What is the Comforter? And has it come? This week’s Bible Lesson, titled “Christian Science,” explains how “Christian Science and Christianity are one” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 372, cit. 5), and how together they are the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise before he was crucified, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16).
The Greek word translated “Comforter” in most Bible translations is paracletos, and describes an advocate, or someone who is called to your side to help you. The Amplified Bible gives a thorough translation of John 14:26 (citation 5) that sheds a great deal of light on the word “Comforter”: “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.”
This Lesson’s resounding message is that our Advocate is here today—and what an Advocate we have!
The Responsive Reading provides the first hint as to what the rest of the Lesson brings. These unique verses come from one of the first English translations of the New Testament, made by John Wycliffe in 1380, nearly 230 years before the King James Version was completed. With the assistance of scholars from Oxford University, the spelling and punctuation of Wycliffe’s translation have been updated for today’s readers. What stands out when reading these verses is the phrase “science and health,” which appears in these lines from the Gospel of Luke: “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the highest. For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord for to make ready his ways, for to give science and health to his people into remission of their sins” (Luke 1:76, 77).
Mary Baker Eddy’s major work is titled Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, and in her Message to The Mother Church for 1902, she described the first time this Wycliffe passage was brought to her attention—several months after she had given her book that title (see pp. 15–16).
The second section of this week’s Lesson includes passages from the book of Revelation, which is filled with prophecies, and includes one about a woman who is “clothed with the sun” and who gives birth to a boy who will “rule all nations” (Rev. 12:1, 5, cit. 8). One translation speaks of his shepherding all nations. These citations point toward Mrs. Eddy’s discovery in 1866 of what she called “the Christ Science or divine laws of Life, Truth, and Love” (Science and Health, p. 107, cit. 9). She understood that these laws of God constituted a “Christian system of healing disease” that could be used and applied by everyone (p. 150, cit. 20). These laws constituted the Comforter or Advocate that Jesus promised would come. Science and Health explains these laws, which Mrs. Eddy said would lead “into all truth,” in fulfillment of the prophecy in Revelation (p. 127, cit. 10).
During the years between her discovery and the publication of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy sought to learn more about God and His laws, and to demonstrate these laws for others. She taught her first student, began giving talks on her discovery, and healed a number of people, including the famous American poet John Greenleaf Whittier of lung disease (see Pulpit and Press, p. 54). She considered Science and Health so important that she said that all Christian Scientists, and the individuals who came to them for help, should have a copy (see p. 456, cit. 14).
The Lesson explains that when prophecy is fulfilled, it doesn’t mean that there’s nothing left to do or say. Quite the contrary. It means the beginning of something. Mrs. Eddy expected that readers of her book would prove for themselves that the prophecy is being fulfilled (see Science and Health, p. 547, cit. 16). When the Advocate frees you—from sin, sickness, or any other difficulty—you become the “light of the world” (Matt. 5:14, cit. 15), and you use your new understanding of God’s laws to show others how to free themselves. You give up your old ways of thinking and acting, and follow the Advocate’s counsel.
This week’s Lesson shows how the Bible’s prophecies are being fulfilled by Christian Science and its textbook. It explains that the Comforter or Advocate is here. That it’s not a secret. And that it’s for everyone.
Ben Gladden lives in Framingham, Massachusetts, with his wife and their three children.
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