS
Following are the words and phrases that appear to be synonymous or closely related:
·???????? eye = material senses
·???????? neither = neither
·???????? seen = discerned
·???????? God = God
·???????? Nor = nor
·???????? His image and likeness = the perfect man
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UNDERLYING MESSAGE
To me, the main message in these two sentences is:
“The mortal senses do not and cannot see God or His spiritual man.”
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IDEAS FOR READERS
If you agree with the main intent of the two sentences, consider reading them as follows:
{NOTE: words in ALL CAPS are emphasized; words within [square brackets] are subdued.}
EYE hath NEITHER SEEN GOD NOR His IMAGE and LIKENESS.? [Neither God] NOR [the perfect man] CAN [be seen by the material senses].
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VALUE OF THIS DELIVERY
Downplaying the synonymous and similar concepts clearly conveys that the material organs and mortal senses do not and cannot ?perceive spiritual ideas.
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Please be in touch with any questions or comments.
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Happy New Year AND Happy Reading!
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Don Feldheim